Reiner Family Foundation

The Reiner Family Foundation is a small, family-directed private foundation with $61 million in assets that operates without staff, formal application processes, or publicly stated program guidelines. It is administered by Foundation Source, a third-party philanthropic services firm based in Wilmington, Delaware. Understanding this foundation requires recognizing that it functions more like a family giving vehicle than an institutional grantmaker.

The single most important factor in approaching this foundation is the personal relationship. With only three directors — and the founder Daniel T. Reiner now deceased (August 2024) — all grantmaking decisions rest with Andy Reiner and Elizabeth L. Reiner. There is no program officer to call, no LOI portal to submit through, and no published RFP. If you do not have a connection to the Reiner family, your first step is to build one through shared community, professional, or philanthropic networks — particularly in the Spokane, Washington area where the family has deep roots.

The foundation's grantmaking falls into two distinct categories that require different approaches. First, the large donor-advised fund transfers to Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust (typically $2M+ annually) represent the family's broader philanthropic portfolio — these are not accessible through direct application. Second, the smaller direct grants ($10,000-$100,000) to organizations like Gonzaga University, Spokane Humane Society, and Community Colleges of Spokane Foundation reflect personal interests and community ties. It is this second category where new organizations might gain traction.

Geographic alignment is critical. The foundation's direct grants cluster heavily in the greater Spokane area and Pacific Northwest, with secondary interests in Montana (American Prairie Foundation) and California (UCSF). Organizations outside these regions face a steep uphill climb unless they operate in a domain that intersects with the Reiner family's specific interests: biotech/life sciences (reflecting Daniel Reiner's Stemcentrx background), environmental conservation, or higher education.

Given the founder's recent passing, the foundation is likely in a period of transition. Prospective grantees should approach with sensitivity, avoid aggressive solicitation, and demonstrate genuine alignment with the family's values and community commitments rather than transactional funding requests.

The Reiner Family Foundation's financial history reveals a young foundation (established 2018-2019) that has grown rapidly in asset base while maintaining relatively modest annual giving relative to its corpus.

Assets have more than doubled from $28.6 million at inception to $61.05 million in 2024, driven by strong investment returns. Revenue has fluctuated between $3.9 million and $15.1 million annually, depending on investment performance — the foundation's income derives primarily from dividends (42%), asset sales (40%), and other investment income (18%).

Total annual giving has been remarkably consistent at $2.4-2.8 million per year, representing a payout rate of approximately 4.2-4.6% of assets — close to the IRS minimum distribution requirement of 5% for private foundations. This suggests the foundation is not aggressively deploying capital but rather maintaining compliance while growing the endowment.

The grant count has grown modestly: 4 awards in 2020, 6 in 2021, 10 in 2022, 7 in 2023, and 8 in 2024. The median grant size is approximately $36,000-$62,500, but this figure is heavily skewed by the annual multi-million-dollar transfer to Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust, which absorbs 75-85% of total giving in most years.

Stripping out the donor-advised fund transfer, the foundation's direct grantmaking budget is approximately $400,000-$500,000 annually spread across 5-7 organizations. Individual direct grants range from $10,000 (Community Colleges of Spokane Foundation, Honnold Foundation) to $100,000 (Gonzaga University, UCSF Foundation).

The foundation carries zero liabilities, maintains no staff compensation (all three directors serve without pay), and uses Foundation Source for administrative infrastructure — a structure that keeps overhead minimal and maximizes the percentage of expenses directed to charitable purposes (approximately 79% program ratio).

For prospective grantees, the realistic direct grant opportunity is a $10,000-$100,000 award. The foundation has never made a direct grant exceeding $100,000 to an organization other than its donor-advised fund. Organizations seeking six-figure grants should calibrate expectations accordingly.

The Reiner Family Foundation operates at the intersection of family philanthropy and institutional investing. The following table positions it against comparable private family foundations in the Pacific Northwest and similar-sized national family foundations.

