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Kenneth Rainin Foundation

Annual Giving
$25.0M
Grant Range
$5K - $0.3M
Decision Time
3mo
Success Rate
32%

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $25 million+
  • Success Rate: ~32% (NEW Program)
  • Decision Time: Varies by program (1-3 months typical)
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $300,000
  • Geographic Focus: Bay Area (Arts/Education), International (Health/IBD Research)

Contact Details

Address: 155 Grand Ave Ste 1000, Oakland, CA 94612-3779

Phone: 510-625-5200

Website: krfoundation.org

Program-Specific Contact: Contact forms available on website for Arts, Education, Health programs, or general inquiries

Overview

The Kenneth Rainin Foundation was established in 1998 and publicly launched in 2009, named after Kenneth Rainin, founder of the Rainin Instrument Company (acquired by METTLER TOLEDO in 2001 for $292.2 million). Following Kenneth Rainin's death in 2007, the foundation became the beneficiary of the majority of his estate. Led by CEO Jennifer Rainin (Kenneth's daughter) and Executive Director Shelley Trott, this family-run foundation has assets of approximately $620 million. The foundation's mission is to enhance quality of life by championing the arts, promoting early childhood literacy, and supporting research to cure chronic disease. Since 2009, the foundation has awarded over $64 million in Arts funding and over $56 million in Education funding. Jennifer Rainin's leadership has earned recognition including the 2015 Outstanding Foundation award from the Golden Gate Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and Inside Philanthropy's 2014 IPPY award.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Arts Programs (Bay Area Focus):

  • Rainin Arts Fellowship: $100,000 unrestricted grants to four visionary Bay Area artists annually working in dance, film, public space, and theater. Nomination-based only; administered by United States Artists. Includes supplemental support such as financial planning, communications, marketing, and legal services.

  • NEW (New & Experimental Works) Program: $5,000-$30,000 unrestricted and artist fee support grants to small and mid-size dance, theater, and multidisciplinary arts organizations. Online application through GivingData. Application period typically opens in March (e.g., March 3-24, 2025).

  • Open Spaces Program: Grants for artist-driven temporary, place-based public art projects in San Francisco and Oakland. Two-stage application process with honoraria provided to finalists. Stage one applications typically due in June; stage two in September. At least one-third of grant funds must be designated to artistic project teams.

  • SFFILM Rainin Grant: Grants up to $25,000 for screenwriting or post-production for independent narrative feature films. Largest granting body for independent narrative features in the US. Awards made to 15-20 projects annually in the fall. Over $6 million awarded to 175+ projects since 2009.

Education Programs (Oakland Focus):

  • Early Care Spaces: One-year grants up to $75,000 or two-year grants up to $100,000 for organizations promoting early language and literacy development for Oakland children birth to age five. Online application through GivingData during application period (typically August 4-25). Prioritizes organizations with deep connections to informal care providers and Family, Friend and Neighbor care, with emphasis on Oakland's Flatlands.

  • Accelerating Literacy Leadership: Funding program developed with Community Advisory Council to bolster school-level literacy support. Details vary; developed to recognize schools as sites of change for literacy.

Health Programs (International):

  • Innovator Awards: Grants up to $150,000 for individual IBD research projects or up to $300,000 for collaborative projects involving multiple investigators. Two-stage process: Letter of Inquiry (August 15-September 30) followed by invitation-only full proposals. No preliminary data required. Successful grantees eligible for up to two additional years of support. Awards over $4 million annually in IBD research.

Priority Areas

Arts: Visionary artists and organizations pushing boundaries of creative expression, anchoring local communities, and advancing their fields. Focus on dance, film, public space, and theater. Strong interest in social justice themes.

Education: Evidence-based practices supporting early language and literacy development. Goal: every child entering kindergarten ready to learn and reading at grade level by third grade.

Health: Innovative IBD research that introduces novel methods or technologies to predict, diagnose, treat, and prevent inflammatory bowel disease.

What They Don't Fund

Education: Traditional education systems such as public and private preschools or Head Start programs are not eligible for Early Care Spaces (though organizations that partner with them may apply).

Arts: The foundation focuses specifically on Bay Area artists and organizations; organizations outside this geographic area are generally not eligible for arts programs (except SFFILM screenwriting grants, which are open nationally and internationally).

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership:

  • Jennifer Rainin, Chief Executive Officer - Kenneth Rainin's daughter; has led the foundation since its public launch in 2009
  • Shelley Trott, Executive Director - Joined 2024 after 15 years with the foundation as Chief Program Officer; oversees grantmaking and operations
  • Miyesha Perry, Chief Program Officer (promoted November 2024)

Board of Trustees:

  • Dashiell (Dash) Patterson - Board member, grandson of Kenneth Rainin; appointed 2021 while pursuing Global Studies major at UC Santa Barbara, bringing generational perspective
  • William - Senior Business Advisor for Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona; formerly President and CEO of Goodwill San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin; joined board 2017

Arts Program Staff:

  • Liz O'Malley, Director of Arts Strategy & Ventures
  • Sarah Williams, Arts Program Officer (offers office hours for applicants)

Key Leadership Quotes:

Jennifer Rainin on what they look for: "If there's a type of grantee that we look for, it's someone who is looking at the problem perhaps from a different angle or through a different lens. At Rainin, we're looking for people who are thinking outside of the box and challenging norms."

