The Ross Family Foundation is a St. Louis–focused private funder that concentrates substantial, unrestricted and endowed gifts to local Catholic education and health institutions. Their giving emphasizes nursing and clinical care (including endowed nursing awards), pediatric and disability health research and services, and flagship civic institutions in the St. Louis region. Grants are typically large, mission-driven contributions (many designated as general purpose or endowed funds) rather than many small awards.
The Ross Family Foundation’s recent grantmaking is anchored by a $1,285,000 gift to De Smet Jesuit High School for general purpose support and The Spartan Fund, alongside a $1,000,000 endowed nursing education commitment to Cardinal Glennon Children's Foundation. Those two awards show the foundation’s dual emphasis: Catholic education and health-related support in St. Louis. Across its recent grants, the foundation backs institutions that serve students, nurses, children, and faith communities, with gifts that often carry specific operating or endowed designations rather than broad project-only restrictions. Health and education appear together in several of the foundation’s largest commitments. A $350,000 grant to Barnes-jewish Hospital Foundation bundled cancer services, nursing awards, a chief nursing officer fund, and a nursing scholarship, while a $250,000 award to St Louis Children's Hospital supported its intellectual and developmental disabilities research center. The pattern points to a family foundation that uses substantial grants to reinforce core institutional priorities in the St. Louis region, especially where education, clinical care, and Catholic community support overlap.
Catholic education is one of the clearest threads in the foundation’s grantmaking. It gave $1,285,000 to De Smet Jesuit High School for general purpose support and The Spartan Fund, and $378,400 to Roman Catholic Foundation of Eastern Missouri for general purpose support. It also made annual Catholic Appeal grants of $100,000 to the Archdiocese of St Louis in both 2024 and 2025. Health-related support is equally visible. A $1,000,000 grant to Cardinal Glennon Children's Foundation established the Nancy Fedak Ross, RN Endowment for Nursing Education, and a $350,000 grant to Barnes-jewish Hospital Foundation supported cancer services and multiple nursing-designated funds. The foundation also gave $250,000 to St Louis Children's Hospital for its intellectual & developmental disabilities research center. Its cultural and inclusion-oriented grants include $525,000 to Missouri Botanical Garden for general purpose support and $225,000 to Unlimited Play for general purpose support.
Typical grants sit at $5,000 at the 25th percentile, $10,000 at the median, and $25,000 at the 75th percentile, but the recent record also includes several seven-figure and high-six-figure awards. The foundation’s giving is not limited to small checks; it uses large, targeted gifts for education, health, and Catholic institutions. Recipients appear in multiple years, including De Smet Jesuit High School, Rung Foundation Inc, Archdiocese of St Louis, American Cancer Society Inc, Missouri Botanical Garden, Team Activities for Special Kids Inc, and Ste Genevieve Du Bois Church. The foundation is a private family foundation and funds individuals.
$4.5M
$27.3M
$2.5M
$4.5M
Most grants fall between $5K and $25K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$25K
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for Ross Family Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 199 | $8M | 99.5% |
| 2 | Philippines |
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Concentrated, large gifts to a small number of regional institutions—often multi-year or endowed/general-purpose gifts—favoring repeat, major investments in health care, Catholic education, and flagship civic organizations rather than broadly distributed small grants.
Notable grantees: De Smet Jesuit High School, Cardinal Glennon Children's Foundation, Barnes-Jewish Hospital Foundation, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis University
Grantmaking is overwhelmingly concentrated in Missouri: 91% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state, and the top giving state is also MO. The recipient list is heavily St. Louis-centered, with repeated grants to organizations in St Louis, plus gifts to St Peters, Chesterfield, Fenton, and Jefferson City. Outside Missouri, only one grant in the provided distribution goes to the Philippines (RP), making the portfolio effectively local.
The foundation most often supports Catholic education, nursing education and workforce development, pediatric health and developmental-disability services, and St. Louis cultural institutions. Recent named recipients include De Smet Jesuit High School, Cardinal Glennon Children's Foundation, Barnes-jewish Hospital Foundation, St Louis Children's Hospital, and Missouri Botanical Garden.
Its typical grant size is $5,000 at the 25th percentile, $10,000 at the median, and $25,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards range much higher, including a $1,285,000 grant to De Smet Jesuit High School and a $1,000,000 endowed nursing education grant to Cardinal Glennon Children's Foundation.
No. Several recipients appear in multiple years, showing recurring support. Examples in the recent grants list include De Smet Jesuit High School in 2024 and 2025, Rung Foundation Inc in 2024 and 2025, and Archdiocese of St Louis in 2024 and 2025.
Its giving is local and heavily concentrated in Missouri, which accounts for 91% of grants to recipients in the HQ state. The grant list is dominated by St. Louis-area recipients such as St Louis University, St Louis Symphony Orchestra, Stages St Louis, and Church of the Annunziata.
