2024-10-19T11:55:45-05:00 2023-12-31 760269860 Blazek & Vetterling 2900 Weslayan Suite 200 Houston TX 77027 990PF 2023-01-01 716060574 The Ross Foundation ROSS 8702469881 PO Box 335 Arkadelphia AR 71923 Ross Whipple Chairman/Trust. 8702469881 2024-10-19 1 0 Kurt Coburn P01638285 7134395739 2024-10-19 2023 2024-10-15 13:58:12Z X 114473884 X X 62570 62570 271029 271029 243749 2606073 3277007 2606073 90427 90427 3030099 3030099 386792 1143 387934 375313 0 375313 160516 0 160516 11000 10000 1000 24387 0 24387 17900 0 17900 22555 0 22686 143330 4184 92243 44389 0 10514 0 10514 6648 0 6648 291457 10029 293116 1494801 25356 1392257 734229 712430 2229030 25356 2104687 801069 3004743 1518216 2820342 2820342 62813 11013 62813 62813 31579 43697 43697 43870 1283671 778434 503264 505237 505237 112725640 111041795 111041795 114833582 114473884 114473884 108315 110541 55600 77400 75956 183391 740224 626775 980095 998107 X 113853487 113475777 113853487 113475777 114833582 114473884 113853487 801069 0 114654556 1178779 113475777 Sale of timber P 3128199 669022 2459177 2459177 Sale of land- 8.63 acres D 1993-06-29 2023-10-24 148808 1912 146896 146896 2606073 41766 0 41766 0 41766 35028 0 19000 0 54028 X 0 12262 12262 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 AR 1 0 0 0 0 1 www.rossfoundation.us Amanda Fenocchi 8702469881 PO Box 335 Arkadelphia AR 71923 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Ross Whipple PO Box 335 Arkadelphia AR 71923 Chairman/Trustee 12.00 76232 259 0 Mary Whipple PO Box 339 Arkadelphia AR 71927 Secretary/Trustee 2.00 18000 0 0 Mark Karnes PO Box 341 Arkadelphia AR 71923 Director of Operations/Trustee 40.00 139577 21976 10200 Mary Elizabeth Eldridge PO Box 340 Arkadelphia AR 71928 Director of Programs/Trustee 14.00 62983 14992 0 Peggy Clark PO Box 342 Arkadelphia AR 71923 Trustee 2.00 18000 0 0 Margaret Doose PO Box 336 Arkadelphia AR 71924 Trustee 2.00 18000 0 0 Emily Nadeau PO Box 337 Arkadelphia AR 71925 Trustee 2.00 18000 0 0 Clark Tennyson PO Box 343 Arkadelphia AR 71923 Trustee 2.00 18000 0 0 Mary Kathryn Katie Tennyson PO Box 338 Arkadelphia AR 71926 Trustee 2.00 18000 0 0 David Hunt PO Box 335 Arkadelphia AR 71923 Senior Forester 40.00 103497 14915 7800 Eric Rhodes PO Box 335 Arkadelphia AR 71923 Forester 40.00 80497 14228 7800 Amanda Fenocchi PO Box 335 Arkadelphia AR 71923 Office Manager/Asst. 40.00 63624 17146 0 Danny Bledsoe PO Box 335 Arkadelphia AR 71923 Equipment Specialist 40.00 52924 17491 2220 0 NONE 0 The Foundation continued its conservation forestry management program in 2023, by incorporating diverse management techniques which included natural stand management, plantation stand management, hardwood management systems, and unique plant and habitat area management. Conservation forestry objectives concentrate on the incorporation of these various management components to maintain diverse stands exhibiting both plant and habitat diversity throughout all lands owned and managed by The Ross Foundation as charitable assets. In 2023, the Foundation incurred $505,343 in expenses related to salaries and benefits for professional staff directly related to the continuation of its conservation forestry program. Additionally, expenses totaling $239,316 were incurred for outside contractor services and supplies and operating expenses to accomplish prescribed management treatments for wildlife habitat improvement, stand reforestation and management. 744659 The Foundation's land is available to the public for recreational opportunities. During 2023, recreational users enjoyed various pursuits including hunting, fishing, day hiking, camping, picnicking, mountain bike riding, swimming, backpacking, bird watching, nature study, photography, and walking for aerobic activity. During 2023, the Foundation spent $5,915 on materials and $44,537 in salary and benefits for allocated staff time related to public recreation administration and management activities on The Ross Foundation's property. 