News & Stories - Kenneth Rainin Foundation

The Kenneth Rainin Foundation shares news, what we’re learning and stories written in collaboration with our grantees and partners. Read our blogs to learn about the work of the Foundation and the incredible artists, educators and researchers we support.

Photo includes an individual head shot on the left of a young woman with dark brown eyes who is smiling and has long, dark hair dressed in a black top, pictured with a head shot of young man with blue eyes on the right who is smiling and has short, dark blonde hair wearing a blazer and a white shirt.

Team Members Promoted To New Roles

06/03/2026 | Blog Foundation News

The Kenneth Rainin Foundation is pleased to announce the promotions of Megan De Trane and Tavin Jensen to newly created roles.

An educator sitting on the floor, in conversation with students.

Foundation Awards Over $5.8 Million In Education Grants

05/19/2026 | Education

The Kenneth Rainin Foundation awarded $5,864,622 in Education grants in March to launch Accelerating Literacy Leadership.

Trails of colorful light along a crosswalk.

Funding Opportunity For Temporary Public Art Projects

04/29/2026 | Arts

The Kenneth Rainin Foundation invites applications for our Open Spaces Program from May 13 through June 10, 2026.

Foundation Announces 2026 Rainin Arts Fellows [VIDEO]

04/22/2026 | Arts

Meet the 2026 Rainin Fellows: Cece Carpio (Public Space), Sarah Crowell (Dance), Danny Duncan (Theater) and Cheryl Dunye (Film).

Five people standing in front of two buildings in Seattle with interesting architecture.

A Farewell To Jazmyne Woffard-Jones

04/16/2026 | Blog Foundation News

Jazmyne is leaving the Kenneth Rainin Foundation effective April 30 to attend graduate school and become a special education teacher.

A scientist pointing at their research findings on a large screen.

Grant Opportunity For Postdoctoral IBD Researchers

04/01/2026 | Health

Three exceptional postdoctoral researchers will each receive a $300,000 grant, awarded over two years, to support their innovative biomedical research relevant to IBD.

Eighteen people pose together for a group photo, some standing and some crouching.

Bringing Radical Imagination To New Systems That Support Bay Area Artists

03/25/2026 | Arts

Three Foundation grantees share how they are building collective power through policy and advocacy, housing stability and a new cooperative model.

Dr. Anand Navalgund in a lab holding G-Tech Medical's novel wireless patch.

Early Funding Paves The Way For Biomedical Innovations

03/24/2026 | Health

The Rainin Foundation’s early and ongoing investments in three companies help illustrate the opportunities and challenges in this sector.

Dr. Steve Axelrod and Dr. Anand Navalgund working in the lab, using a microscope.

Tracking Gut Motility To Better Understand IBD

03/24/2026 | Health

Explore highlights from our conversation with Steve Axelrod, PhD, President and CEO at G-Tech Medical, which has developed a non-invasive technology to monitor gut motility.

Dr. Julie Saiki speaking with another Symposium attendee while sharing her research in a digital poster session.

A Botanical Extract Shows Promising Results In Refractory Ulcerative Colitis

03/24/2026 | Health

Explore highlights from our conversation with Julie Saiki, PhD, of Azora Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing an alternative to immuno-suppressive therapies.

A microscopic image of intestinal villi and the passage of feces.

Novel IBD Therapy Targets Healing Not Just Inflammation

03/24/2026 | Health

Highlights from our conversation with Gary Mathias of Thetis Pharmaceuticals, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing alternatives to immuno-suppressive therapies.