On the foundation's philosophy: The Kenneth Rainin Foundation takes "smart risks to achieve impactful breakthroughs" and believes it has "an imperative to try untested, creative approaches with the potential to be transformative."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

General Process: All applications must be submitted through GivingData, the foundation's online grants management system, during open application windows. Create a GivingData account before application periods open.

Program-Specific Processes:

  • NEW Program (Arts): Online application through GivingData during application window (typically March). Application revised to align with The Common Application for the Arts.

  • Early Care Spaces (Education): Online application through GivingData during application window (typically August 4-25).

  • Open Spaces Program (Arts): Two-stage process. Stage one applications due June; selected applicants invited to stage two (due September) and receive honoraria. Must attend proposal development workshop if advancing to stage two.

  • Innovator Awards (Health): Two-stage process. Submit Letter of Inquiry through online system (August 15-September 30). Selected applicants invited by Scientific Advisory Board to submit full proposals.

  • Rainin Arts Fellowship: Nomination-based only. Individual artists cannot directly apply. Nominations come from diverse group of Bay Area artists, arts leaders, and cultural organizers. Administered by United States Artists.

  • SFFILM Rainin Grant: Apply through SFFILM (sffilm.org/rainin-grant). Awards announced annually in fall.

Pre-Application Support: The foundation offers office hours with program officers. Sarah Williams, Arts Program Officer, provides office hours for NEW Program applicants during application periods.

Decision Timeline

NEW Program (Arts): Applicants notified approximately 2-3 months after application deadline closes.

SFFILM Rainin Grant: Awards made once per year in the fall (15-20 projects).

Innovator Awards (Health): LOI submission August 15-September 30; full proposals by invitation only with timeline communicated to selected applicants.

Early Care Spaces: Specific decision timeline not publicly disclosed; typical turnaround 2-3 months.

All applicants are notified of decisions through GivingData.

Success Rates

NEW Program: Approximately 32% success rate. In one recent cycle, the foundation received 104 applications and awarded 33 grants. Of those awarded, 45% went to first-time NEW Program grantees and 67% went to organizations with budgets under $250,000.

Success rates for other programs are not publicly disclosed.

Reapplication Policy

General: Reapplication is permitted for unsuccessful applicants. No mandatory waiting period stated.

Feedback Provided:

  • NEW Program: Anonymized panel feedback available upon request to declined applicants
  • Innovator Awards: Comments provided on full proposals not selected for funding; feedback not provided on Letters of Inquiry due to volume
  • Open Spaces Program: Return applicants reapplying for the same project should contact Arts Program Staff

Application Success Factors

Based on direct guidance from the foundation and analysis of funded projects, the following factors increase application success:

Innovation and Fresh Perspectives: Jennifer Rainin explicitly states the foundation seeks applicants "looking at the problem perhaps from a different angle or through a different lens" and those "thinking outside of the box and challenging norms."

Transparency in Budgeting: The foundation emphasizes that "transparency is to your benefit, not your detriment." Include full project costs rather than underestimating expenses to appear more favorable. The foundation values honesty over artificially low overhead.

Scientific Merit (Health Grants): Innovator Awards are evaluated on three criteria: innovation, scientific merit, and investigator capability to execute the project. No preliminary data is required—the foundation values innovative ideas that could transform the field.

Community Connection (Education Grants): Early Care Spaces strongly prioritizes organizations with deep connections to informal care providers, Family, Friend and Neighbor care, and organizations that reflect the communities they serve. Special emphasis on serving Oakland's Flatlands.

Social Justice Themes (Film Grants): SFFILM Rainin Grant prioritizes films that "address social justice issues—the distribution of wealth, opportunities, and privileges—in a positive and meaningful way through plot, character, theme, or setting" while benefiting the Bay Area filmmaking community.

Artist Compensation (Arts Grants): Open Spaces Program requires at least one-third of grant funds be designated to artistic project teams and their direct expenses. The foundation values fairly compensating artists.

Building Relationships: The foundation advises: "Find the points of connection and alignment and stay in communication with the funder. It's likely easier to identify the program director or officer that is connected to your area, so reach out and start a conversation."

Evidence-Based Practices (Education): The foundation has consistently funded evidence-based practices since 2009, focusing on helping children become "confident, capable and joyful learners."

Risk-Taking Projects: The foundation explicitly states it takes "smart risks to achieve impactful breakthroughs" and has "an imperative to try untested, creative approaches with the potential to be transformative."

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Emphasize innovation and unconventional approaches: The foundation explicitly seeks applicants who challenge norms and think differently about problems.

  • Be transparent about full project costs: Don't artificially reduce budgets to appear more favorable; the foundation values honest financial planning and understands overhead costs.

  • Geographic eligibility is strict: Arts and Education programs are Bay Area/Oakland-specific. Ensure your organization meets geographic requirements before applying.

  • Build relationships early: Reach out to program officers before applying, attend office hours when offered, and establish connections with foundation staff to understand alignment.

  • Strong preference for small-to-mid-size organizations: 67% of NEW Program grants went to organizations with budgets under $250,000. The foundation specifically targets this size range.

  • First-time applicants are welcomed: 45% of NEW Program grants in recent cycles went to first-time grantees, indicating openness to new relationships.

  • Use GivingData system and align with Common Application for the Arts: Technical preparation is essential; familiarize yourself with the online system before deadlines.

References

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