The W Russell and Norma Ramsey Foundation concentrates its giving on local independent K–12 education and youth services in the Washington, D.C. area, with substantial, repeated support for a single private school. It also funds cultural programming and some broader anti-poverty/human services work. Grants are sizable and targeted rather than broadly dispersed, suggesting a preference for a few high-impact recipients in education, arts, and youth development.
A $500,000 grant to The Potomac School anchors the W Russell and Norma Ramsey Foundation Inc’s recent giving, and it points to a clear pattern: substantial support for independent K–12 education in the Washington, D.C. area. That one award was directed to the school’s Growing Ever Greater campaign, the Potomac Fund, and Fund a Scholar programming, showing an interest in both capital and scholarship support. The foundation also backed The Potomac School with $97,000 in 2025 and $90,000 in 2023, indicating repeated attention to the same institution over multiple years. Beyond that core relationship, the foundation has funded organizations tied to youth development, education access, and community programming. Recent recipients include Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington, Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School, and DC College Access Program. Support also extends to cultural and civic institutions such as Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts and The Washington Ballet, alongside broader public-purpose grantmaking to groups like Robin Hood and Catholic Charities. The result is a targeted grantmaking profile centered on a small number of recurring recipients rather than a wide spread of one-time awards.
Education is the clearest theme in the foundation’s giving. It awarded $20,000 to Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School for the Campaign for the School That Works and another $20,000 for the DBCR Scholarships Campaign Pledge, pairing facilities support with student aid. The University of Virginia also received $10,000 for the Lindsay Eckert Henry Scholarship for Elementary Education, showing support for scholarship-linked education work. Youth development appears in grants such as $25,000 to PGA Tour First Tee Foundation Inc for First Tee headquarters and other programming support, and $20,000 to First Tee - Greater Washington DC for the capital campaign for the First Tee Learning Center at Rock Creek Golf Course. The foundation also funded student pathways and athletic opportunities through $25,000 to DC College Access Program and $10,000 to Bps Foundation for George Washington University student-athletes. Cultural and community-oriented grants include $100,000 to Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts and $15,000 to The Washington Ballet for its 2025 annual gala.
$753K
$2.2M
$126K
$760K
Most grants fall between $5K and $24K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$24K
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Concentrated, high-dollar grants with repeat funding: a majority of dollars go to one recurring beneficiary (The Potomac School), supplemented by large one-off gifts to arts and youth organizations; few, targeted grants rather than many small awards.
Notable grantees: The Potomac School, Robin Hood, Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts, Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington
Typical grant size sits at $5,000 at the 25th percentile, $10,000 at the median, and $23,750 at the 75th percentile. That distribution fits a profile with many mid-sized awards and a few much larger commitments, including a $500,000 grant. The recent record shows repeated support for the same organizations across multiple years, especially The Potomac School and Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School. The foundation funds individuals and uses program, scholarship, unrestricted, capital, and campaign-designated gifts. Its latest filing year on file is 2025.
Grant recipients are entirely in the United States, with the heaviest concentration in Maryland, which has the highest grant count. Virginia and Washington, DC also appear frequently, including recipients in McLean, Vienna, Fairfax, Charlottesville, Arlington, Takoma Park, and Washington. Outside the region, grants reached New York, Florida, California, Nevada, and Wyoming. The pattern reflects a largely local and regional footprint rather than national dispersion.
Its recent grants go mainly to independent education, youth development, and cultural organizations. Examples include The Potomac School, Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School, Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington, Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts, and The Washington Ballet. It also gives to anti-poverty and public-purpose groups such as Robin Hood and Catholic Charities.
Yes. The Potomac School appears multiple times across 2023 and 2025, including a $500,000 award and two additional grants of $97,000 and $90,000. Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School also received grants in both 2023 and 2025, including support for unrestricted needs and scholarship or campaign-related purposes.
The grant-size distribution is $5,000 at the 25th percentile, $10,000 at the median, and $23,750 at the 75th percentile. That suggests the foundation often makes grants in the five-figure range, while also making occasional larger awards.
Its top state by grant count is Maryland. Virginia and Washington, DC also account for a meaningful share of grants, and 40% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s headquarters state of Virginia.
