The RME Foundation Inc
The RME Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Buffalo, New York. It made charitable grants to organizations in Buffalo and beyond, and its 2024 filing states that it distributed its assets to a donor-advised fund and dissolved as of August 31, 2025.
Key facts about The RME Foundation Inc
In short: The RME Foundation Inc gave $788K across 12 grants in 2025 (avg $66K), mostly in California. 17% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 22-2989388
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $787,733
- Grants made (2025)
- 12
- Average grant
- $65,644
- Median grant
- $1,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 17% first-time grantees (2 of 12, 2025)
- Primary geography
- California (98% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$788K
+424.3% YoY
Grant Count
12
-55.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$66K
+1079.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The RME Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is The RME Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
17%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 2 of 12 grantees (17%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $385K; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $385K first-time, $1K repeat.
- 83% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 825% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The 2025 grants went to a range of charitable organizations. Their stated missions include supporting hospice and palliative care, helping children and families, advancing cancer research and patient support, providing food and services to neighbors in need, offering temporary financial assistance to Erie County residents with medical conditions, and conserving wildlife. These are the grantees’ missions, not a stated mission of the foundation.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 12 grants totaling $787,733. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $768,883, with a median of $1,000. The largest grant was $768,883 to Donor Advised Charitable Giving Inc. DBA DAFgiving360 in San Francisco, California. Other notable grants included $5,000 each to the Center for Strategic and International Studies and Westminster Foundation DBA Buffalo Promise Neighborhood, and $2,500 to The Martin House.
Ready to take the next step with The RME Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 grants went primarily to recipients in California by grant dollars, with smaller shares going to recipients in New York and Washington, D.C., and a share reported as 0% for Wyoming. Recipients included organizations in Buffalo and elsewhere in Western New York, as well as organizations in California, Washington, D.C., and Wyoming.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $85K (2022) to $788K (2025). In 2025 it made 12 grants totaling $788K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Donor Advised Charitable Giving Inc DBA DAFGIVING360 ($769K). Together the top 10 received $787K.
Grant Size Distribution
82 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 77 grants of 82 (94%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Donor Advised Charitable Giving Inc DBA DAFGIVING360 San Francisco, CA | Charitable | $768,883 |
| Center for Strategic and International Studies Washington, DC | Charitable | $5,000 |
| Westminster Foundation DBA Buffalo Promise Neighborhood Buffalo, NY | Charitable | $5,000 |
| The Martin House Buffalo, NY | Charitable | $2,500 |
| Hospice Foundation of WNY Inc Cheektowaga, NY | Charitable | $1,500 |
| Nichols School Buffalo, NY | Charitable | $1,000 |
| Roswell Park Alliance Foundation Buffalo, NY | Charitable | $1,000 |
| Teton Youth and Family Services Jackson, WY | Charitable | $1,000 |
| The Children's Hospital of Buffalo Foundation Buffalo, NY | Charitable | $1,000 |
| Feedmore Western New York Inc Buffalo, NY | Charitable | $500 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grant total | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | $174,071 | $794,024 | $787,733 | 12 |
| 2024 | $788,776 | $63,390 | $156,954 | $150,250 | 27 |
| 2023 | $780,953 | $25,908 | $156,738 | $149,000 | 30 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | $788,776 | $780,953 |
| Revenue | $174,071 | $63,390 | $25,908 |
| Expenses | $794,024 | $156,954 | $156,738 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $787,833 | $150,350 | $149,100 |
| Net Investment Income | $168,684 | $57,002 | $15,550 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,280 | $36,852 | $41,201 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Ann Adam Hopkins as president and treasurer, and Lawrence V Whistler and Margaret Hopkins Whistler as directors.
The RME Foundation Inc is led by Ann Adam Hopkins, President & Treasurer since 2024 (on filings since 2021); none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Ann Adam Hopkins
President & Treasurer
Vice President & Secretary → President & Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lawrence V. Whistler
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Margaret Hopkins Whistler
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: L. Nelson Hopkins III (2021–2023) — President & Treasurer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Contact
Mailing address: 1111 Elmwood Avenue 406, Buffalo, NY 14222
Phone: (716) 881-5074
Frequently asked questions about The RME Foundation Inc
How much does The RME Foundation Inc give each year?
The RME Foundation Inc gave $788K across 12 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $150K across 27 grants.
What is The RME Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The RME Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $65,644, across 12 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The RME Foundation Inc that year got $385K on average.
