Ross Stores Foundation concentrates its giving on national, service-oriented charities with an emphasis on youth development and emergency response. The foundation makes large, high-impact grants to well-established national organizations—notably multiple gifts to Boys & Girls Clubs of America for youth programs and a major grant to the American Red Cross for disaster response—indicating a preference for broad-reaching, scalable partners rather than many small local projects.
Highly concentrated: very few but large grants, repeat funding to a primary national youth charity, and selective one-off major gifts to national emergency response organizations.
A pattern stands out in the Ross Stores Foundation’s recent giving: repeated, large grants to national organizations that serve children and communities facing urgent need. Boys & Girls Clubs of America appears multiple times in the recent grants list, including a $1,240,000 youth-program grant in 2023 and a $923,333 grant in 2025, showing sustained support for youth development rather than one-off gifts. The foundation also backed the American National Red Cross with $800,000 for disaster response in 2025 and $400,000 for disaster relief in 2023, pointing to a parallel focus on emergency support. The grant record also shows a mix of national partnerships and place-based support. First Book received three separate youth-program grants across 2023 to 2025, while organizations such as United Way of Greater Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank appear in disaster-response funding. The foundation’s work centers on service-oriented charities that can deliver youth programming, literacy support, and disaster aid at scale. Its latest 990 year on file is 2025, and annual grants given total $8,975,656.
In youth development, the Ross Stores Foundation has funded several national and local organizations. Boys & Girls Clubs of America received $1,240,000 in 2023 and $923,333 in 2025 for youth programs, while First Book received $344,900 in 2025, $303,900 in 2023, and $272,700 in 2024 for youth programming. The record also includes support for Educational Alliance, Jumpstart for Young Children Inc, and Read to a Child Inc. Disaster and emergency response is the other clear theme. The American National Red Cross received $800,000 in 2025 for disaster response and $400,000 in 2023 for disaster relief, and United Way of Greater Los Angeles received $350,000 in 2025 for disaster response. The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank also appears in a disaster-response grant. A third theme is literacy and enrichment. First Book is explicitly tied to youth-program funding, and 826 Valencia, Braille Institute of America Inc, and Scientific Adventures appear among the foundation’s youth-focused recipients.
Typical grant size is modest at the center of the distribution, with p25 at $1,306, median at $3,502, and p75 at $20,000. The recent grant list also shows a smaller number of much larger strategic gifts, including seven-figure and high six-figure awards. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Boys & Girls Clubs of America, First Book, the American National Red Cross, Educational Alliance, and American Online Giving Foundation Inc, which points to recurring relationships rather than isolated awards. The foundation is classified as a regular funder, does not fund individuals, and does not make program-related investments. Unsolicited applications are not indicated in the active programs listed.
$3.7M
$10.2M
$5.4M
$3.7M
Most grants fall between $1K and $20K, with a median of $4K.
25th Percentile
$1K
Median
$4K
75th Percentile
$20K
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for Ross Stores Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 457 | $13.2M | 99.8% |
| 2 | Puerto Rico |
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Notable grantees: Boys & Girls Clubs of America, American National Red Cross, Local Boys & Girls Clubs affiliates (inferred from repeat national support)
Giving is national, but the recipient map is heavily concentrated in the United States, with 318 grants there. California stands out as the top state by grant count, and 35% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s HQ state. Recent recipients in California include Los Angeles, San Francisco, Santa Ana, Oakland, and Dublin-adjacent regional partners through local and national programs. Outside California, Washington, DC appears repeatedly through national grantees such as the American National Red Cross and First Book, and New York, Boston, and Houston also show up in the recent grant list.
The foundation supports service-oriented nonprofits, especially youth development and disaster response organizations. Recent grants include repeated funding for Boys & Girls Clubs of America and First Book for youth programs, plus major support for the American National Red Cross for disaster relief and disaster response.
Yes. Several organizations appear across multiple years in the recent grant list, including Boys & Girls Clubs of America, First Book, the American National Red Cross, Educational Alliance, and American Online Giving Foundation Inc. That pattern suggests ongoing relationships, not just one-time awards.