50452 The Foundation's lands are available for educational and research activities. In 2023, the Foundation provided logistical support as well as monitoring sites for research conducted by Ouachita Baptist University to investigate habitat selection by breeding birds in relation to habitat complexity. This multi-year project provides information for bird conservation, while providing undergraduate students with research experience. The Foundation's staff also hosted field tours, designed to demonstrate management strategies and wildlife conservation treatments, for groups ranging from private landowners to public school agricultural instructors and college environmental studies students. The Foundation continued an operational oak regeneration study, a cooperative demonstration project with the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service. The Foundation contributed $13,125 in staff time supporting these environmental education and research activities. 13125 In 2023, the Foundation donated one load of pine logs to be auctioned at the annual South-Central Arkansas Log-A-Load For Kids event, which is held as a fundraising effort for the benefit of Arkansas Children's Hospital. The fair market value of the load of logs was $1,496. 1496 0 0 2161364 1625412 3786776 0 0 3786776 56802 3729974 186499 186499 41766 41766 144733 3104 147837 0 147837 2104687 0 38055 2142742 147837 0 0 1877266 3164835 1909725 1949803 1968193 10869822 2142742 0 0 0 147837 1994905 0 0 12864727 0 0 0 0 0 0 1877266 10987461 3164835 1909725 1949803 1968193 1994905 Mary Elizabeth Eldridge The Ross Fo PO Box 335 Arkadelphia AR 71923 8702469881 meeldridge@rossfoundation.us The application process consists of two steps. The first step is the preparation of a pre-proposal form, which can be found online at http://rossfoundation.us/pdfs/PreProposal_Info.pdf Submission deadlines are posted online at http://rossfoundation.us/application_procedure.html The major focus of the Foundation's philanthropic program has historically been restricted to projects that are located in the Clark County, Arkansas area. Applicant organizations must demonstrate tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) or public charity status under Sections 509(a)(1) or (2) of the Internal Revenue Code. Funding is not provided for political lobbying, political advocacy or legislative activities, or grants to individuals. Funding is generally not provided for operating expenses of established agencies, grants to foreign organizations, grants for foreign expenditure or debt reduction drives. AR Single Parent Scholarship Fund Program 614 E Emma Ave Ste 119 Springdale AR 72764 N/A PC Ross Scholars 8000 Arkadelphia Community Foundation 201 North 26th Street Arkadelphia AR 71923 N/A PC Soldiers of Service - Relay for Life Event 1000 Arkadelphia Promise Foundation 235 North 11 Street Arkadelphia AR 71923 N/A PC Scholarship Fund 2024 351684 Arkadelphia Public Schools 235 North 11th Street Arkadelphia AR 71923 N/A GOV CONE Foundation, FBLA Students attend National Conference, Educators Rising - National Conference 16000 Arkansas Environmental Education Association PO Box 149 Greenland AR 72737 N/A PC Statewide Environmental & Outdoor Education, Conference 500 Arkansas Foodbank Network 4301 West 65th Street Little Rock AR 72209 N/A PC Food Credits for Pantries in Clark County 12000 Arkansas Forestry Assoc Education Foundation 1213 W 4th St Little Rock AR 72201 N/A PC Unrestricted Grant 41735 Arkansas Game & Fish Foundation 2 Natural Resources Drive Little Rock AR 72205 N/A PC Conservation Work (Big Timber WMA and (JMWMA Funds), Support work in the West Gulf Coastal Plain. 136826 Arkansas Hunters Feeding the Hungry PO Box 55303 Little Rock AR 77215 N/A PC Snack Stick Program for Area Schools 2500 City of Amity 121 East Thompson Street Amity AR 71921 N/A GOV Equipment Upgrade for Fire Department 3000 City of Arkadelphia 700 Clay Street Arkadelphia AR 71923 N/A GOV Arkadelphia Festival of the Arts 3000 Clark County 4-H Foundation 640 South 6th Street Suite B Arkadelphia AR 71923 N/A PC Support for the Clark County 4-H Program 350 Clark County Arts & Humanities Council 625 Main Street Arkadelphia AR 71923 N/A PC Unrestricted Grant 500 Dawson Education Cooperative 711 Clinton Street Arkadelphia AR 71923 N/A PC Mini Grant Program - 2022-2023, Mini