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Our Giving Priorities

health
Strong physical and mental health directly benefits vulnerable communities. Our grants focus on raising awareness and providing a wide array of resources not only to patients, but also to their families.

education
Education is a core building block in creating strong communities. We recognize the importance of education and learning and are focused on providing opportunities to at-risk children and families.

animals
Animals better our world and brighten our days. As humans, it is our moral obligation to care for them in ways that acknowledge their inherent dignity and reciprocate the joy they give us.

the arts
Experiencing the arts can be transformational. Our grants are designed to support and enhance the beauty and creativity that can stem from art.
Our Values
We actively engage with our grant recipients in hopes of developing enduring and collaborative relationships.
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We strive to be informed on issues, processes and dynamics in order to make the best decisions possible.
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We carefully consider immediate and long-term funding opportunities so as to make the most significant impact possible.
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informed
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A Collaboration with Cornell University

"We are drawn to projects that address more than one of our Giving Priorities – which include health, education and animals.This partnership with Cornell University will help dogs live longer, healthier lives."
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RICHARD RINEY, Co-founder of the Margaret and Richard Riney Family Foundation
WE ARE THRILLED TO ANNOUNCE our collaboration with Cornell University to create the Cornell Margaret and Richard Riney Canine Health Center at the College of Veterinary Medicine. Our gift to Cornell will build on its program’s current strengths, endowing a significant internal grants program within the Center for canine health-related research with particular emphasis on studying cancer, genetics and genomics, infectious diseases and immunology. The Canine Health Center also has a public engagement component and is expected to become a leading resource for pet lovers to find trusted, research-based information about dogs.
We wish for a world where animals are treated with kindness, respect and, hopefully, love. We have supported animal welfare and rescue efforts for years and have tremendous admiration for those working globally for rescue and shelter operations. We wanted our Foundation to have a broader impact in addition to these grassroots efforts. In internal discussions, we produced two principles: education and research. We believe that education can encourage the humane treatment of animals. We believe that pet owners are eager to learn about and care for their pets and that they would benefit from access to trusted resources in that journey. We also believe that research, done well, can provide significant advancements in animal healthcare. 
Seeking to make grants that are both impactful and aligned with our giving principles, we were inspired by Cornell University’s plans to bring together its diverse resources to support a center within the College of Veterinary Medicine that furthers the health and well-being of dogs. We were attracted by the possibility of supporting research initiatives that can help dogs live longer, healthier and happier lives. We also know that canine research can, in turn, bring about tremendous advancements in human health and are hopeful that these projects will transform lives of dogs, and their owners, for years to come.
One of the leading veterinary colleges worldwide with more than 50 researchers working on canine health-related research across many departments, Cornell’s College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) is uniquely equipped to accommodate the Margaret and Richard Riney Canine Health Center. Along with clinicians at the Cornell University Hospital for Animals, the Cornell Veterinary Biobank and diagnosticians at the Animal Health Diagnostic Center, the University has the breadth of expertise and infrastructure to conduct and apply research at all levels, from basic discoveries to translational and clinical research to delivering treatments.
For further information, please see www.canine.vet.cornell.edu.
explore more

Ranken Jordan
Discover our impact on one of few U.S. hospitals that provides rehabilitation and subacute medical treatment to children, regardless of the family's ability to pay. Learn more

COVID-19: PPE
Find out how we assisted medical facilities, police and fire departments and shelters across the country in a time of need. Learn more

The Little Bit Foundation
Find out how our grants help facilitate programs that break down barriers to learning and success for students living in poverty. Learn more

Cornell University
Find out how our grant for the Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine will impact education, research, and beyond. Learn more
Grant Review Process
We rely on our board and staff to research and recommend grant proposals that offer creative, impactful and measurable solutions that support our giving priorities. Our team initiates conversations and collaborates with potential grant recipients to develop proposals that consider the needs of all parties.
When reviewing grant opportunities, we evaluate a range of factors:
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Eligibility as a Section 501(c)(3)
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Nature of the relationship with the recipient organization
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Use of grant funds
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Terms of the grant
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Expenditure considerations
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Impact
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Strategic alignment with our mission
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Longer-term needs
no solicitations, please.