We invite applications for our New & Experimental Works Program from March 3-24, 2026. Grants of $5K-$30K provide unrestricted and artist fee support to small and mid-size dance and theater organizations to produce visionary works relevant to the communities they serve.

Amid federal cuts to scientific research, we used our 2025 Response Fund to benefit early career scientists working on Foundation-funded IBD research. Beyond direct grants, we also financed a documentary aimed at shifting harmful narratives about science.

Visit the African American Museum and Library at Oakland today for a Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Film Festival. Watch civil rights film screenings and bring the whole family for kid-friendly hands-on activities from 11 AM – 6 PM. Register to attend: oaklandlibrary.bibliocommons.com/events/694b3...

Join the City of Oakland on Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. Volunteer at a project site as an individual or group to honor Dr. King’s legacy by caring for Oakland’s environment and uplifting our neighborhoods.

Last January, we dedicated $4 million to our Response Fund to meet the moment. Explore how we used these resources to be nimble, timely and strategic as we galvanized to support our communities and protect and defend human rights.

Nicole Kendrick (right) served as our Education Program Officer since 2023 and is moving on to her next endeavor where she will continue to advance meaningful change. While at the Foundation, Nicole led the development of our Early Care Spaces grant program and co-created the Rest and Care Awards.

We’re thrilled to support another round of artist-led projects that bring powerful, community-centered work to public spaces and spark authentic connection between residents and our region’s unique cultural identities and practices.

We awarded $999,391 in grants in November to ensure that Oakland’s youngest learners have access to culturally connected literacy & translanguaging practices, which support all children to engage in learning by using all the languages & dialects they know.

2023 Rainin Arts Fellow Mohammad Gorjestani’s 1-800 Happy Birthday project comes to Oakland during Black History Month. This large-scale exhibition honors Black and Brown victims of police violence and systemic racism, using audio, video, mural and personal ephemera to tell their stories.

In 2025, we were inspired by how our communities showed up and cared for one another. Two of our top blogs centered around facing the challenges of the year and offering resources to support nonprofits. We look forward to continuing our important work together in 2026.

We support innovative ideas that have the potential to improve the prediction, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of IBD. We’re proud to fund out-of-the-box thinking like Dr. Othmans and Dr. Jackson’s that can enhance the quality of life for IBD patients.

“This work matters. My wish for you is to reconnect with your ‘why’ & to share it with one another. It’s what binds us in our shared purpose.” —Dana Cilono We were honored to gather with our Education grantees to celebrate their continued work to improve early literacy in Oakland. 📸: Mitch Tobias

Our Innovations Symposium returns to San Francisco on July 19-21, 2026. This annual gathering brings together researchers, trainees and clinicians from around the world to advance IBD research. Check out who will be speaking and register for the event: krfoundation.org/innovations-...

Former Innovator Awards grantee, Shruti Naik, and Aaron F. Mertz recently published “Beyond the lab: trust, storytelling and the fight for America’s attention.” Read how scientists can help rebuild public trust in science by stepping out of the lab and engaging directly with communities.

Congratulations to Edgar Rosales, a Courage Project honoree for his leadership at Long Beach City College & commitment to empowering unhoused & low-income students. We’re proud to support The Courage Project, which honors those who demonstrate extraordinary courage & compassion in their communities.

As this year comes to a close, we reflect on the power of community and the importance of rest and care. All of us at the Kenneth Rainin Foundation wish you a restorative and joyful holiday season and all the best in the new year. Our offices will be closed December 24-January 2.

Congratulations to the 17 SFFILM Rainin Grant and three SFFILM Rainin Filmmakers with Disabilities Grant recipients! Check out the latest list of filmmaking projects that we’re thrilled to support.

Don’t miss Obsidienne Obsurd’s one-night only performance tonight. “The Last 7 Days of Obsidienne Obsurd” delves into their gender transition, the related mental health and financial challenges and family dynamics. We’re proud to support this project through our New & Experimental Works Program.

The SFFILM Festival returns April 23-May 4, 2026. Interested in submitting your film for consideration? The final deadline to submit narrative, documentary and animated features, youth works, and mid-length narrative, documentary and animated films is coming up on December 10.

Looking to get creative with your little one? Visit the Lakeview Branch of Oakland Public Library December 3, 10 and 17 to paint. Your child’s work will be exhibited as part of their Winter Solstice Youth Art Show, which will be up from January 2-March 6.

Download @crohnscolitisfdn.bsky.social's “Real Life With IBD Guide” to explore real-world perspectives, tips on navigating daily challenges & gut-friendly recipes. We’re proud to support researchers working to improve the prediction, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of this complex disease.

Our friends at Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation are working alongside organizations like Alameda County Community Food Bank and Community Kitchens to help feed families. Double your impact this holiday season as they will match every dollar you give, up to $500K: give.eatlearnplay.org/campaign/740...

Sustainable Economies Law Center, Vital Arts and Movement Law are hosting their last Artist Legal Cafe of the year on December 4. A 30-minute "nano-training" will be followed by a one-on-one sessions with a lawyer to get answers to your questions about entity formation, contracts, governance & more.

Downtowns look different in the post-pandemic era, and Denver is responding creatively, turning vacant office space into long-term opportunities for the arts. Drawing on lessons from the Bay Area, @castsf.bsky.social is helping artists & developers shape an equitable future through shared interests.

We were honored to support 20 early-career travel awards for @keystonesymposia.bsky.social's 2025 conference season. Scholarships and financial aid applications are now open for their 2026 events. Learn more and share this opportunity with scientists in your network.

