Reiman Foundation Inc.

The Reiman Foundation, established in 1986 by Roy and Bobbi Reiman and now managed by Hexagon Inc. under CEO Scott Reiman, operates with a focused philanthropic strategy centered on four pillars: education, healthcare, the arts, and children's initiatives. The foundation's approach prioritizes expanding access to high-quality early childhood, primary, and secondary education; promoting children's health, safety, and well-being; and advancing innovation and excellence in healthcare. With roots in Wisconsin publishing (Roy Reiman built Reiman Publications, later sold to Reader's Digest), the foundation reflects a Midwestern values-driven ethos emphasizing practical impact. The foundation primarily works through preselected partnerships rather than open applications, allowing it to build deep, sustained relationships with grantees. Their willingness to make large challenge grants (such as the $15 million challenge to Children's Wisconsin) demonstrates a strategic approach to leveraging philanthropic capital for maximum impact.

The Reiman Foundation distributed $5.5 million in grants during 2024 across 49 awards, with individual grants ranging from $1 to $1,000,000. The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated in Wisconsin, Colorado, and Virginia, reflecting the family's geographic connections. A standout pattern is the foundation's use of challenge grants to catalyze additional giving—the $15 million challenge to Children's Wisconsin for mental health initiatives exemplifies this leverage strategy. The foundation's assets of approximately $87 million support a roughly 6-7% payout rate, above the required 5% minimum. Funding flows across all four focus areas but appears to weight heavily toward education and children's health. The foundation supports both established institutions and emerging programs, with particular interest in charter school expansion and children's mental health. The move from local Wisconsin giving to a multi-state footprint (WI, CO, VA) suggests expanding geographic ambitions under Scott Reiman's leadership.

Among Wisconsin-based private foundations, the Reiman Foundation is mid-sized but distinctive for its multi-state reach (WI, CO, VA) and use of large challenge grants. The Bradley and Bader foundations operate at significantly larger scale, while the Greater Milwaukee Foundation aggregates community giving. The Reiman Foundation's children-focused health strategy and education pillar align most closely with Bader Philanthropies, though at smaller scale.

The Reiman Foundation's most notable recent activity is the $15 million challenge grant to Children's Wisconsin to support mental health initiatives for children—this is among the largest single grants in the foundation's history and reflects the growing national priority on pediatric mental health. In 2024, the foundation made 49 grants totaling $5.5 million across its four focus areas. The foundation continues to operate from Pewaukee, WI under the management of Hexagon Inc. and CEO Scott Reiman, who has expanded the geographic footprint to include Colorado and Virginia alongside the traditional Wisconsin base. The foundation maintains its website at reimanfoundation.org with an application submittal page, though the primary grantmaking model remains preselected partnerships. The foundation's assets of approximately $87 million position it for sustained giving at current levels.

The Reiman Foundation primarily supports preselected organizations, making traditional application strategies limited. However, consider these approaches: (1) Mail a formal letter of inquiry to Reiman Foundation, Inc., 125 West Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 200, Pewaukee, WI 53072—physical correspondence is the primary contact method. (2) Call 262-696-4455 to inquire about potential alignment before submitting materials. (3) Focus your request on one of four pillars: education (especially early childhood and K-12 access), healthcare (innovation and excellence), children's well-being and safety, or arts programming. (4) Organizations in Wisconsin, Colorado, or Virginia have the strongest geographic alignment. (5) Consider proposing a challenge or matching grant structure—the foundation has demonstrated strong interest in leverage models. (6) Emphasize measurable outcomes in children's lives—the foundation's mission is explicitly child-centered. (7) Charter schools and innovative education models appear to have particular resonance. (8) If focused on children's mental health, highlight the foundation's major commitment in this area through Children's Wisconsin. (9) Be concise and direct—the Midwestern foundation culture values straightforward communication over elaborate proposals.