The Kenneth Rainin Foundation is an Oakland, California based private grantmaking foundation. The foundation was seeded by the fortune of medical supply manufacturer Kenneth Rainin.

The foundation supports the arts in the San Francisco Bay area and medical research, mostly in the area of inflammatory bowel disease. The foundation also funds childhood education programs in the San Francisco Bay area. ¹

The vast majority of the foundation’s giving is towards noncontroversial causes such as medical research, childhood education programs, and the arts. But the foundation has also supported left-of-center environmentalist organizations and to the controversial Southern Poverty Law Center. ²

The foundation’s co-founder and CEO, Jennifer Rainin, was a public opponent of former President Donald Trump and his agenda on numerous issues. ³

Overview

In 2008 after the passing of her father Kenneth Rainin, who made his fortune manufacturing medical supplies, Jennifer helped to launch the Kenneth Rainin Foundation. She has worked as CEO of the foundation since its founding. ⁴

When Kenneth Rainin died, he left the bulk of his estate to the Kenneth Rainin Foundation. However, the vast majority of the money was given in installments. In the foundation’s first year, it only gave away about $1 million, which was a small portion of Rainin’s estate. ⁵

Reflecting Rainin’s life and interests, the mission of the foundation is to support medical research (especially in the area of inflammatory bowel disease) and the arts. ⁶

The foundation has a major commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion issues inspired by critical race theory. The foundation began its commitment to the program in 2017 with some of its arts giving. In addition, the foundation’s CEO Jennifer Rainin has a personal commitment to the critical race theory-aligned doctrine of “anti-racism.” ⁷

The foundation established the SFFILM Rainin Filmmaking Grants, the largest independent narrative film grantmaking body in the U.S. The foundation also created the Community Arts Stabilization Trust, which purchases and leases space for nonprofit arts organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area. ⁸

Opposition To Donald Trump

In 2017, Jennifer Rainin signed a letter on behalf of the foundation that opposed an executive order by President Donald Trump that barred entry to the United States of nationals of certain countries. The letter also opposed increased deportations and enforcement of immigration law. Finally, the letter also declared its opposition to policies that would “affect the rights” of women, African-Americans, the LGBT community, and others. ⁹

Also in 2017, she published a blog post on the foundation’s website that accused then-President Trump of encouraging racism, hatred, intimidation, and violence. She then linked the a post from the controversial far-left Southern Poverty Law Center. ¹⁰

In 2021, she signed a letter on behalf of the foundation that attacked President Donald Trump and blamed him for fanning the flames of political violence in the wake of the January 6^th attack on the U.S. Capitol. The letter also blamed Trump and other Republicans of promoting conspiracy theories and denying the legitimacy of President-elect Joe Biden’s election. ¹¹

Leadership

Jennifer Rainin is the chief executive officer of the foundation. She is the daughter of the foundation’s namesake and she helped co-found the foundation after his death. She is also a filmmaker. ¹²

Finances

According to its 2019 tax return, the foundation generated $13,884,229 in revenue and had expenses of $30,757,897, with $16,421,074 awarded as grants. The foundation has $619,535,428 in assets. ¹³

Most Kenneth Rainin Foundation grants are to not-overtly-political causes such as medical research, arts, and childhood education. But left-of-center organizations such as Earthjustice and the Southern Poverty Law Center have also received KRF grants. ¹⁴

1. Kenneth Rainin Foundation, Return of a Private Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2019. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/943289283/02_2021_prefixes_92-95%2F943289283_201912_990PF_2021021917723586.
2. Kenneth Rainin Foundation, Return of a Private Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2019. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/943289283/02_2021_prefixes_92-95%2F943289283_201912_990PF_2021021917723586.
3. Rainin, Jennifer. “We Must Not Be Silent.” Kenneth Rainin Foundation. August 25, 2017. https://krfoundation.org/we-must-not-be-silent/.
4. “Jennifer Rainin.” Kenneth Rainin Foundation. Accessed January 31, 2022. https://krfoundation.org/about/who-we-are/staff/jennifer-rainin/#:~:text=Jen%20Rainin%20launched%20the%20Kenneth,outside%20of%20philanthropy%27s%20traditional%20circles
5. Wolfe, Dawn. “Five(Ish) Questions For Jennifer Rainin, CEO Of Arts And Education Funder The Rainin Foundation — Inside Philanthropy.” Inside Philanthropy. October 28, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211028184032/https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2021/10/28/5-ish-questions-for-jennifer-rainin-ceo-of-arts-and-early-ed-funder-the-rainin-foundation.
6. Wolfe, Dawn. “Five(Ish) Questions For Jennifer Rainin, CEO Of Arts And Education Funder The Rainin Foundation — Inside Philanthropy.” Inside Philanthropy. October 28, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211028184032/https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2021/10/28/5-ish-questions-for-jennifer-rainin-ceo-of-arts-and-early-ed-funder-the-rainin-foundation.
7. Rainin, Jennifer. “An Update On Our Journey With Diversity, Equity And Inclusion.” Kenneth Rainin Foundation. November 18, 2020. https://krfoundation.org/an-update-on-our-dei-journey/.
8. “Jennifer Rainin.” Kenneth Rainin Foundation. Accessed January 31, 2022. https://krfoundation.org/about/who-we-are/staff/jennifer-rainin/#:~:text=Jen%20Rainin%20launched%20the%20Kenneth,outside%20of%20philanthropy%27s%20traditional%20circles.
9. “Joint Foundation Statement On Immigration.” February 24, 2017.  Zellerbach Family Foundation. https://zff.org/2017/02/joint-foundation-statement-on-immigration/.
10. Rainin, Jennifer. “We Must Not Be Silent.” Kenneth Rainin Foundation. August 25, 2017. https://krfoundation.org/we-must-not-be-silent/.
11. “Jerome Signs On To Letter Condemning Political Violence.” January 11, 2021. Jerome Foundation. https://www.jeromefdn.org/jerome-signs-letter-condemning-political-violence.
12. “Jennifer Rainin.” Kenneth Rainin Foundation. Accessed January 31, 2022. https://krfoundation.org/about/who-we-are/staff/jennifer-rainin/#:~:text=Jen%20Rainin%20launched%20the%20Kenneth,outside%20of%20philanthropy%27s%20traditional%20circles.
13. Kenneth Rainin Foundation, Return of a Private Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2019. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/943289283/02_2021_prefixes_92-95%2F943289283_201912_990PF_2021021917723586.
14. Kenneth Rainin Foundation, Return of a Private Foundation (Form 990-PF), 2019. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/943289283/02_2021_prefixes_92-95%2F943289283_201912_990PF_2021021917723586.