A group of our staff recently volunteered with Community Kitchens. We helped prepare ~400 sandwiches and potato salad sides for Oaklanders. With the uncertainty around SNAP benefits and the rising cost of living, orgs that are working to feed our community members are more important than ever.

Alice was instrumental to our work supporting filmmakers with disabilities as a founding member of SFFILM’s Disability Advisory Board. She was an incredible force of nature as an artist and a disability right activist and will be deeply missed.

Catch Xochipilli Dance Company’s “VÍNCULO NAHUAL” Nov 21-23 at Dance Mission Theater. This work, supported by our NEW Program, is a dance performance that expresses the culture of shamanic animal shapeshifting abilities with Mexican Indigenous roots.

November is Native American Heritage Month. This Sunday, November 16, Oakland Museum of California is screening a film that highlights the work of Yurok firelighters to reclaim and pass on traditional eco-cultural knowledge, and meditates on the power of fire to heal land and communities.

Join The Teaching Well for “Gathering Gratitude: A Circle of Thanks” on November 18. This free wellness workshop offers a chance to slow down, share stories, recognize small joys and discover how gratitude helps us meet uncertainty with strength.

Supporting Rising Stars! 🌟 Nearly 450 students, postdocs, early-career & LMIC scientists earned scholarships for #KeystoneSymposia 2025—thanks to @krfoundation.org, Bright Focus Foundation, @bwfund.bsky.social, GSK & more. Apply to be a 2026 awardee! 🔗 keypoint.keystonesymposia.org/home/2025-co...

Some nonprofits are considering mergers to share resources in this moment. Learn how to assess opportunities & challenges, determine mission & brand alignment and develop communication strategies for a merger or acquisition via Full Court Press Communications. RSVP: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

NEW Program grantee @lalenguatheater.bsky.social is presenting “Amalia y la vida de las cosas” Dec 3-14. This US premiere features bilingual local actors to explore identity, intergenerational gaps & the use of technology. Get early bird tickets through Nov 15 with code EARLYBIRD25.

Third Plateau’s Arts & Culture Evaluation Lab is a 10-week, cohort-based training program that supports nonprofit staff in developing their own in-house evaluation process. Join a Q&A session on November 13 and submit an interest form by December 15.

Tomorrow, November 4, our NEW Program grantee AfroSolo Theatre Company is hosting an event that blends art, education and civic engagement. Attendees will gain strategies and emotional insight on navigating police encounters safely and respectfully.

Starting today, November 1, benefits will be delayed for the millions of Americans who use SNAP. Restaurants across the Bay Area are providing free and discounted meals to children and families who rely on CalFresh, California’s version of SNAP.

Published every three years, the World Cities Culture Report is the most comprehensive dataset of culture in cities. It’s used by policymakers, researchers and media to track trends and inform policy. Check out the newly released 5th Edition: worldcitiescultureforum.com/report/5th-e...

Oakland Museum of California’s 31st annual Día de los Muertos Community Celebration is coming up on Sunday, October 26. Enjoy a full day honoring the vibrant traditions of this holiday through performances, hands-on activities and food. Learn more and get tickets.

“Our scientific community is working on new therapies, new diagnostic tools and increasing our understanding of IBD. All of that work gives me hope for improved outcomes for IBD patients like me.” - Jen Rainin, PhD, CEO

Our grantee BANANAS, Inc. is hosting playgroups at Oakland’s Main Library on the 4th Friday of the month. Children 0-5 years old can play, celebrate music & create art while their families learn new parenting tools centered around child development. Join them this Friday, Oct 24, from 12-1:30 PM.

Early bird registration for the Literacy & Justice for All Symposium ends Oct 31. This event brings together educators, practitioners, funders, leaders, influencers and community stakeholders to share and learn tools that address the literacy needs of all learners.

We believe that the people who make up the Rainin Foundation should reflect the richly diverse communities we serve, and we continue to work toward that goal. An array of perspectives and lived experiences strengthen our impact. Explore our updated staff, senior leader and Board demographics.

“You all do heroes work in reminding us as a society that human connection sparks curiosity and empathy, creativity heals and the arts are essential to thriving civic communities.” - Liz O’Malley, Arts Director, in celebration of our grantees 📸: Barak Shrama

A landmark early literacy bill, AB 1454, achieved unanimous, bipartisan legislative support and is now state law. All of California’s early learners will receive evidence-based reading instruction aligned with decades of research. 🎉

The next CA Arts & Culture Summit is happening April 20, 2026. Attendees will explore how imagination and cultural practices translate into healing, advocacy and influence. Submit your ideas for panels and breakout sessions by October 14.

GivingData's new eBook includes input from our Grants Management & Learning Team on how we’re working to better support our grantees. Explore “How Funders are Embracing Flexible and Responsive Grantmaking Models.”

Our 2025 Innovations Symposium drew 133 researchers, clinicians and industry professionals from around the world to Hawai`i. This year’s gathering was enriched by a sense of community and shared purpose to advance Inflammatory Bowel Disease research. Read more about the event.

Catch third-generation Oakland artist and 2024 Rainin Arts Fellow Adrian Burrell’s multimedia installation at Oakland Museum of California through March 1, 2026. “Black Spaces: Reclaim & Remain” illuminates the past, present and future worlds of Black Americans in West Oakland.

Read about the incredible work of our grantee Artist Space Trust, which focuses on stabilizing the lives of artists through housing and creative space. They’ve accumulated $10 million in properties that have been bequeathed to them by artists for artists.

Early bird registration is open for the Literacy & Justice for All symposium. Educators and literacy changemakers will gather on March 6-7 to explore effective ways to address the literacy needs of all learners. Register by October 31 at the discounted rate.