The Ross Foundation makes a small number of relatively large, targeted grants focused on place-based conservation and major medical institutions. Recent gifts indicate a priority for urban/regional greenway or watershed conservation and for funding a leading clinical/medical research center. The foundation appears to favor selective, high-impact donations rather than broad, numerous small grants.
Focus Areas
Urban greenway and watershed conservation (e.g., High Line Canal Conservancy)Regional land- and park-conservancy organizationsMajor clinical medical centers and biomedical research (e.g., Mayo Clinic)
Who They Fund
urban and regional conservation/park organizationsmajor clinical/medical research centers (e.g., Mayo Clinic)regional land trusts/conservancies
Giving Approach
Concentrated giving with very few, sizable grants to single organizations; repeat or multi-year behavior unclear from limited data but pattern suggests selective, high-dollar support rather than many small grants.
About Ross Foundation Inc C/O Cresset
The Ross Foundation Inc C/o Cresset has recently made two large charitable grants, one to High Line Canal Conservancy in Centennial, Colorado, and another to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Those gifts point to a foundation that backs targeted, high-dollar efforts rather than a wide spread of small awards. One side of its giving supports place-based conservation, especially organizations tied to urban greenways and watershed work. The other side reaches major clinical and biomedical institutions, with Mayo Clinic appearing as a recent recipient.
Its active grant programs also show a strong Mid-Ohio Valley orientation across animals, arts, education, disabilities, community development, and related civic work in selected West Virginia counties. The grant descriptions emphasize lasting local impact, shelter enhancement, arts and cultural enrichment, education supports, accessibility, and revitalization projects. Unsolicited applications are accepted across the listed programs, including general grantmaking, arts, education, disabilities, animals, community development, and their related grant categories. Across these channels, the foundation gives selectively and with a clear preference for defined community or institutional uses.
What Ross Foundation Inc C/O Cresset Funds
In conservation, the foundation supported High Line Canal Conservancy with $105,000 for charitable purposes, signaling interest in urban greenway and watershed work. That grant sits alongside a broader pattern of funding regional land- and park-conservancy organizations.
On the health side, they gave $90,000 to Mayo Clinic for charitable purposes, showing support for major clinical and biomedical research institutions. This aligns with their stated focus on major clinical medical centers and biomedical research.
Programmatically, the foundation also funds community-facing work in West Virginia. Its general grantmaking supports local-impact initiatives in animals, arts, disabilities, education, and community development, while separate program areas cover animal welfare, arts and cultural grants, education, and community development grants.
How Ross Foundation Inc C/O Cresset Gives
Typical grant size is tightly clustered at $105,000, with the p25, median, and p75 all at that level. The recent record shows just two U.S. grants, which suggests a highly selective pattern rather than broad distribution. The foundation appears to favor larger, targeted awards. It also accepts unsolicited applications across multiple program areas, including general grantmaking and the named arts, education, disabilities, animals, and community development programs. The available data does not show recipient overlap across multiple years beyond the recent grants listed.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$100K
Total Assets
$1.7M
Total Revenue
$525K
Total Expenses
$101K
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $105K and $105K, with a median of $105K.
25th Percentile
$105K
Median
$105K
75th Percentile
$105K
Geographic Reach
Regional2 states funded
About 0% of grants go to recipients in CO.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Deep Analysis
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selective high-impact grantsplace-based/targeted conservation fundinganchor/major institution support (clinical research centers)concentrated high-dollar giving
Notable grantees: High Line Canal Conservancy, Mayo Clinic
Topics
urban greenway conservationwatershed conservationregional land- and park-conservancy supportmajor clinical medical center fundingbiomedical/clinical research support
Where Ross Foundation Inc C/O Cresset Makes Grants
Recent grants reached recipients in Centennial, Colorado, and Rochester, Minnesota, and the country distribution is entirely U.S.-based. The top state by grant count is Colorado, even though the foundation’s headquarters are in Reston, Virginia. Program geography also shows a separate Mid-Ohio Valley emphasis in West Virginia, with grantmaking tied to Wood, Ritchie, Doddridge, Jackson, and Pleasants counties. That suggests a regional footprint with both Colorado and West Virginia ties.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ross Foundation Inc C/O Cresset
What kinds of organizations does The Ross Foundation Inc C/o Cresset support?
The foundation supports conservation organizations, major clinical medical institutions, and several community-facing program areas in West Virginia. Listed programs include animals, arts, education, disabilities, and community development, with purposes such as shelter enhancement, arts education, accessibility, workforce development, and downtown revitalization.
What is the typical grant size?
The typical grant size is $105,000. The reported p25, median, and p75 are all $105,000, which indicates the foundation’s recent awards are tightly concentrated at one level.
Does the foundation accept unsolicited applications?
Yes. The listed programs for general grantmaking, arts, education, disabilities, animals, community development, and related grant categories all state that unsolicited applications are accepted.
Where does the foundation give most often?
Colorado is the top state by grant count. Recent recipient locations include Centennial, Colorado, and the geographic pattern also includes West Virginia counties in the Mid-Ohio Valley through program-specific giving.
Who are some recent grantees?
Recent grantees include High Line Canal Conservancy in Centennial, Colorado, and Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Both were listed as charitable grants in the recent grants data.
Latest 990 Filing
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Open Grant Opportunities
Current and upcoming funding from Ross Foundation Inc C/O Cresset that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Open nowCloses in 4 days (Oct 1, 2026)Award: Varies
General Grantmaking - The Ross Foundation
EducationCommunity developmentEconomic development+3 more
Who can apply: Applicants must be IRS-approved 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) nonprofit organizations or government entities located in, or supporting activities in, Doddridge, Jackson, Pleasants, Ritchie, or Wood County, West Virginia. Projects must align with at least one program area. Individuals are not eligible. Grants generally support an organization for no more than three years, with multi-year awards subject to annual review and approval. The foundation does not support one-time or annual arts or animal events, national disability organizations, or initiatives limited to a single school unless they are pilots intended for expansion.
Deadline: Online applications are due April 1 and October 1 each year. Decisions are made by June 30 and December 31, respectively.
Who can apply: Applicants must be a nonprofit 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) organization approved by the IRS, or a government entity, and be located in or support activities in Doddridge, Jackson, Pleasants, Ritchie, or Wood County, West Virginia. The foundation does not support one-time or annual events such as festivals.
Deadline: January 1–June 30 cycle: online application deadline April 1, decisions by June 30. July 1–December 31 cycle: online application deadline October 1, decisions by December 31.
community revitalizationdowntown revitalizationhousing development+4 more
Who can apply: Applicants must be IRS-approved 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) nonprofits, or government entities, located in or supporting activities in Doddridge, Jackson, Pleasants, Ritchie, or Wood County, West Virginia, with a community development purpose.
Deadline: Online application deadlines are April 1 and October 1, depending on the funding cycle.
Animal shelter construction and enhancementOperational support for sheltersCapacity building for animal welfare organizations+1 more
Who can apply: 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(4) organizations (or government entities) serving Doddridge, Jackson, Pleasants, Ritchie or Wood counties. One-time/annual events are not eligible.
Deadline: Two cycles per year. Cycle Jan 1–Jun 30: online application due April 1, decisions by June 30. Cycle Jul 1–Dec 31: online application due October 1, decisions by December 31.
Deadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.