About Ross Foundation
The Ross Foundation concentrates philanthropic support in the Parkersburg / Mid‑Ohio Valley area, making a small number of very large grants to local institutions that build community infrastructure. Recent gifts show a clear emphasis on strengthening local higher education capacity (IT/technology investment at West Virginia University at Parkersburg) and cultural/children’s learning infrastructure (capital and operating support for the Children’s Museum of the MOV). The foundation appears to prefer transformational, project‑level investments over many small awards.
Focus Areas
Institutional IT and workforce/technology capacity at West Virginia University at Parkersburg (community college/higher education)Capital renovation and operational support for the Children's Museum of the Mid‑Ohio ValleyLocal community infrastructure in Parkersburg / Mid‑Ohio Valley (large, place‑based investments)
Who They Fund
nonprofit organizations and cultural institutionschildren and families (museum users / K-12 audiences)college/university athletic programs and studentspatients of specialized medical services
About Ross Foundation
The Ross Foundation Inc has made two very large commitments to West Virginia University at Parkersburg for the WVUP ITC initiative, including support to purchase and renovate the old OVU campus into a technology center. That same place-based pattern appears in its support for the Children’s Museum of the Mid-Ohio Valley, which received multiple grants for renovations and operations across 2023, 2024, and 2025. The foundation’s giving is centered on projects that change local institutions rather than smaller, routine awards, with recipients in Parkersburg appearing repeatedly in the recent grants list. Its grantmaking also extends beyond higher education and youth learning into civic and community infrastructure. Downtown Pkb received support for a historic district evaluation and for operating and business support, while the Boys & Girls Club of Parkersburg received operating support and event-linked funding for the Kids Golf Classic. The Ross Foundation Inc also appears in specialized health, arts, animal welfare, and community-support grants, showing a mix of local anchor investments and selected broader nonprofit support.
What Ross Foundation Funds
Education and workforce capacity are central themes. West Virginia University at Parkersburg received $5,600,000 in 2024 and $4,800,000 in 2025 for the WVUP ITC initiative, including purchase and renovation of the old OVU campus for a technology center. Children’s learning and family spaces are another clear area. The Children’s Museum of the Mid-Ohio Valley received $4,700,000 in 2023, $1,800,000 in 2024, and $405,000 in 2025 for renovations and operations. Community development shows up in local planning and operating support. Downtown Pkb received $60,000 in 2023 to evaluate the creation of a historic district for downtown Parkersburg, followed by $50,000 grants in 2024 and 2025 for operating and business support. The foundation also backed a specialized health program through Nationwide Children’s Hospital Foundation for the Center for Colorectal & Pelvic Reconstruction program.
How Ross Foundation Gives
Typical grant size is modest for the foundation’s broader portfolio, with a p25 of $5,000, a median of $7,100, and a p75 of $15,000. The recent-grants list also shows a few outlier capital commitments that are far larger than the usual pattern. Support often repeats to the same organizations across multiple years, especially for Parkersburg institutions and local operating needs. The foundation accepts unsolicited applications through its general grant programs and gives through competitive and general grantmaking structures.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$5.4M
Total Assets
$38.1M
Total Revenue
$2.2M
Total Expenses
$5.7M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $5K and $15K, with a median of $7K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$7K
75th Percentile
$15K
Geographic Reach
Regional10 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
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