The grant-size distribution is centered on relatively small awards, with a p25 of $1,306, a median of $3,502, and a p75 of $20,000. The recent grants list also includes larger strategic gifts, but the middle of the distribution is well below $20,000.
California is the top state by grant count, and 35% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. The recent recipient list includes organizations in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Santa Ana, Oakland, and other California cities.
Yes. Disaster response and relief are part of the foundation’s recent pattern, including $800,000 to the American National Red Cross in 2025 for disaster response, $400,000 to the same organization in 2023 for disaster relief, and $350,000 to United Way of Greater Los Angeles in 2025 for disaster response.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
| 1 |
| $390 |
0.2% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF AMERICA | ATLANTA, GA | $1,603,333 | 2026 | YOUTH PROGRAM |
| FIRST BOOK | WASHINGTON, DC | $366,700 | 2026 | YOUTH PROGRAM |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF THE PENINSULA | MENLO PARK, CA | $210,000 | 2026 | YOUTH PROGRAM |
| AMERICAN ONLINE GIVING FOUNDATION INC | CLEARWATER, FL | $153,558 | 2026 | MATCHING GIFTS |
| GOLDEN STATE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $100,000 | 2026 | YOUTH PROGRAM |
| EDUCATIONAL ALLIANCE | NEW YORK, NY | $60,000 | 2026 | YOUTH PROGRAM |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF THE TEXAS HILL COUNTRY | KERRVILLE, TX | $50,000 | 2026 | DISASTER RESPONSE |
| HACK THE HOOD | OAKLAND, CA | $30,000 | 2026 | YOUTH PROGRAM |
| LEARNUP CENTERS | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $30,000 | 2026 | YOUTH PROGRAM |
| SCHOOLS MENTORING AND RESOURCE TEAM | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $30,000 | 2026 | YOUTH PROGRAM |
| UASPIRE | BOSTON, MA | $30,000 | 2026 | YOUTH PROGRAM |
| URBAN ANGELS SF | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $30,000 | 2026 | YOUTH PROGRAM |
| CANINE COMPANIONS FOR INDEPENDENCE | SANTA ROSA, CA | $30,000 | 2026 | RETIREMENT COMMEMORATION |
| THE BELL FOUNDATION INC | NEEDHAM, MA | $30,000 | 2026 | YOUTH PROGRAM |
| FRIENDS OF ST STEPHENS DBA YOUTHSF | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $30,000 | 2026 | YOUTH PROGRAM |
| OAKLAND CAREER TRAINING DEPOT CORP | OAKLAND, CA | $30,000 | 2026 | YOUTH PROGRAM |
| NEW DOOR VENTURES | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $30,000 | 2026 | YOUTH PROGRAM |
| LARKIN STREET YOUTH SERVICES | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $30,000 | 2026 | YOUTH PROGRAM |
| MISSION BIT | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $30,000 | 2026 | YOUTH PROGRAM |
| THE LOS ANGELES UNITED METHODIST URBAN FOUNDATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $30,000 | 2026 | YOUTH PROGRAM |
| NETWORK FOR TEACHING ENTREPRENEURSHIP | NEW YORK, NY | $30,000 | 2026 | YOUTH PROGRAM |
| COMMUNITY ALLIANCE FOR LEARNING | BERKELEY, CA | $30,000 | 2026 | YOUTH PROGRAM |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS LONE STAR | HOUSTON, TX | $30,000 | 2026 | YOUTH PROGRAM |
