Reis Foundation Inc.

The Reis Foundation Inc. is a private independent foundation based in Ellicott City, Maryland (10045 Baltimore National Pike A7310), with approximately $12.4 million in assets. Established in 1997, it is governed by an all-volunteer board of six members from the Reis family and close associates: Kyle C Reis (Chairman & Treasurer), Pamela P Reis (President), Blythe G Reis (Secretary), Perryn Reis (Vice President), Sabina Taj (Board Member), and Mark Dupont (Board Member) — none of whom receive compensation. The foundation has no paid staff and directs a remarkable 98.3% of its expenses to charitable disbursements. Revenue comes entirely from investments: asset sales (69%), dividends (17%), and interest (14%). Despite its Maryland base, the Reis Foundation operates as a national grantmaker with a strong progressive orientation, supporting social justice, civil rights, environmental protection, voting rights, and indigenous rights organizations across the United States.

The Reis Foundation's grantmaking has fluctuated significantly, ranging from $70,000 to $3 million annually. In 2023, the foundation made 53 grants totaling $2.21 million, with a clear thematic structure:

Major grants ($100K+): - Groundswell Fund: $250,000 (largest — progressive organizing infrastructure) - Humboldt Area Foundation: $115,000 (Northern California environmental/community) - NAACP Legal Defense & Education Fund: $100,000 - Native American Rights Fund: $100,000 - Environmental Defense Fund: $100,000 - EarthJustice: $100,000 - League of Women Voters: $100,000 - Common Cause Education Foundation: $100,000 - Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights: $100,000

Mid-range grants ($50K–$75K): Organizations focused on environmental justice, education, and community organizing.

Smaller grants ($5K–$25K): 21 grants supporting arts, local environmental groups, and smaller advocacy organizations.

The foundation's focus areas include social justice, civil rights, environmental protection, voting rights, education, arts, reproductive justice, and indigenous rights. In 2021, the foundation made 58 grants totaling $2.96 million with explicit purpose categories including Environmental Justice, Vulnerable Peoples, Sexual Health & Reproductive Justice, and Educational Equity. The typical grant range is $5,000–$250,000.

Among Maryland-based progressive foundations, the Reis Foundation occupies a distinctive niche. While much smaller in assets than the Abell Foundation ($300M) or France-Merrick Foundation ($200M), the Reis Foundation's annual giving of $2.3M against $12.4M in assets represents an exceptionally high payout rate (approximately 18.5%), far exceeding the IRS-required 5% minimum. This aggressive distribution strategy, combined with the foundation's national scope and progressive focus, differentiates it from the more locally focused and moderate Maryland foundations. The Reis Foundation's grantee list reads like a who's who of national progressive organizations.

In its most recent fiscal year (ending June 2024), the Reis Foundation reported: - Revenue: $1,640,039 (asset sales: $1,135,754; dividends: $273,841; interest: $230,444) - Expenses: $2,326,946 - Charitable disbursements: $2,286,225 (98.3% of expenses) - Net income: -$686,907 (spending exceeded revenue) - Total assets: $12,424,179 with minimal liabilities ($782)

The foundation is spending down its assets to maximize charitable impact, with expenses exceeding revenue by $687K in 2024. The 53 grants in 2023 represent a broad portfolio of national organizations. Notable patterns include sustained support for environmental litigation organizations (EarthJustice, Environmental Defense Fund), voting rights groups (League of Women Voters, Common Cause), civil rights legal organizations (NAACP Legal Defense, Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights, Native American Rights Fund), and grassroots organizing infrastructure (Groundswell Fund). The foundation has also shown particular interest in Northern California environmental issues through grants to Humboldt Area Foundation and Mid Klamath Watershed Council.

The Reis Foundation states it only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. However, with 53 grants annually across diverse issue areas, the foundation demonstrates thoughtful and broad grantmaking. For organizations hoping to align:

1. Focus on systemic change, not service delivery: The foundation's grantee list emphasizes legal advocacy (EarthJustice, NAACP LDF, Native American Rights Fund), policy reform (Common Cause, League of Women Voters), and organizing infrastructure (Groundswell Fund) rather than direct service programs. 2. National scope is valued: Unlike most Maryland foundations, the Reis Foundation gives nationally. Grantees span from San Francisco to New York, Boulder to Washington, DC. Geographic location is less important than mission alignment. 3. Progressive orientation is essential: The foundation consistently supports organizations working on environmental justice, voting rights, civil rights, reproductive justice, and racial equity. Conservative or politically neutral organizations are not represented in the grant portfolio. 4. General operating support is preferred: Most grants are designated for "General Support" rather than project-specific funding, suggesting the foundation trusts its grantees' organizational judgment. 5. The Reis family network matters: With a six-person family board and no staff, all funding decisions flow through family members. Professional philanthropy conferences, progressive donor networks, and issue-specific advocacy coalitions may provide pathways to the family's attention. 6. Environmental and indigenous rights are emerging priorities: Grants to Mid Klamath Watershed Council, Humboldt Area Foundation, and Native American Rights Fund suggest growing interest in environmental justice and indigenous sovereignty — organizations in these spaces may find alignment.