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William Ross Family Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

William Ross Family Foundation

Its FY2025 filing reports that it accepted unsolicited grant applications.

$15k
Granted FY2025still arriving
1
Grants FY2025still arriving
1
States reached
$15k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
0197% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2021 to 2024.

Human Services$37kHealth$29kPhilanthropy$29kArts & Culture$25kReligion$21kRecreation & Sports$3kCivil Rights$2kEducation$1kOther$0
02FY2025 · 1 grant

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

$15,200
Median grant
1
States reached
$0
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Ma$15,200
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY22–23, $9k) land where the poverty rate runs at 11%, against an area that typically sits at 11%. 29% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Its grants skew toward lower-need ZIPs.

area typical 11%Able Arts Work: $3k → 14%Caterinas Club: $5k → 10%Caterinas Club: $1k → 10%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

44%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$74k · 5 repeat orgs$93k to everyone else

5 repeat relationships: 1 still active in FY2025, 4 since wound down.

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

5
17

Total granted

$74k
$93k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+18%
+19%

Still filing today

60%
41%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 100% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $0 went to new ones.

50%100%’21’22’23’24’25
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’21’22’23’24’25
Human ServicesCrime & LegalPhilanthropyPublic Safety & DisasterArts & CultureHealthOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • TP
    THE PRIORITY CENTER ENDING THE GENERATIONAL CYCLE
    3× · 2022–2024 · $25k · revenue +18%
  • AO
    Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Ma
    4× · 2021–2025 · $23k
  • MG
    Myathensia Gravis Foundation
    2× · 2022–2023 · $16k

Funded once

  • TW
    The Weber Foundation
    one grant, 2022 · $20k
  • SJ
    ST JOHN THE BAPTIST GREEK ORTHODOX
    one grant, 2023 · $13k
  • PS
    PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY OF ORANGE COUNTYgraduated
    one grant, 2021 · $10k · revenue +130%
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
California Court Appointed Special Advocate Association

California casa was founded in 1987. its mission is to ensure that children and youth in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems have both a voice and the services they need to thrive. we achieve this by strengthening and empowering…

Civil Rights
2
California Clubhouse Dba Aspire House

Work, education and programs for members whose lives have been disrupted by mental illness with a daytime place to stay and programs to participate in social activities, engage in meaningful work, enjoy healthy meals, and prepare for…

Health
3
Friends Outside in Los Angeles County

Assist prisoners, ex-prisoners and their families with the immediate and long-termeffects of incarceration and provide services for successful re-entry.

—
4
Human Services Association

The principal mission of Human Services Association is to provide families with compassionate and comprehensive care to promote wellness and build strong communities.

Human Services
5
Family Housing and Adult Resources Inc

FHAR is a not-for-profit organization serving adults with developmental disabilities. FHARs mission is to assist each program participant to reach their full potential through residential services vocational and social program services and…

Human Services
6
Western Youth Services

Western Youth Services (WYS) is a community-based nonprofit organization providing prevention and mental health treatment services for youth experiencing emotional and behavioral challenges, as well as their families. Services are…

Human Services
7
Families Forward

The mission of families forward is to prevent and end family homelessness by providing access to housing and resources that create lasting stability. in fy25, we provided housing, food, and supportive services to more than 17,836…

—
8
Alternative Family Services Inc

To support vulnerable children and families in need of stability, safety, and wellbeing in their communities.

Human Services
9
Mercy House Living Centers

Mercy house's most significant exempt activities focus on ending homelessness and providing comprehensive housing and support services. the organization offers homeless prevention, rapid rehousing, permanent supportive housing, and…

Housing & Shelter
10
Mariposa Women and Family Center

The mission of mariposa women and family center is to help women and families make positive changes in their lives.

Health
11
The Open Door Network

To stop domestic violence and sexual assault in kern county and assist survivors in reclaiming their lives.

