Established 1952
We advance opportunity, scientific discovery, and civic life — because every community deserves the chance to thrive.
Our Mission
Founded by Eleanor and Charles Reynolds in the spring of 1952, the Reynolds Foundation has long believed that targeted, patient investment can transform the arc of a life — and a society.
We work across three interconnected domains: expanding access to education and opportunity, accelerating scientific and medical research, and strengthening the civic institutions that democracy requires. Our grants range from seed funding for emerging organizations to multi-year partnerships with established institutions.
We do not accept unsolicited letters of inquiry. Grants are initiated through our program staff, who work closely with the field to identify the most promising opportunities for impact.
Learn about our approachWhat We Fund
Each program reflects a conviction that sustained investment in the right places creates lasting change.
Opportunity & Education
We fund scholarships, college completion programs, workforce training, and organizations working to dismantle barriers that prevent talented people from reaching their potential.
View open grantsScience & Medicine
From early-stage basic research to translational science, we support the scientists and institutions pushing the frontier of human knowledge — especially in areas underserved by commercial incentives.
View open grantsCivic & Democracy
Healthy democracies require informed citizens, independent media, engaged communities, and institutions that earn public trust. We invest in all of these with urgency and conviction.
View open grantsClimate & Communities
Our newest program area focuses on the intersection of climate change and community resilience — ensuring that the people most affected by environmental change have the resources to adapt.
View open grants
Our Grantees
From a first-generation college student in rural Mississippi to a cancer researcher in Nairobi, the people the Reynolds Foundation invests in share one thing: the determination to do something that matters.
In 2024 alone, our grantees opened 47 new community health clinics, helped 8,300 students complete college degrees, and published 1,200 peer-reviewed research papers.
Read Grantee StoriesImpact Stories
Science & Medicine
Dr. Amara Osei had the research, the team, and a hypothesis that could change everything — but no funding. A Reynolds Foundation grant gave her the runway she needed.
Read her storyOpportunity & Education
María José Torres became the first person in her family to graduate from college — with a Reynolds Scholarship and the mentors who believed in her before she believed in herself.
Read her storyCivic & Democracy
The Coastal Record had lost half its staff to layoffs. A Reynolds civic journalism grant helped it rebuild — and break the biggest local corruption story in a decade.
Read their storyClimate & Communities
The Isle de Jean Charles community faced total displacement. A Reynolds climate resilience grant helped them plan — and fight for — a future on their own terms.
Read their storyHow to Apply
The Reynolds Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. Our program officers work proactively with the field to identify opportunities aligned with our strategic priorities.
If you believe your organization's work aligns with our programs, you may submit a brief expression of interest. We review all submissions and respond within 60 days.
Grants range from $25,000 to $5M+, with multi-year commitments for strategic partners.
Board meets quarterly: March, June, September, and December.
United States (priority), with select international grants in Science & Medicine.
Tell us briefly about your organization and the work you hope to fund.
We've received your expression of interest and will be in touch within 60 days. We look forward to learning more about your work.
News & Announcements
Building on two years of field research, we are expanding our Climate & Communities program with a new $80M initiative targeting the ten U.S. regions most vulnerable to climate displacement.
Read moreOur annual report details the $340M in grants awarded last year, the outcomes achieved by our grantees, and our strategic priorities for the years ahead.
Download the reportWe are pleased to announce the appointment of three new program officers who will deepen our work in infectious disease, neuroscience, and health equity research.
Read moreThe Board of Directors approved $47 million in new grants at the December meeting, supporting 214 organizations across all four program areas.
Read moreSubmit an expression of interest — our team reviews every submission.