Grant Program - 2023-2024 30000 Give Me A Chance Equine Rescue 97 Lane Road Arkadelphia AR 71923 N/A PC Supplies 2000 Group Living Inc 708 Main Street Arkadelphia AR 71923 N/A PC General support 1000 Hospital - Baptist Health Foundation 9601 Baptist Health Drive Little Rock AR 72205 N/A PC General support 11500 Hot Springs Documentary Film Institute 659 Ouachita Avenue Hot Springs AR 71901 N/A PC HSDFF Educational Outreach Programs 3000 Keeping DeGray Lake Beautiful Inc 134 Iron Mountain Drive Arkdelphia AR 71923 N/A PC 2023 Shoreline Cleanup 150 Lions of Arkansas Foundation 512 Sample Road Hazen AR 72064 N/A PC General support 1000 Organization for Youth Education in Agriculture PO Box 71 Prescott AR 71857 N/A PC Help Purchase an 8-Pen Trailer 1500 Ouachita Baptist University 410 Ouachita Street Box 3753 Arkadelphia AR 71998 N/A PC Purchase Trees to Beautify Campus, Approved $57,200 payable over 2 years 28600 Percy & Donna Malone Child Safety Center PO Box 292 Arkadelphia AR 71923 N/A PC General support 8500 St Paul AME Church 1501 Caddo Street Arkadelphia AR 71923 N/A PC Unrestricted Grant 350 The Nature Conservancy 601 N University Ave Little Rock AR 72205 N/A PC Unrestricted Grant 41735 Vera Lloyd Presbyterian Family Services 1501 North University Ave Suite 345 Little Rock AR 72207 N/A PC Transitioning From Foster Care to Success 6000 712430 Arkansas School for Math Science & the Arts 200 Whittington Ave Hot Springs AR 71901 N/A PC ASMSA - Talent Identification Program (TIP) 5000 CASA of Clark and Pike Counties PO Box 987 Arkadelphia AR 71923 N/A PC Strengethening Families 4200 Ouachita Baptist University 410 Ouachita Street Box 3753 Arkadelphia AR 71998 N/A PC Trees funded over 2 years, Evaluate Bird Species on BTWMA 38600 The CALL of Clark County PO Box 1071 Arkadelphia AR 71923 N/A PC Project - Bring The CALL Home (Office) 5000 52800 14 62570 16 243749 18 146896 2459177 Hunting license fees 16 83441 Royalties 15 6986 0 543642 2459177 3002819 8 Revenue received from the sale of timber harvested in connection with the Foundation's forestry conservation and management programs. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Tax compliance 4500 0 4500 Audit services 19887 0 19887 Buildings 2019-12-31 918713 476101 SL 39.000000000000 33522 0 Equipment 2016-03-07 273839 242144 SL 5.000000000000 10867 0 Land 1994-01-01 75319 L 0 0 Automobiles 2017-03-17 15800 15800 SL 5.000000000000 0 0 Information for Grant Applicants Form 990-PF, Part XIV, Line 2a HistoryThe Ross Foundation began operation in early 1967. It was founded by Esther Ross and her daughter, Jane Ross. Its initial endowment came from the estate of Esther's father and Jane's grandfather, J.G. Clark. From the original core lands used to endow the Ross Foundation, the Foundation has grown to approximately 63,000 acres of land, primarily situated in Clark County and Hot Spring County, Arkansas. These lands are held for conservation and charitable purposes. Through the use of good forest management practices, revenue is produced and used to fund the Foundation's philanthropic program. Jane Ross, Robert C. Rhodes and H.W. "Bill" McMillan served as the Foundation's first trustees. The current trustees are: Ross M. Whipple, Chairman; Mary Elizabeth Eldridge; Mark Karnes; Clark Tennyson; Peggy Clark; Mary Whipple; Margaret Doose; Emily Nadeau; and Katie Tennyson.General PurposeThe Ross Foundation seeks proposals for innovative programs and projects from organizations which can demonstrate tax exempt status under Section 501 (c) (3) or public charity status under Sections 509 (a)(1) or (2) of the Internal Revenue Code. From the Ross Foundation's beginning, it has primarily concentrated its grants in the following areas: education, arts and cultural enrichment, community beautification and improvement, historical preservation, mental health and the developmentally disabled, and forestry research and conservation management. The major focus of the Foundation's philanthropic program has historically been restricted to projects that are located in the Clark County, Arkansas area. Funding is not provided for political lobbying, political advocacy