W Russell and Norma Ramsey Foundation
The W Russell and Norma Ramsey Foundation is a private foundation based in McLean, Virginia. Its stated charitable activity is making cash contributions to a variety of charitable organizations.
Key facts about W Russell and Norma Ramsey Foundation
In short: W Russell and Norma Ramsey Foundation gave $753K across 13 grants in 2025 (avg $58K), mostly in Virginia. 62% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 52-1853713
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $752,500
- Grants made (2025)
- 13
- Average grant
- $57,885
- Median grant
- $15,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 62% first-time grantees (8 of 13, 2025; small sample)
- Total assets
- $2,231,575
- Primary geography
- Virginia (68% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
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.
Is W Russell and Norma Ramsey Foundation open to new grantees?
62%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 8 of 13 grantees (62%) were first-time recipients. With only 13 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $27K; repeat grants $107K. How we count
Medians: $18K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 31% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 35% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 548% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation states that its charitable activity consists of making cash contributions to charitable organizations. Its grants include support for The Potomac School, whose stated educational goals include intellectual development, love of learning, and strength of character; PGA TOUR FIRST TEE FOUNDATION INC, which says it combines golf with a life-skills curriculum for children; and The Washington Ballet, whose stated mission includes presenting ballet, providing dance training, and offering dance education.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 13 grants totaling $752,500. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $500,000, with a median of $15,000. Notable grants included $500,000 to The Potomac School for its Growing Ever Greater Campaign, the 2024–2025 Potomac Fund, and the 2025 Fund a Scholar Program; $109,000 to Robin Hood for unrestricted support; and $25,000 each to Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation for the Legacy on Ice Fund and PGA TOUR FIRST TEE FOUNDATION INC for First Tee headquarters and other programming support.
How to Apply
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
Ready to take the next step with W Russell and Norma Ramsey Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 68% of grant dollars went to recipients in Virginia, 14% to New York, 9% to the District of Columbia, 4% to Maryland, and 4% to Florida.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $295K (2024) to $753K (2025). In 2025 it made 13 grants totaling $753K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was The Potomac School ($500K). Together the top 10 received $744K.
Grant Size Distribution
62 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 49 grants of 62 (79%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Potomac School McLean, VA | The growing ever greater campaign, 2024-2025 potomac fund, and 2025 fund a scholar program. | $500,000 |
| Robin Hood New York, NY | Unrestricted | $109,000 |
| Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation Washington, DC | Legacy on Ice Fund | $25,000 |
| PGA Tour First Tee Foundation Inc Ponte Vedra Beach, FL | First Tee Headquarters and Other Programming Support | $25,000 |
| Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School Takoma Park, MD | Campaign for the School That Works | $20,000 |
| First Tee - Greater Washington DC Washington, DC | Capital campaign for the first tee learning center at rock creek golf course | $20,000 |
| The Washington Ballet Washington, DC | 2025 Annual Gala | $15,000 |
| Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget Washington, DC | Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| UMD College Park College Park, MD | Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| University of Virginia Charlottesville, VA | Lindsay Eckert Henry Scholarship for Elementary Education | $10,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2,231,575 | $126,309 | $759,889 | $752,500 |
| 2024 | $2,865,155 | $957,162 | $325,409 | $294,500 |
| 2023 | $3,112,751 | $1,401,093 | $367,816 | $356,000 |
| 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 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists W Russell Ramsey, Norma Ramsey, and Ned S Scherer as directors.
W Russell and Norma Ramsey Foundation's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Ned S. Scherer
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Norma Ramsey
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
W. Russell Ramsey
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Contact
Mailing address: 1410 Spring Hill Road Suite 400, Mclean, VA 22102
Phone: (703) 269-1901
Frequently asked questions about W Russell and Norma Ramsey Foundation
How much does W Russell and Norma Ramsey Foundation give each year?
W Russell and Norma Ramsey Foundation gave $753K across 13 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $295K across 21 grants.
What is W Russell and Norma Ramsey Foundation's typical grant size?
W Russell and Norma Ramsey Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $15,000, and its average grant was $57,885, across 13 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from W Russell and Norma Ramsey Foundation that year got $27K on average.
Where does W Russell and Norma Ramsey Foundation give grants?
W Russell and Norma Ramsey Foundation gives mostly in Virginia: 68% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (14%) and District of Columbia (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (4 grants).
Does W Russell and Norma Ramsey Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 46% of W Russell and Norma Ramsey Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (6 of 13) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are W Russell and Norma Ramsey Foundation's largest grantees?
W Russell and Norma Ramsey Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include The Potomac School ($500,000), Robin Hood ($109,000) and Monumental Sports & Entertainment Foundation ($25,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 84% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is W Russell and Norma Ramsey Foundation?
W Russell and Norma Ramsey Foundation reported $2.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $753K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $137K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does W Russell and Norma Ramsey Foundation fund?
The foundation states that its charitable activity consists of making cash contributions to charitable organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from W Russell and Norma Ramsey Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Does W Russell and Norma Ramsey Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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