Human Services
12
Open Paths Counseling Center

Open paths counseling center's mission is to meet the evolving mental health needs of the community through quality counseling for individuals and families at affordable fees; free therapy programs for at-risk children and youth in local…

Health
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Mental Health America of Los Angeles; the most unlike its peers is Friendly Hand Foundation Dba Friendly House. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

10 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 10 of the 22 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

0
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
3
Early backer (in before they grew)
10/10
Grantees still filing
7/10
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Ma: $23,450 · OtherAssumption of the Blessed Virgin MaThe Weber Foundation: $20,000 · OtherThe Weber FoundationMyathensia Gravis Foundation: $16,000 · OtherMyathensia Gravis FoundationST JOHN THE BAPTIST GREEK ORTHODOX: $13,000 · OtherST JOHN THE BAPTIST GREEK ORTHODOXNoble Vikings of OC: $10,000 · OtherNoble Vikings of OCHuntington Harbor Philharmonic Comm: $5,000 · OtherIndividual grant recipient: $5,000 · OtherMENTAL HEALTH AMERICA OF LOS ANGELES: $5,000 · Other+6 more: $11,320 · Other+6 moreTHE PRIORITY CENTER ENDING THE GENERATIONAL CYCLE: $25,000 · Crime & LegalTHE PRIORITY CEN…PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY OF ORANGE COUNTY: $10,000 · Arts & CultureCATERINAS CLUB: $6,000 · Human ServicesARTS AND SERVICES FOR DISABLED INC DBA ABLE ARTS WORK: $2,500 · Human ServicesROOSTERS FOUNDATION OF ORANGE COUNTY: $6,700 · PhilanthropyKELLER WILLIAMS REALTY CARES: $3,300 · Public Safety & DisasterFriendly Hand Foundation DBA Friendly House: $3,000 · HealthFAWCO ALUMNAE USA: $1,500 · Civil Rights
Other$108,770Crime & Legal$25,000Arts & Culture$10,000Human Services$8,500Philanthropy$6,700Public Safety & Disaster$3,300Health$3,000Civil Rights$1,500

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$100k$1.0M$10Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetTHE PRIORITY CENTER ENDING THE GENERATIONAL CYCLE: $25,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetPHILHARMONIC SOCIETY OF ORANGE COUNTY: $10,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetROOSTERS FOUNDATION OF ORANGE COUNTY: $6,700 over 1y, 3.2% of budgetCATERINAS CLUB: $6,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetMENTAL HEALTH AMERICA OF LOS ANGELES: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetKELLER WILLIAMS REALTY CARES: $3,300 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetFriendly Hand Foundation DBA Friendly House: $3,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetBEYOND BLINDNESS: $2,820 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetARTS AND SERVICES FOR DISABLED INC DBA ABLE ARTS WORK: $2,500 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetFAWCO ALUMNAE USA: $1,500 over 1y, 1.7% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

Ross Family Legacy Fo…Orange County Communi…Natl Christian Charit…Paypal Charitable Giv…National Philanthropi…American Online Givin…Fidelity Investments …Donor Advised Charita…Amazonsmile Foundation
Ross Family Legacy Foundation Charitable Tr Dtd 01-16-09CA13.6× affinity4 shared granteesties to 8 of 8Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Ross Family Legacy Foundation Charitable Tr Dtd 01-16-09 · Orange County Community Foundation · Natl Christian Charitable Fdn Inc · Paypal Charitable Giving Fund · National Philanthropic Trust · American Online Giving Foundation Inc · Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund · Donor Advised Charitable Giving Inc · Amazonsmile Foundation

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization William Ross Family Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from William Ross Family Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%0%1%3%5%funder's share of their income ↑0%8%15%22%30%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    4report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–30%
    typical government reliance, FY20–25
    How this is measured
    Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.
    05Through Plinth

    Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

    How do I get to William Ross Family Foundation?

    Find your warmest path to William Ross Family Foundation through trustees and officers whose names appear on both boards. Search for your organization and Plinth traces the shortest route it can evidence.

    Each link is a name appearing on two organizations’ public IRS 990 filings, matched on that name and, where the filings support it, on location. A same-state match has geographic support, which is a second matching feature rather than confirmation that the two are one person; a cross-state one is the likeliest to be two people who share a name. Every hop shows its tier, low-confidence and distant paths are held back rather than guessed, and it is worth confirming the person before you use the introduction.

    On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 22 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

    How this is measured
    Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

    Generated from the IRS Form 990-PF e-file return for fiscal year 2025, released 2025. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on William Ross Family’s filings →

    More from the funding graph

    The unnamed billions
    grants reported with no recipient in the public record
    The regranting layer
    51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
    The DAF merry-go-round
    $9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
    The endowment market
    who holds foundation money, and what just moved
    The camps
    funders cluster by geography, not ideology
    By state
    where grant money is based, and what stays home