It gives to Catholic education and Catholic appeals as well as parish support. Recent grants include $378,400 to Roman Catholic Foundation of Eastern Missouri, $100,000 to Archdiocese of St Louis in both 2024 and 2025, and grants to Ste Genevieve Du Bois Church and Church of the Annunziata for general purpose support and Catholic Relief Services.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
| 1 |
| $5K |
0.5% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE SMET JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL | ST LOUIS, MO | $1,285,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE, THE SPARTAN FUND |
| CARDINAL GLENNON CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION | ST LOUIS, MO | $1,000,000 | 2025 | NANCY FEDAK ROSS, RN ENDOWMENT FOR NURSING EDUCATION |
| BARNES-JEWISH HOSPITAL FOUNDATION | ST LOUIS, MO | $350,000 | 2025 | CANCER FRONTIER FUND, EVELYN'S HOUSE, NANCY ROSS ENDOWED NURSING AWARDS FUND, NANCY ROSS CHIEF NURSING OFFICER HIGHEST PRIORITIES FUND, NANCY ROSS ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP IN NURSING EDU |
| ST LOUIS UNIVERSITY | ST LOUIS, MO | $270,000 | 2025 | MEN'S SOCCER, O'LOUGHLIN FAMILY CHAMPIONS CENTER |
| ST LOUIS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL | ST LOUIS, MO | $250,000 | 2025 | INTELLECTUAL & DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES RESEACH CENTER |
| ST LOUIS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | ST LOUIS, MO | $145,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| STAGES ST LOUIS | CHESTERFIELD, MO | $125,000 | 2025 | BACKSTAGERS, GENERAL PURPOSE, DIRECTOR OF OUTREACH W/ EMPHASIS ON AUTISM |
| RUNG FOUNDATION INC | ST LOUIS, MO | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| ARCHDIOCESE OF ST LOUIS | ST LOUIS, MO | $100,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL CATHOLIC APPEAL |
| TEAM ACTIVITIES FOR SPECIAL KIDS INC | FENTON, MO | $35,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| GO TO NATIONS | JACKSONVILLE, FL | $32,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| STE GENEVIEVE DU BOIS CHURCH | ST LOUIS, MO | $32,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CHURCH OF THE ANNUNZIATA | ST LOUIS, MO | $30,000 | 2025 | CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES |
| HUMANE SOCIETY OF MISSOURI | ST LOUIS, MO | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE, OPERATION SNIP AND HUMANE EDUCATION EFFORTS |
| BOYS HOPE GIRLS HOPE | ST LOUIS, MO | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY INC | ST LOUIS, MO | $30,000 | 2025 | ST. LOUIS GOLF CLASSIC |
| ST LOUIS ROMAN CATHOLIC THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY - KENRICK-GLENNON | ST LOUIS, MO | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN | ST LOUIS, MO | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| SOCIETY OF ST VINCENT DE PAUL COUNCIL OF ST LOUIS | ST LOUIS, MO | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| TODAY AND TOMORROW EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION | ST LOUIS, MO | $25,000 | 2025 | ARCHBISHOP'S GALA |
| LITTLE BROTHERS OF THE LAMB | KANSAS CITY, KS | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| NATIONAL MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETY | ST LOUIS, MO | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| MERCY HEALTH FOUNDATION | ST LOUIS, MO | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| LIFE TEEN INC | ST LOUIS, MO | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| THE MUNY | ST LOUIS, MO | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CATHEDRAL BASILICA OF ST LOUIS | ST LOUIS, MO | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| OUR LITTLE HAVEN | ST LOUIS, MO | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CHAMINADE COLLEGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL | ST LOUIS, MO | $17,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| ST LOUIS ZOO FOUNDATION | ST LOUIS, MO | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| GATEWAY ARCH PARK FOUNDATION | ST LOUIS, MO | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| VISITATION ACADEMY | ST LOUIS, MO | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| ST JOSEPH PARISH | IMPERIAL, MO | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF ST LOUIS | ST LOUIS, MO | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| ST LOUIS ART MUSEUM FOUNDATION | ST LOUIS, MO | $15,000 | 2025 | BEAUX ARTS RENEWAL |