or legislative activities, or grants to individuals. Funding is generally not provided for operating expenses of established agencies, grants to foreign organizations, grants for foreign expenditure, or debt reduction drives.Application ProcedureThank you for your interest in strengthening our community. If you believe that your project or organization meets our guidelines, we invite you to apply for a grant. The application process consists of two steps. The first step is the preparation of a pre-proposal, which may be made at any time during the year. The pre-proposal is reviewed to determine if the proposal is within the area of interest of the Ross Foundation. Pre-proposals consist of information provided on a one-page form that is attached to these guidelines. The pre-proposal form requests general information about the organization applying and a brief description of the proposed project. A preliminary budget and letter communicating the pre-proposal should be attached and signed by an official who has the authority to sign contracts for that organization. Pre-proposals are accepted at any time. Trustees will review the pre-proposals that have been received to date at each board meeting. The pre-poposal information can be found online at http://rossfoundation.us/pdfs/PreProposal_Info.pdfThose pre-proposals approved by the Trustees will be asked to submit a full proposal. The trustees of the Ross Foundation consider full proposals and approve grants three times a year.Full proposals received by February 1 will be reviewed by March 31, and funds for approved projects will be available by May 1 of the next year.Full proposals received by June 1 will be reviewed by July 31, and funds for approved projects will be available by September 1 of the next year.Full proposals received by September 1 will be reviewed by October 31, and funds for approved projects will be available by January 1 of the next year.You will be notified of the Board's decision on your full proposal within two weeks following the board meeting at which the proposal is considered. In addition to the submission of a grant application, we may also request additional information or a site visit during the application process. Full Proposal If you are asked to submit a full proposal to the Ross Foundation, please comply with the following guidelines. By submitting an application to the Ross Foundation it is understood that the party responsible for submission of a grant application has obtained the necessary approval to submit the application from the applying agency's board of directors. One application should be submitted, unbound, and include the following information: 1. Applicant Information shall include: - Brief description of the nature and history of the applying organization (This description should state the year that the organization was formed, explain the primary purpose of the organization and state its general area of operation.) - Brief description of the applying organization's current programs, activities and accomplishments - Financial Information. The Ross Foundation needs to understand the financial structure of the applying organization. As such, please provide pertinent financial information, such as an audited financial statement, reviewed statement, a compilation statement, or a tax return. We may request additional information at a later date. - List of current board members2. A copy of an IRS letter verifying the applying organization's Section 501 (c)(3) status or public charity status under Sections 509(a)(1) or (2) of the Internal Revenue Code, if applicable, and an affirmation letter signed by a responsible officer, director, trustee or chief executive of the organization that the IRS determination letter has not been revoked and that the present operation of the organization and its current sources of support are not inconsistent with the organization's continuing classification stated in the determination letter.3. Proposal Details shall include: - Statement of need / problem to be addressed (This statement should describe the specific need that has been identified.) - Narrative describing how the