Where does The RME Foundation Inc give grants?
The RME Foundation Inc gives mostly in California: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Buffalo, NY (8 grants).
Does The RME Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 12 grants with a stated purpose on The RME Foundation Inc's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (12 grants).
Who are The RME Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The RME Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Donor Advised Charitable Giving Inc DBA DAFGIVING360 ($768,883), Center for Strategic and International Studies ($5,000) and Westminster Foundation DBA Buffalo Promise Neighborhood ($5,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 99% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
What does The RME Foundation Inc fund?
The 2025 grants went to a range of charitable organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The RME Foundation Inc?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
How much is The RME Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, The RME Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The RME Foundation Inc's EIN?
The RME Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-2989388. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Does The RME Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching The RME Foundation Inc by hand.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The RME Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Inc
Buffalo, NY
The Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo funds nonprofits and community initiatives addressing racial and ethnic equity, economic mobility, environmental resilience, and regional arts and culture, primarily across Western New York’s eight counties. Its 2024 grants ranged from $5,100 to $1,790,661, with a median of $23,220; it accepts applications through its competitive process, which requires a full electronic application.
Assets
$944.0M
Grants
562
Total Given
$33.4M
The John R Oishei Foundation
Buffalo, NY
The John R. Oishei Foundation supports community-led work advancing racial equity and financial prosperity, including education, workforce development, arts and technology, and systems change in the Buffalo-Niagara region, with priority for Buffalo’s East Side. Its 2024 grants ranged from $750 to $930,000, with a median of $20,000. It is not accepting new grant requests; organizations interested in partnership can complete its Request to Partner form.
Assets
$330.0M
Grants
168
Total Given
$9.5M
Ferguson Electric Foundation
Buffalo, NY
The foundation supports healthcare, education, community services, and arts organizations, with recent grants ranging from $500 to $15,000 and a median of $2,000. Its giving is focused mainly in New York, especially the Buffalo area. It accepts written grant requests; no deadline is listed.
Assets
$901K
Grants
29
Total Given
$82K
The Cameron and Jane Baird Foundation
Buffalo, NY
The foundation funds education, human services, and philanthropy and community giving, including cultural, health, and humanitarian work. In 2024, its 131 grants totaled $2.77 million, with a median award of $7,500; it focuses mainly on New York, California, and Massachusetts. It supports preselected charities only and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$36.7M
Grants
131
Total Given
$2.8M
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Saint Louis, MO
Enterprise Holdings Foundation supports nonprofits in health, education, arts, disaster relief, reforestation, hunger relief, and community equity, with an emphasis on organizations actively supported by Enterprise employees and their families. Its reported grants range widely: 2024 giving averaged about $7,700 across 9,499 grants, while the foundation also offers awards of up to $40,000; it supports communities where Enterprise operates worldwide. Unsolicited requests are accepted at any time, but eligible applications must be submitted by an Enterprise team member or their spouse or domestic partner on behalf of a nonprofit they actively support.
Assets
$594.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$101.4M
The Ford Foundation
New York, NY
The Ford Foundation funds organizations, individuals, and ideas working to reduce inequality and advance social justice, including work in areas such as immigrant justice, criminal justice reform, gender equity, and arts and culture, through grants around the world. Its 2024 grants had a median of $100,000, with amounts ranging from $45 to $15 million; it does not accept unsolicited requests by mail, email, or phone.
Assets
$17.5B
Grants
4,007
Total Given
$844.7M
The New York Community Trust
New York, NY
The New York Community Trust funds projects in areas including arts, education, health, human services, community development, and the environment, primarily in New York City, Long Island, and Westchester, with some opportunities elsewhere. Its 2024 median grant was $20,000, though awards varied widely. It accepts applications through its open competitive grants program and selected RFPs or letters of interest; donor-advised funds do not accept proposals.
Assets
$3.5B
Grants
2,748
Total Given
$193.8M
The Simons Foundation Inc
New York, NY
The Simons Foundation funds research in mathematics and the basic sciences, as well as autism and other disease research, through grants to research centers, universities, and related organizations. In 2024, grants ranged from $1,480 to $20 million, with a median of $72,000; funding is concentrated in New York, California, and Massachusetts, with awards also made elsewhere in the U.S. and internationally. Whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$4.5B
Grants
1,727
Total Given
$272.0M
More Funders in New York
The RME Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?