The Ross Foundation
The Ross Foundation is a private foundation based in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, established in 1966 by Jane and Esther Ross. The foundation's initial endowment came from the estate of J.G. Clark. The organization manages timberlands held for conservation purposes and administers a philanthropic grants program. The foundation's philanthropic activities are supported by revenue generated from its timber operations.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$111.9M
-2.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$748K
+4.9% YoY
Grant Count
27
+3.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$28K
+1.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Ross Foundation reported a distributable amount of $146K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Ross Foundation's mission is to benefit primarily the citizens of Clark County by maintaining its charitable holdings of land and timber as healthy and productive forests and providing revenue to fund its philanthropic grants program.
The foundation supports grantmaking in the following areas:
- Education
- Arts and cultural enrichment
- Community beautification and improvement
- Historical preservation
- Mental health and services for the developmentally disabled
- Forestry and research and conservation management
Grantmaking
The foundation made 22 grants in 2023. Grant sizes vary, with typical awards ranging from $150 to $351,684. The foundation accepts pre-proposals throughout the year from eligible organizations.
Grant Range
s vary, with typical awards ranging from $150 to $351,684. The foundation accepts pre-proposals throughout the year from eligible organizations.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Ross Foundation restricts its grantmaking exclusively to Clark County, Arkansas. The foundation prioritizes benefiting the people of Clark County through its grants program.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $114,473,884
- Total Revenue: $3,030,099
- Total Expenses: $2,229,030
- Net Income: $80
- Total Liabilities: $998,000
- Number of Employees: 7
In 2023, the foundation incurred $505,343 in expenses related to salaries and benefits for professional staff directly supporting its conservation forestry program. An additional $239,316 was spent on outside contractor services, supplies, and operating expenses for prescribed management treatments, wildlife habitat improvement, stand reforestation, and management.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $111,875,867 | $114,473,884 | $114,833,582 |
| Revenue | $2,890,864 | $3,030,099 | $2,423,386 |
| Expenses | $2,274,743 | $2,229,030 | $2,081,289 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,612,531 | $2,142,742 | $1,989,338 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,870,093 | $3,004,743 | $2,423,386 |
| Distributable Amount | $146,353 | $147,837 | $21,145 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
123 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Ross Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Arkadelphia Promise Foundation ($351,684), Arkansas Game & Fish Foundation ($153,209), Arkansas Forestry Assoc Education Foundation ($46,606).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Arkadelphia Promise Foundation Arkadelphia, AR | Scholarship Fund 2024 | $351,684 |
| Arkadelphia Public Schools Arkadelphia, AR | CONE Foundation | $10,000 |
| Arkadelphia Public Schools Arkadelphia, AR | FBLA Students attend National Conference | $5,000 |
| Arkansas Environmental Education Association Greenland, AR | Statewide Environmental & Outdoor Education, Conference | $500 |
| Arkansas Foodbank Network Little Rock, AR | Food Credits for Pantries in Clark County | $15,000 |
| Arkansas Forestry Assoc Education Foundation Little Rock, AR | Unrestricted Grant | $46,606 |
| Arkansas Game & Fish Foundation Little Rock, AR | Conservation Work (Big Timber WMA and (JMWMA Funds), Support work in the West Gulf Coastal Plain. | $153,209 |
| Arkansas Hunters Feeding the Hungry Little Rock, AR | Snack Stick Program for Area Schools | $2,500 |
| Baptist Health Foundation Little Rock, AR | General support | $1,000 |
| CASA of Clark and Pike Counties Arkadelphia, AR | Strengethening Families | $4,200 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is led by Chairman Ross Whipple and includes a team of trustees and directors. Leadership team members include Mary Whipple, Mark Karnes, and Mary Elizabeth Eldridge.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ross Whipple | Chairman/Trustee | 12 | $78,050 |
| Mary Whipple | Secretary/Trustee | 2 | $18,000 |
| Mark Karnes | Director of Operations/Trustee | 40 | $150,248 |
| Mary Elizabeth Eldridge | Director of Programs/Trustee | 14 | $64,083 |
| Peggy Clark | Trustee | 2 | $18,000 |
| Margaret Doose | Trustee | 2 | $18,000 |
| Emily Nadeau | Trustee | 2 | $18,000 |
| Clark Tennyson | Trustee | 2 | $18,000 |
| Mary Kathryn Tennyson | Trustee | 2 | $18,000 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Ross Foundation fund?
The Ross Foundation's mission is to benefit primarily the citizens of Clark County by maintaining its charitable holdings of land and timber as healthy and productive forests and providing revenue to fund its philanthropic grants program. The foundation supports grantmaking in the following areas: • Education • Arts and cultural enrichment • Community beautification and improvement • Historical preservation • Mental health and services for the developmentally disabled • Forestry and research an…
How do I apply for a grant from The Ross Foundation?
The foundation made 22 grants in 2023. Grant sizes vary, with typical awards ranging from $150 to $351,684. The foundation accepts pre-proposals throughout the year from eligible organizations. In 2023, the foundation awarded approximately $747,655 in total giving. The foundation is open to new applicants, with approximately 12% of new applicants receiving funding.
Where does The Ross Foundation make grants?
The Ross Foundation restricts its grantmaking exclusively to Clark County, Arkansas. The foundation prioritizes benefiting the people of Clark County through its grants program.
What size grants does The Ross Foundation award?
In 2024, The Ross Foundation awarded 27 grants totaling $748K — an average of about $28K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Ross Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Ross Foundation reported a distributable amount of $146K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Ross Foundation's EIN?
The Ross Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 71-6060574. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Ross Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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