project will be conducted (It is understood that the size and nature of this narrative will vary depending on the characteristics of each project.) - Description of project goals and the programs /activities planned to accomplish these goals - Timeline for the project, if appropriate - List of other organizations, if any, cooperating in the implementation or funding of the project - List of names of key staff / volunteers responsible for project implementation - List of other individuals, corporations and foundations to whom you have submitted a grant application for this project, and any results (or projected results) from these other sources - Long term sources / strategies for funding of project at the end of the grant period, if appropriate - Expected impact, such as how the persons served will benefit, how your organization will benefit, and how the community as a whole will benefit4. A statement regarding how the organization will evaluate the success of this project and how and when it will be measured.5. Project Budget (depending on the nature of the project, the budget should contain all or part of the following items): - Salaries, wages, fringe benefits, consultants - Travel expenses, including per diem - Expendable materials and supplies - Equipment - Cost to conduct evaluation of project - Existing organization funds which can be contributed to this project - An itemized list of other costs that may be associated with this projectIf the project involves the use of funds from other sources, the source should be identified, and please indicate what percentage of the total funds needed to carry out the project is being requested of the Ross Foundation.A description of major equipment should be attached to the budget sheet.No changes in the use of approved grant funds or in the direction of the project or program may be made without the Ross Foundation's prior written approval.Monitoring Grants, Payment and Grant EvaluationThe purpose of monitoring is to help the grantee succeed, to help the foundation evaluate the success of the grant and to receive input from the grantee on the project and other projects which might evolve from it. Once grants are approved, the Ross Foundation staff may monitor grants by telephone, correspondence and/or site visits.Grants may be paid in full or in installments based upon the Acceptance Agreement set up by the Ross Foundation and grantee.Grantees will be asked to make a final report that complies with the Ross Foundation's reporting guidelines and may be asked to make interim reports if funding is disbursed in installments. Once a project is concluded, grantees are required to evaluate the project in light of its original goals, numbers of people served, outcomes and social impact. We expect grantees to be honest about failures as well as about success. Reporting requirements will be set forth in the Acceptance Agreement set up between the Ross Foundation and grantee. For additional information or questions, please contact:Mary Elizabeth Eldridge, Director of Programs P.O. Box 335, Arkadelphia, AR 71923; phone 870.246.9881; email meeldridge@rossfoundation.us or Amanda Fenocchi, Assistant Grants Officer; email Amanda@rossfoundation.us . Buildings 918713 509623 409090 Land 75319 0 75319 Machinery & Other Equipment 273839 253011 20828 Transportation Equipment 15800 15800 0 General governance & counsel 1000 0 1000 Investment matters 10000 10000 0 The Citizens Bank None 2000000 0 2021-12 2024-12 Quarterly payments of accrued unpaid interest, principal due on maturity 50.000000000000 Acquire timber land Line of credit Timber land held for exempt purposes 112725640 111041795 111041795 Unrealized appreciation in value of timber and related land 1178779 Bank charges 2874 0 2874 Dues and subscriptions 4890 0 4890 Office supplies 9866 0 9866 Computer service and programming 10800 0 10800 Insurance 104270 10029 95801 Conservation and wildlife expenses 158757 0 168885 Hunting license fees 83441 83441 83441 Royalties 6986 6986 6986 Appraisal services 16400 0 16400 Field review and testing 1500 0 1500 State tax 900 0 900 Excise tax 42000 0 0 Property tax 100430 4184 91343