Key differentiators: The Reiner Family Foundation is significantly smaller than the major Pacific Northwest philanthropies (Murdock, Allen) but comparable in asset size to Innovia and Wilburforce. Unlike Innovia, which has open competitive processes serving the same Spokane region, Reiner operates entirely through personal relationships. Unlike Wilburforce, which has a clearly defined environmental mandate, Reiner's interests span education, conservation, and human services without formal program categories. The foundation's primary distinction is its billionaire-founder origin (Stemcentrx/AbbVie) and the unusually high percentage of giving routed through donor-advised vehicles rather than direct grants.

The Reiner Family Foundation's most significant recent event is the death of founder Daniel T. Reiner on August 30, 2024, at age 72. Reiner drowned in Trout Lake on his 1,837-acre estate in Pend Oreille County, Washington. The event was ruled non-suspicious by authorities. As the foundation's president, treasurer, and primary director, his passing creates substantial uncertainty about future grantmaking direction.

In fiscal year 2024, the foundation distributed $2,706,773 across 8 grants — a modest increase from $2,516,226 across 7 grants in 2023. The grant portfolio was dominated by a $2,235,226 transfer to Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust (a donor-advised fund), representing 83% of total giving. Direct grants included $100,000 each to University of California San Francisco Foundation and Corporation of Gonzaga University, $36,000 to Spokane Humane Society, and $10,000 to Community Colleges of Spokane Foundation.

Notably, assets grew to $61.05 million (from $59.9M in 2023), reflecting continued investment returns despite the founder's death occurring midway through the fiscal year. Revenue for 2024 was $4.69 million, up from $3.93 million in 2023.

The 2024 filing shows a leadership update: Andy Reiner is now listed as Secretary and Director, while Elizabeth L. Reiner continues as Director. The transition from Daniel T. Reiner's combined President/Treasurer/Director role to the remaining two directors suggests the foundation is operating in a caretaker mode. Whether the surviving directors will maintain the existing grantmaking pattern, wind down the foundation, or redirect its focus remains to be seen in future filings.

For organizations currently receiving grants, continuity through 2025-2026 is probable given the foundation's established relationships and administrative infrastructure through Foundation Source. For new prospective grantees, approaching the foundation during this transition period requires particular sensitivity and patience.

The Reiner Family Foundation does not have a formal application process, which makes the 'application' entirely relationship-dependent. Here is what prospective grantees should understand.

1. There is no application portal, LOI process, or RFP. The foundation's grantmaking is entirely discretionary and relationship-driven. If you find an application form claiming to be for this foundation, it is not legitimate.

2. Geographic proximity to Spokane is your strongest asset. The foundation's direct grants (excluding DAF transfers) overwhelmingly serve organizations in the greater Spokane, Washington area: Gonzaga University, Spokane Humane Society, Community Colleges of Spokane Foundation. If your organization operates in this region, you have a structural advantage.

3. Build the relationship before making the ask. With only two active directors (Andy Reiner and Elizabeth L. Reiner) and no staff, the foundation's giving reflects personal knowledge and trust. Attend community events, serve on overlapping boards, or seek introductions through shared networks in the Spokane philanthropic community.

4. Align with demonstrated interests. The foundation's track record reveals four clear interest areas: (a) higher education and research (Gonzaga, UCSF), (b) environmental conservation (American Prairie Foundation, Honnold Foundation), (c) workforce and vocational training (Community Colleges of Spokane), and (d) animal welfare and community services (Spokane Humane Society). Proposals outside these domains face long odds.

5. Keep the ask modest. Direct grants range from $10,000 to $100,000. The foundation has never made a direct grant exceeding $100,000. A first-time grant of $10,000-$25,000 is the most realistic entry point.

6. Respect the transition period. The founder's death in August 2024 means the foundation is likely navigating succession and strategic recalibration. Aggressive solicitation during this period is inappropriate. A soft introduction with no immediate funding request is the better approach.

7. Understand the DAF dynamic. Most of the foundation's annual giving ($2M+) flows through Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust. This means the family's total philanthropic footprint is larger and more diverse than what appears in direct foundation grants. Knowing this helps you understand the family's broader interests even if the direct foundation grants do not perfectly match your mission.