W Russell and Norma Ramsey Foundation
The W Russell and Norma Ramsey Foundation is a private foundation based in McLean, Virginia, established in September 1994. It operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization with a straightforward charitable approach: making cash contributions to a variety of charitable organizations across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.2M
-22.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$753K
+155.5% YoY
Grant Count
13
-38.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$58K
+312.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, W Russell and Norma Ramsey Foundation reported a distributable amount of $137K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's charitable activity consists of making cash contributions to a variety of charitable organizations. Primary funding focus areas include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Historical Organizations
Grantmaking
The foundation makes grants to charitable organizations without a formal application process noted in available sources.
How to Apply
noted in available sources.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Maryland
- District of Columbia
- Virginia
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (2023):
- Total Assets: $2.9M–$3.11M
- Total Giving: $752,500
- Revenue: $1.4M
- Expenses: $368,000
- Total Liabilities: $0
The foundation maintains a healthy financial position with no outstanding liabilities.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,231,575 | $2,865,155 | $3,112,751 |
| Revenue | $126,309 | $957,162 | $1,401,093 |
| Expenses | $759,889 | $325,409 | $367,816 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $752,500 | $294,500 | $356,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $126,309 | $944,370 | $1,389,653 |
| Distributable Amount | $137,421 | $133,866 | $131,228 |
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
62 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include The Potomac School ($500,000), Robin Hood ($109,000), Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BETHESDA COMMUNITY BASEBALL CLUB BETHESDA, MD | UNRESTRICTED | $2,500 |
| COMMITTEE FOR A RESPONSIBLE FEDERAL BUDGET WASHINGTON, DC | UNRESTRICTED | $10,000 |
| DON BOSCO CRISTO REY HIGH SCHOOL TAKOMA PARK, MD | CAMPAIGN FOR THE SCHOOL THAT WORKS | $20,000 |
| ELS FOR AUTISM JUPITER, FL | UNRESTRICTED | $5,000 |
| FIRST TEE - GREATER WASHINGTON DC WASHINGTON, DC | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN FOR THE FIRST TEE LEARNING CENTER AT ROCK CREEK GOLF COURSE | $20,000 |
| MONUMENTAL SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT FOUNDATION WASHINGTON, DC | LEGACY ON ICE FUND | $25,000 |
| NICHOLAS BARTON MEMORIAL FOUNDATION CROFTON, MD | UNRESTRICTED | $1,000 |
| PGA TOUR FIRST TEE FOUNDATION INC PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL | FIRST TEE HEADQUARTERS AND OTHER PROGRAMMING SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| ROBIN HOOD NEW YORK, NY | UNRESTRICTED | $109,000 |
| THE POTOMAC SCHOOL MCLEAN, VA | THE GROWING EVER GREATER CAMPAIGN, 2024-2025 POTOMAC FUND, AND 2025 FUND A SCHOLAR PROGRAM. | $500,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is led by three directors:
- W Russell Ramsey — Director
- Norma Ramsey — Director
- Ned S Scherer — Director
W. Russell "Russ" Ramsey is the founder, chairman, and CEO of Ramsey Asset Management, an alternative asset management firm headquartered in McLean, Virginia. He is also known as co-founder, president, and co-chief executive officer of Friedman, Billings, Ramsey Group (FBR), an investment banking and brokerage firm he co-founded in 1989.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| W RUSSELL RAMSEY | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| NORMA RAMSEY | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| NED S SCHERER | DIRECTOR | — | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does W Russell and Norma Ramsey Foundation fund?
The foundation's charitable activity consists of making cash contributions to a variety of charitable organizations. Primary funding focus areas include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Historical Organizations
How do I apply for a grant from W Russell and Norma Ramsey Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Total giving: $752,500 (most recent filing) • Median grant amount: $10,000 • Maximum grant: $97,000 • Number of grants: 21 (most recent year) • Typical award range: $1,000–$500,000 The foundation makes grants to charitable organizations without a formal application process noted in available sources.
Where does W Russell and Norma Ramsey Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Maryland • District of Columbia • Virginia
What size grants does W Russell and Norma Ramsey Foundation award?
In 2025, W Russell and Norma Ramsey Foundation awarded 13 grants totaling $753K — an average of about $58K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is W Russell and Norma Ramsey Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, W Russell and Norma Ramsey Foundation reported a distributable amount of $137K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is W Russell and Norma Ramsey Foundation's EIN?
W Russell and Norma Ramsey Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 52-1853713. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in W Russell and Norma Ramsey 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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