Ross Stores – Store-Based Giving Program (2026)

Gift Card Donations Supporting School and Professional Clothing for Low-Income Youth

The Ross Stores Store-Based Giving Program supports nonprofit organizations, schools, and government programs that help socioeconomically disadvantaged young people achieve academic success and develop important life skills.

Through this program, Ross provides gift cards to Ross Dress for Less or dd’s DISCOUNTS. Gift cards must be used exclusively to purchase school or professional clothing and accessories for eligible youth.

Organization: Ross Stores, Inc.
Support Type: Ross Dress for Less or dd’s DISCOUNTS gift cards
Geographic Focus: Communities within 25 miles of a Ross Dress for Less or dd’s DISCOUNTS store
Typical Donation Value: $300–$500
Current Deadline: September 18, 2026

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About the Funder

Ross Stores operates Ross Dress for Less and dd’s DISCOUNTS locations across the United States. Through its Store-Based Giving Program, the company supports organizations helping young people prepare for academic, personal, and professional success.

The program is specifically focused on providing clothing and accessories to socioeconomically disadvantaged youth participating in ongoing academic achievement or life-skills programs.

What This Program Supports

Ross supports ongoing programs serving socioeconomically disadvantaged youth between the ages of 3 and 24.

Eligible programs must focus on at least one of the following areas:

Academic Achievement

Programs that help young people develop the academic foundation needed to succeed in school and prepare for the workforce, including:

• Literacy
• STEM education
• Writing skills
• Tutoring
• Preschool and Head Start programs
• GED programs
• Stay-in-school initiatives
• College readiness

Life Skills

Programs that help young people build confidence, character, independence, and workforce readiness, including:

• Mentoring
• Financial literacy
• After-school programs
• Soft-skills development
• Career readiness
• Job-skills training

Eligible Support Types

Support is provided exclusively through:

• Ross Dress for Less gift cards
• dd’s DISCOUNTS gift cards
• Gift cards for school clothing and accessories
• Gift cards for professional clothing and accessories

Gift cards may not be used for other organizational, event, program, or participant expenses.

Eligibility & Preferences

Applicants must meet all of the following requirements:

• Be a federal tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization, school, or government program
• Provide an ongoing academic achievement or life-skills program
• Serve socioeconomically disadvantaged youth between the ages of 3 and 24
• Demonstrate that at least 60% of the youth served come from low-income families
• Serve a community located within 25 miles of a Ross Dress for Less or dd’s DISCOUNTS store
• Have not received a donation from Ross Stores Foundation, Ross Stores, Inc., or dd’s DISCOUNTS within the previous 12 months
• Maintain nondiscrimination policies consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws

Applicants can use the Ross Dress for Less and dd’s DISCOUNTS store locators to determine whether their organization meets the geographic requirement.

Ineligible Requests

Ross Stores does not support:

• One-time clothing giveaways
• Fundraising events
• Event sponsorships
• Galas, auctions, raffles, walkathons, golf outings, or conferences
• Prom, school dance, or sober-graduation events
• Sports programs or booster clubs
• Medical or health programs
• General social-service programs
• Animal-welfare programs
• Fine-arts programs
• Camps or retreats
• Religious-focused programs that are not open to the general community
• Organizations located more than 25 miles from an eligible Ross or dd’s DISCOUNTS store
• Organizations that received Ross-related support within the previous 12 months

Applications submitted by phone, mail, email, or fax will not be considered.

Funding Amounts

Gift card donations are typically valued between $300 and $500.

Actual award amounts depend on available funding and the organization’s alignment with the program’s mission.

This is an in-kind gift card opportunity rather than a cash grant.

Timeline & Review

📅 First 2026 Cycle: January 19–March 20, 2026
📅 Second 2026 Cycle: April 27–June 26, 2026
📅 Current Cycle: July 20–September 18, 2026
📅 Current Deadline: September 18, 2026

Ross receives a high volume of requests and cannot approve every eligible application. The company generally does not provide individual explanations when an application is declined.

Application / Request Process

Organizations must begin by completing the online eligibility quiz.

Applicants who meet the program requirements will be directed to the online application portal. Organizations should be prepared to confirm:

• Their nonprofit, school, or government status
• The ages and income characteristics of the youth served
• The percentage of participating youth from low-income families
• The organization’s proximity to a Ross Dress for Less or dd’s DISCOUNTS store
• The ongoing nature of the academic achievement or life-skills program
• How the gift cards will be used for school or professional clothing
• Whether the organization has received Ross-related support during the previous 12 months

Applications must be submitted through the online portal before the applicable cycle deadline.

Apply / Learn More

➡️ Review the Ross Store-Based Giving Guidelines

➡️ Complete the Store-Based Giving Eligibility Quiz

Why This Opportunity Is a Good Fit

This opportunity is a strong fit for organizations that:

• Operate an ongoing academic achievement or life-skills program
• Serve youth between the ages of 3 and 24
• Primarily serve young people from low-income families
• Are located near a Ross Dress for Less or dd’s DISCOUNTS store
• Need clothing assistance for students, job seekers, or young adults entering the workforce
• Can distribute and track gift cards for their required purpose

The Ross Store-Based Giving Program is best suited for youth-serving organizations that can connect clothing assistance directly to academic participation, career preparation, financial literacy, mentoring, or workforce-readiness programming.

Corporate Grants Guide Notes

Review Type: Three application cycles during 2026
Current Application Window: July 20–September 18, 2026
Current Deadline: September 18, 2026
Typical Support: $300–$500 in gift cards
Best Suited For: Ongoing academic achievement, mentoring, financial literacy, college-readiness, and workforce-readiness programs
Geographic Requirement: Within 25 miles of a Ross Dress for Less or dd’s DISCOUNTS store
Important Restriction: Gift cards may only be used for school or professional clothing and accessories