William Ross Family Foundation
The Wm Ross Family Foundation is a private foundation dedicated to supporting charitable, educational, and community-focused initiatives. Its mission centers on providing financial assistance to organizations that promote education, mental health, and various charitable causes. The foundation primarily supports nonprofit organizations engaged in activities that benefit the community, including scholarships and donations to faith-based organizations. While it has a significant focus on California, it also extends its support to organizations in other states. The foundation's commitment to education and mental health reflects its values of community enhancement and social responsibility.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
Ideal Applicant
Small or local nonprofits, especially California-based organizations working in education, general charitable services, faith-based community work, or local mental health services seeking modest one-time or occasional grants.
Good Fit
- • Organization is based in California or has a clear local program presence in the foundation’s metro area.
- • Project budget and request size are within past ranges (several past grants between a few hundred dollars and about $15,000).
- • Mission aligns with education, charitable donations, faith-based community support, or local service delivery.
- • Willingness to make a direct phone or mailed inquiry and cultivate a local relationship.
Geography
Giving is concentrated in California in the latest year (about 92% of dollars) with only two states represented in 2024, though a few out-of-state grants occurred in earlier years.
Recipient Variety
The latest year shows four distinct recipients, but the foundation funded about ten distinct recipients in both 2022 and 2023, indicating a moderate variety over the observed three-year period.
New Applicants
The filing includes application instructions and a named phone/address contact with a rolling deadline, and recent years show multiple new recipients (6 new in 2023 and 3 new in 2024), which together indicate unfamiliar applicants have been able to enter the portfolio.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
