Grant Programs
Administered by SFFILM; Apply by May
arts
SFFILM Rainin Grants & Programs
The Rainin Foundation’s unique partnership with SFFILM began in 2009 with the SFFILM Rainin Grant program, which is the largest granting body for independent narrative feature films in the United States.
Accepting Applications May 21-June 17
arts
Open Spaces Program
The Open Spaces Program supports artist-driven temporary, place-based public art projects that resonate with communities in San Francisco and Oakland.
Accepting Applications August 4-25
education
Early Care Spaces
Early Care Spaces is an open application program that provides one-year grants of up to $75,000 or two-year grants of up to $100,000 to support organizations promoting early language and literacy development for Oakland children from birth to five years old.
Closed To Applications
health
Innovator Awards
Our Health grants enable researchers worldwide to test ideas, gather and share data, and collaborate to advance the understanding of IBD. The Innovator Awards support individual research projects with grants of up to $150,000 and collaborative projects involving multiple investigators with grants of up to $300,000.
Closed To Applications
arts
New & Experimental Works (NEW) Program
The NEW Program provides unrestricted and artist fee support grants of $5,000-$30,000 to small and mid-size dance, theater and multidisciplinary arts organizations that enable Bay Area artists to produce visionary projects relevant to the communities they serve.
Administered by United States Artists
arts
The Rainin Arts Fellowship
The Rainin Arts Fellowship supports visionary Bay Area artists working in dance, film, public space and theater. This prestigious fellowship recognizes and supports artists who push the boundaries of creative expression, anchor local communities and advance the field. Visionary artists illuminate our experiences and envision pathways to more vibrant communities. They can help us to heal and show us a way forward.
By Invitation Only
foundation
Invite-Only Grants
Invite-Only Grants complement our grantmaking programs in the Arts, Education and Health.
By Invitation Only
foundation
Response Fund
The Response Fund supports exceptional, time-sensitive opportunities that advance the mission, vision, values and strategic goals of the Foundation.
By Invitation Only
foundation
Discretionary Awards
Discretionary Awards allow Kenneth Rainin Foundation staff and Board members to direct a grant to nonprofit organization of their choice.
Sunsetted
health
Early Career Catalyst Award
To commemorate the Foundation's 15th anniversary of formal grantmaking, these one-time awards supported the work of two early career investigators whose research had the potential to improve the lives of people with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).
Sunsetted
arts
Impact Program
The Impact Program provided multi-year capacity building support to small and mid-size dance, theater and multidisciplinary arts organizations that received funding through the Foundation’s New and Experimental Works (NEW) Program.
Grant Applications
If you are interested in applying for a Kenneth Rainin Foundation grant, create a GivingData account. During open grant cycles, you can preview applications and apply for funding.
Grantee Search
Explore current and former Rainin Foundation grantees in the Arts, Education and Health.
Our Work
Learn more about how we work, what we’re learning and our three giving areas.
