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
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Reny Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $214K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Bangor Area Ymca ($50,000), Eldercare Network ($15,000), Lincoln Academy Annual Fund ($15,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALNA ANCHOR LODGE ( WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA) DAMARISCOTTA, ME | WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA | $1,000 |
| ART VAN BRUNSWICK, ME | UNRESTRICTED | $5,000 |
| BANGOR AREA YMCA BANGOR, ME | UNRESTRICTED | $50,000 |
| BANGOR HIGH SCHOOL BANGOR, ME | UNRESTRICTED | $3,000 |
| BATH AREA BACKPACK PROGRAM BATH, ME | UNRESTRICTED | $300 |
| BELFAST AREA HIGH SCHOOL BELFAST, ME | UNRESTRICTED | $1,000 |
| BELFAST FIRE & AMBULANCE BELFAST, ME | UNRESTRICTED | $1,000 |
| BELFAST FREE LIBRARY BELFAST, ME | UNRESTRICTED | $500 |
| BIGELOW LABS EAST BOOTHBAY, ME | KELLER BLOOM PROGRAM | $5,000 |
| BONNEY EAGLE HIGH SCHOOL STANDISH, ME | UNRESTRICTED | $1,000 |
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.
Reny Charitable Foundation - RenysFrequently Asked Questions
What does Reny Charitable Foundation fund?
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…
How do I apply for a grant from Reny Charitable Foundation?
**Grant Sizes:** Typical awards range from $200 to $50,000. **Recent Grant Activity:** Based on the most recent available data, the foundation made 130 grants in 2023, with total giving of $379,650. **Recent Grants:** Notable recent grants include: • $50,000 to The Community Energy Fund of Lincoln County for a new program to upgrade and replace failing heating systems in local homes • $20,000 to Tedford Housing (unrestricted) • $16,000 to Maine Community Foundation (All 16 Counties) • $15,000 t…
Where does Reny Charitable Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Maine and New Hampshire, with particular emphasis on the regions where Renys operates.
What size grants does Reny Charitable Foundation award?
In 2024, Reny Charitable Foundation awarded 105 grants totaling $380K — an average of about $4K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Reny Charitable Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Reny Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $214K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Reny Charitable Foundation's EIN?
Reny Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 02-6095307. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Reny Charitable Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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