Yes. Education is a major part of the portfolio, including support for The Potomac School, Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School, DC College Access Program, and scholarship-designated grants at the University of Virginia and Aacc Foundation. Recent education grants include both scholarship support and capital or program funding.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE POTOMAC SCHOOL | MCLEAN, VA | $500,000 | 2025 | THE GROWING EVER GREATER CAMPAIGN, 2024-2025 POTOMAC FUND, AND 2025 FUND A SCHOLAR PROGRAM. |
| ROBIN HOOD | NEW YORK, NY | $109,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| THE POTOMAC SCHOOL | MCLEAN, VA | $97,000 | 2025 | 2023-2024 POTOMAC FUND AND 2024 FUND A SCHOLAR PROGRAM |
| THE HELLENIC INITIATIVE | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| PROSTATE CANCER FOUNDATION | SANTA MONICA, CA | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| DC COLLEGE ACCESS PROGRAM | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| MONUMENTAL SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2025 | LEGACY ON ICE FUND |
| PGA TOUR FIRST TEE FOUNDATION INC | PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL | $25,000 | 2025 | FIRST TEE HEADQUARTERS AND OTHER PROGRAMMING SUPPORT |
| DON BOSCO CRISTO REY HIGH SCHOOL | TAKOMA PARK, MD | $20,000 | 2025 | DBCR SCHOLARSHIPS CAMPAIGN PLEDGE |
| DON BOSCO CRISTO REY HIGH SCHOOL | TAKOMA PARK, MD | $20,000 | 2025 | CAMPAIGN FOR THE SCHOOL THAT WORKS |
| FIRST TEE - GREATER WASHINGTON DC | WASHINGTON, DC | $20,000 | 2025 | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN FOR THE FIRST TEE LEARNING CENTER AT ROCK CREEK GOLF COURSE |
| THE WASHINGTON BALLET | WASHINGTON, DC | $15,000 | 2025 | 2025 ANNUAL GALA |
| JOHNS HOPKINS MEDICINE | BALTIMORE, MD | $10,000 | 2025 | DR. DANIEL LAHERU'S RESEARCH |
| WOLF TRAP FOUNDATION FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS | VIENNA, VA | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| UMD COLLEGE PARK | COLLEGE PARK, MD | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2025 | MEN'S BASEBALL PROGRAM |
| COMMITTEE FOR A RESPONSIBLE FEDERAL BUDGET | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| BOYS HOME OF VIRGINIA | COVINGTON, VA | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| INOVA HEALTH FOUNDATION | FAIRFAX, VA | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| BPS FOUNDATION | LAS VEGAS, NV | $10,000 | 2025 | GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY SUDENT-ATHLETES |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF JACKSON HOLE | JACKSON, WY | $10,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF JACKSON HOLE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH FUND |
| UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $10,000 | 2025 | LINDSAY ECKERT HENRY SCHOLARSHIP FOR ELEMENTARY EDUCATION |
| UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA | CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | $10,000 | 2025 | PARENTS FUND, UVA FUND |
| JTCC | COLLEGE PARK, MD | $9,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIANS IN UNIVERSITIES & SCHOOLS INC | NEW CANAAN, CT | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| ELS FOR AUTISM | JUPITER, FL | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| BETHESDA COMMUNITY BASEBALL CLUB | BETHESDA, MD | $2,500 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| BETHESDA COMMUNITY BASEBALL CLUB | BETHESDA, MD | $2,500 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| KAPPA DELTA FOUNDATION | MEMPHIS, TN | $2,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| THE HUNTER WATSON MEMORIAL FUND | MCLEANN, VA | $1,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| NICHOLAS BARTON MEMORIAL FOUNDATION | CROFTON, MD | $1,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| NICHOLAS BARTON MEMORIAL FOUNDATION | CROFTON, MD | $1,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| GREAT FALLS VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT | GREAT FALLS, VA | $1,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| ST FRANCIS EPISCOPAL CHURCH | GREAT FALLS, VA | $1,000 | 2025 | ALTAR GUILD |
| WOLF TRAP FOUNDATION FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS | VIENNA, VA | $100,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF GREATER WASHINGTON | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED |
| THE POTOMAC SCHOOL | MCLEAN, VA | $90,000 | 2023 | 2022-2023 POTOMAC FUND AND 2023 FUND A SCHOLAR PROGRAM |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED |
| DON BOSCO CRISTO REY HIGH SCHOOL | TAKOMA PARK, MD | $20,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED |
| AACC FOUNDATION | ARNOLD, MD | $10,000 | 2023 | NICK BARTON LACROSSE SCHOLARSHIP FUND |
| OUR MINDS MATTER | VIENNA, VA | $5,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED |
| CAL RIPKEN SR FOUNDATION | BALTIMOER, MD | $5,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED |
| UNISON PRESERVATION SOCIETY | MIDDLEBURG, VA | $1,000 | 2023 | UNRESTRICTED |
THE GROWING EVER GREATER CAMPAIGN, 2024-2025 POTOMAC FUND, AND 2025 FUND A SCHOLAR PROGRAM.
MONUMENTAL SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT FOUNDATION
$25,000LEGACY ON ICE FUND
FIRST TEE HEADQUARTERS AND OTHER PROGRAMMING SUPPORT
DON BOSCO CRISTO REY HIGH SCHOOL
$20,000DBCR SCHOLARSHIPS CAMPAIGN PLEDGE
DON BOSCO CRISTO REY HIGH SCHOOL
$20,000CAMPAIGN FOR THE SCHOOL THAT WORKS
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN FOR THE FIRST TEE LEARNING CENTER AT ROCK CREEK GOLF COURSE
JOHNS HOPKINS MEDICINE
$10,000DR. DANIEL LAHERU'S RESEARCH
UMD COLLEGE PARK
$10,000UNRESTRICTED
BOYS HOME OF VIRGINIA
$10,000UNRESTRICTED
INOVA HEALTH FOUNDATION
$10,000UNRESTRICTED
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF JACKSON HOLE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH FUND
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
$10,000LINDSAY ECKERT HENRY SCHOLARSHIP FOR ELEMENTARY EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA
$10,000PARENTS FUND, UVA FUND
BETHESDA COMMUNITY BASEBALL CLUB
$2,500UNRESTRICTED
BETHESDA COMMUNITY BASEBALL CLUB
$2,500UNRESTRICTED
THE HUNTER WATSON MEMORIAL FUND
$1,000UNRESTRICTED
NICHOLAS BARTON MEMORIAL FOUNDATION
$1,000UNRESTRICTED
NICHOLAS BARTON MEMORIAL FOUNDATION
$1,000UNRESTRICTED
GREAT FALLS VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT
$1,000UNRESTRICTED
ST FRANCIS EPISCOPAL CHURCH
$1,000ALTAR GUILD
CATHOLIC CHARITIES
$25,000UNRESTRICTED
DON BOSCO CRISTO REY HIGH SCHOOL
$20,000UNRESTRICTED
AACC FOUNDATION
$10,000NICK BARTON LACROSSE SCHOLARSHIP FUND
UNISON PRESERVATION SOCIETY
$1,000UNRESTRICTED