Reny Charitable Foundation
The Reny Charitable Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1993 and based in Newcastle, Maine. It is the philanthropic arm of the Renys department store chain, which was founded in Damariscotta. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with a focus on supporting community initiatives and charitable causes in the regions where Renys operates.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.6M
+2.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$380K
+5.5% YoY
Grant Count
105
-19.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$4K
+30.7% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation is committed to giving back to the communities it serves. The Reny Charitable Foundation focuses its grantmaking efforts in four major areas:
- Education
- Community
- Environment
- Music
The foundation supports a diverse group of local and national organizations. Notable partnerships and grantees include Camp Sunshine, Maine P-PODS, Good Shepherd Food Bank, American Cancer Society Making Strides, Honor Flight Maine, and the Dempsey Challenge.
Beyond these primary focus areas, the foundation has also supported unrestricted scholarships, including the Loren St Cyr scholarship for students facing challenges in attending college. The foundation has funded community initiatives such as the Round Up for PPOD Cutout Campaign and the New Dama Oyster Festival.
Grantmaking
The foundation notes that each request is reviewed carefully for consideration, though due to the volume of requests received, not all requests can be accepted.
Grant Range
s:** Typical awards range from $200 to $50,000.
How to Apply
** The foundation accepts requests through multiple channels:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Maine and New Hampshire, with particular emphasis on the regions where Renys operates.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $3,557,638 (as of 2024)
Total Giving: $379,650 (2024)
Total Revenues: $343,282 (2023)
Total Expenses: $396,715 (2023)
Total Assets: $3,472,557 (2023)
Employees: 0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,557,638 | $3,472,557 | $3,525,990 |
| Revenue | $511,539 | $343,282 | $239,610 |
| Expenses | $426,458 | $396,715 | $436,645 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $379,650 | $359,727 | $385,518 |
| Net Investment Income | $467,819 | $310,610 | $204,613 |
| Distributable Amount | $213,985 | $197,519 | $215,812 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOHN E RENY | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| ROBERT D RENY | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| FAUSTINE E RENY | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
| ADAM RENY | TRUSTEE | 2 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In recent years, the Reny Charitable Foundation has expanded its community impact. A significant grant of $50,000 was awarded to The Community Energy Fund of Lincoln County to launch a new program addressing home heating system repairs and replacements. This initiative was developed in response to identified community needs, as the foundation recognized that many residents requiring heating assistance also had outdated or failing equipment.
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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