| GREATER ST LOUIS HONOR FLIGHT | ST LOUIS, MO | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| JOSHUA CHAIMBERLAIN SOCIETY | ST LOUIS, MO | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| INCARNATE WORD CATHOLIC CHURCH | CHESTERFIELD, MO | $12,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| FRIENDS OF KIDS WITH CANCER INC | ST LOUIS, MO | $12,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| ROMAN CATHOLIC FOUNDATION OF EASTERN MISSOURI | ST LOUIS, MO | $11,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| MOTHER OF GOOD COUNSEL HOME | ST LOUIS, MO | $10,000 | 2025 | CAMPUS BEAUTIFICATION PROJECT |
| CATHOLIC STUDENT CENTER AT WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY | CLAYTON, MO | $10,000 | 2025 | GOLD SPONSOR |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF EASTERN MISSOURI | ST LOUIS, MO | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| DONALD DANFORTH PLANT SCIENCE CENTER | ST LOUIS, MO | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| ONE HEART FAMILY MINISTRIES | TOWN COUNTRY, MO | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| RANKEN-JORDAN HOME FOR CONVALESCENT CRIPPLED CHILDREN | MARYLAND HEIGHTS, MO | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| ST FRANCIS DE SALES ORATORY | ST LOUIS, MO | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| SAN ANTONIO AREA FOUNDATION | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $10,000 | 2025 | AARON ARDOIN FOUNDATION - SICKLE CELL RESEARCH |
| BACKSTOPPERS | BRENTWOOD, MO | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST LOUIS | ST LOUIS, MO | $10,000 | 2025 | INSTITUTION FOR PUBLIC HEALTH |
| FOREST PARK FOREVER | ST LOUIS, MO | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
DE SMET JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL
$1,285,000GENERAL PURPOSE, THE SPARTAN FUND
CARDINAL GLENNON CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION
$1,000,000NANCY FEDAK ROSS, RN ENDOWMENT FOR NURSING EDUCATION
CANCER FRONTIER FUND, EVELYN'S HOUSE, NANCY ROSS ENDOWED NURSING AWARDS FUND, NANCY ROSS CHIEF NURSING OFFICER HIGHEST PRIORITIES FUND, NANCY ROSS ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP IN NURSING EDU
ST LOUIS UNIVERSITY
$270,000MEN'S SOCCER, O'LOUGHLIN FAMILY CHAMPIONS CENTER
ST LOUIS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
$250,000INTELLECTUAL & DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES RESEACH CENTER
BACKSTAGERS, GENERAL PURPOSE, DIRECTOR OF OUTREACH W/ EMPHASIS ON AUTISM
RUNG FOUNDATION INC
$100,000GENERAL PURPOSE
ARCHDIOCESE OF ST LOUIS
$100,000ANNUAL CATHOLIC APPEAL
TEAM ACTIVITIES FOR SPECIAL KIDS INC
$35,000GENERAL PURPOSE
GO TO NATIONS
$32,000GENERAL PURPOSE
STE GENEVIEVE DU BOIS CHURCH
$32,000GENERAL PURPOSE
CHURCH OF THE ANNUNZIATA
$30,000CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES
HUMANE SOCIETY OF MISSOURI
$30,000GENERAL PURPOSE, OPERATION SNIP AND HUMANE EDUCATION EFFORTS
BOYS HOPE GIRLS HOPE
$30,000GENERAL PURPOSE
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY INC
$30,000ST. LOUIS GOLF CLASSIC
ST LOUIS ROMAN CATHOLIC THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY - KENRICK-GLENNON
$30,000GENERAL PURPOSE
MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN
$25,000GENERAL PURPOSE
SOCIETY OF ST VINCENT DE PAUL COUNCIL OF ST LOUIS
$25,000GENERAL PURPOSE
TODAY AND TOMORROW EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
$25,000ARCHBISHOP'S GALA
LITTLE BROTHERS OF THE LAMB
$25,000GENERAL PURPOSE
NATIONAL MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SOCIETY
$25,000GENERAL PURPOSE
MERCY HEALTH FOUNDATION
$25,000GENERAL PURPOSE
LIFE TEEN INC
$20,000GENERAL PURPOSE
CATHEDRAL BASILICA OF ST LOUIS
$20,000GENERAL PURPOSE
CHAMINADE COLLEGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL
$17,000GENERAL PURPOSE
VISITATION ACADEMY
$15,000GENERAL PURPOSE
ST JOSEPH PARISH
$15,000GENERAL PURPOSE
GREATER ST LOUIS HONOR FLIGHT
$15,000GENERAL PURPOSE
JOSHUA CHAIMBERLAIN SOCIETY
$15,000GENERAL PURPOSE
INCARNATE WORD CATHOLIC CHURCH
$12,000GENERAL PURPOSE
MOTHER OF GOOD COUNSEL HOME
$10,000CAMPUS BEAUTIFICATION PROJECT
CATHOLIC STUDENT CENTER AT WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
$10,000GOLD SPONSOR
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF EASTERN MISSOURI
$10,000GENERAL PURPOSE
ONE HEART FAMILY MINISTRIES
$10,000GENERAL PURPOSE
ST FRANCIS DE SALES ORATORY
$10,000GENERAL PURPOSE
SAN ANTONIO AREA FOUNDATION
$10,000AARON ARDOIN FOUNDATION - SICKLE CELL RESEARCH
BACKSTOPPERS
$10,000GENERAL PURPOSE
WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST LOUIS
$10,000INSTITUTION FOR PUBLIC HEALTH
FOREST PARK FOREVER
$10,000GENERAL PURPOSE