| ARIZONA FRIENDS OF FOSTER CHILDREN FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $30,000 | 2026 | YOUTH PROGRAM |
| SCIENTIFIC ADVENTURES | OAKLAND, CA | $30,000 | 2026 | YOUTH PROGRAM |
| ENLIGHTENED MENTOR CORPORATION | LOS ANGELES, CA | $30,000 | 2026 | YOUTH PROGRAM |
| RAISING A READER | MILPITAS, CA | $30,000 | 2026 | YOUTH PROGRAM |
| THINK TOGETHER | SANTA ANA, CA | $30,000 | 2026 | YOUTH PROGRAM |
| BRAILLE INSTITUTE OF AMERICA INC | LOS ANGELES, CA | $30,000 | 2026 | YOUTH PROGRAM |
| RESOURCE AREA FOR TEACHING | SAN JOSE, CA | $30,000 | 2026 | YOUTH PROGRAM |
| SELF-ESTEM | OAKLAND, CA | $30,000 | 2026 | YOUTH PROGRAM |
| DEV MISSION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $30,000 | 2026 | YOUTH PROGRAM |
| CHILDREN RISING | OAKLAND, CA | $30,000 | 2026 | YOUTH PROGRAM |
| SUMMER PROGRAM FOR YOUTH | CARLISLE, PA | $30,000 | 2026 | YOUTH PROGRAM |
| CASA YOUTH SHELTER | LOS ALAMITOS, CA | $30,000 | 2026 | YOUTH PROGRAM |
| ELEVATE TUTORING INC | MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA | $30,000 | 2026 | YOUTH PROGRAM |
| GIRLS INCORPORATED OF ALAMEDA COUNTY | OAKLAND, CA | $30,000 | 2026 | YOUTH PROGRAM |
| FOUNDATION FOR STUDENTS RISING ABOVE | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $30,000 | 2026 | YOUTH PROGRAM |
| YOUNG EISNER SCHOLARS | LENNOX, CA | $30,000 | 2026 | YOUTH PROGRAM |
| EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION | MOORESTOWN, NJ | $30,000 | 2026 | YOUTH PROGRAM |
| ALL PEOPLES COMMUNITY CENTER | LOS ANGELES, CA | $30,000 | 2026 | YOUTH PROGRAM |
| HEART OF LOS ANGELES INC | LOS ANGELES, CA | $30,000 | 2026 | YOUTH PROGRAM |
| COALITION FOR ENGAGED EDUCATION | SANTA MONICA, CA | $30,000 | 2026 | YOUTH PROGRAM |
| READY TO SUCCEED | SANTA MONICA, CA | $20,000 | 2026 | YOUTH PROGRAM |
| OAKLAND LEAF FOUNDATION | OAKLAND, CA | $20,000 | 2026 | YOUTH PROGRAM |
| BABY BUGGY AKA GOOD FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $20,000 | 2026 | YOUTH PROGRAM |
| IMPROVE YOUR TOMORROW INC | SACRAMENTO, CA | $20,000 | 2026 | YOUTH PROGRAM |
| REACH FOUNDATION | PALO ALTO, CA | $20,000 | 2026 | YOUTH PROGRAM |
| LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $20,000 | 2026 | YOUTH PROGRAM |
| PORTLAND TENNIS & EDUCATION | PORTLAND, OR | $20,000 | 2026 | YOUTH PROGRAM |
BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF AMERICA
$1,603,333YOUTH PROGRAM
AMERICAN ONLINE GIVING FOUNDATION INC
$153,558MATCHING GIFTS
GOLDEN STATE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$100,000YOUTH PROGRAM
YOUTH PROGRAM
LEARNUP CENTERS
$30,000YOUTH PROGRAM
URBAN ANGELS SF
$30,000YOUTH PROGRAM
THE BELL FOUNDATION INC
$30,000YOUTH PROGRAM
FRIENDS OF ST STEPHENS DBA YOUTHSF
$30,000YOUTH PROGRAM
OAKLAND CAREER TRAINING DEPOT CORP
$30,000YOUTH PROGRAM
LARKIN STREET YOUTH SERVICES
$30,000YOUTH PROGRAM
THE LOS ANGELES UNITED METHODIST URBAN FOUNDATION
$30,000YOUTH PROGRAM
COMMUNITY ALLIANCE FOR LEARNING
$30,000YOUTH PROGRAM
ENLIGHTENED MENTOR CORPORATION
$30,000YOUTH PROGRAM
THINK TOGETHER
$30,000YOUTH PROGRAM
SELF-ESTEM
$30,000YOUTH PROGRAM
SUMMER PROGRAM FOR YOUTH
$30,000YOUTH PROGRAM
EXCEPTIONAL CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION
$30,000YOUTH PROGRAM
HEART OF LOS ANGELES INC
$30,000YOUTH PROGRAM
REACH FOUNDATION
$20,000YOUTH PROGRAM