Welcome to
The Reinberger Foundation
2026, the 60th Anniversary of The Reinberger Foundation, brings exciting growth.
Will Bates and Bob Dyer became Co-Executive Directors on January 1. Bob Dyer is the grandson of Robert N. Reinberger and Will Bates the grandson of William C. Reinberger. Robert and William Reinberger were longtime Directors of The Foundation. It is wonderful to have Bob and Will continue this legacy.
Karen Hooser will continue current duties through June and after that will be the President of the Board.
Our mission is to help underserved individuals move toward self-sufficiency as well as to provide opportunities for enrichment in the communities we serve.
To achieve our mission we focus on requests in the areas of Education, Human Service and the Arts.
Program Areas
- Schools and programs that support school age underserved populations in and out of school time
- Adult Education/Literacy
- Workforce Development
Focused on service to Cuyahoga and Franklin Counties.
For support
LOI Submission Begins:
For support
LOI Submission Deadline:
- Housing Stability, including shelter and temporary housing
- Food Insecurity
- Family Violence
Focused on service to Cuyahoga and Franklin Counties.
For support
LOI Submission Begins:
For support
LOI Submission Deadline:
- Museums
- Visual Arts
- Performing Arts
- Media and Communication
- Arts Education
- Zoos
- Public Recreation
For support
LOI Submission Begins:
For support
LOI Submission Deadline:
Application Guidelines
The Reinberger Foundation Process
- Always begins with a Letter of Inquiry using the online application.
- You will find an eligibility quiz prior to accessing our application.
- You will get an email confirmation that your application has been submitted.
- We will respond to your Letter of Inquiry by one month from the deadline for that program area.
- We will either request a Full Proposal or decline support.
Eligibility
- Organizations must have a current 501 (c)(3) ruling from the IRS. In special circumstances, a religious organization or public entity may qualify.
- Organizations must provide service within Ohio. We support Northeast Ohio with a focus on Cuyahoga County and Franklin County focusing on Columbus, Ohio. We will
not be reviewing requests for the Akron area. We will be considering support to organizations focused on service to Cuyahoga Country. - Priority will be given to those organizations that have received our support in the past 5 years.
- If The Reinberger Foundation has not made a grant to your organization in the past 5 years we would like a conversation with you prior to application. Contact Bob Dyer at BDyer@ReinbergerFoundation.org to discuss your request.
- In general, organizations will only be awarded one grant in each calendar year.
Deadlines
EDUCATION ( support)
LOI Submission Begins:
HUMAN SERVICE ( support)
LOI Submission Begins:
ARTS & CULTURE ( support)
LOI Submission Begins:
Full Proposal
- Our request for a Full Proposal will allow you 1 month to prepare and submit.
- Response to the Full Proposal will be approximately 45 days from the submission deadline.
- Grantseekers invited to submit a Full Proposal will be provided the appropriate information regarding deadlines and content.
To begin, create an account, take our brief eligibility quiz and submit a Letter of Inquiry.
Our Grantee Gallery
Grants
History
Founders
Clarence T. Reinberger
(1894-1968)
Clarence T. Reinberger was born in 1894 on Cleveland’s west side, and began his business career in the 1920’s as a pioneer in the automobile replacement parts field. Starting as a clerk in the Cleveland retail store of the National Automotive Parts Association’s (NAPA), he soon advanced to manager of the firm’s store in Akron. The firm continued to grow, and when Mr. Reinberger became president in 1948 it consisted of forty retail/wholesale stores in Ohio, with warehouses in Cleveland, Columbus, and Charleston, West Virginia.
The firm prospered under Mr. Reinberger’s leadership, and in the 1960’s the Automotive Parts Company merged with the Genuine Parts Company of Atlanta. Mr. Reinberger held the position of Chairman of the Board of Genuine Parts Company until his death in 1968.
Louise Fischer Reinberger was born in Germany. After graduation from high school in the United States, she was employed by the Halle Brothers Company, a large Cleveland department store.
The Reinberger Foundation was established by Mr. and Mrs. Reinberger in 1966. Mr. Reinberger left a substantial bequest to the Foundation at his death in 1968. Upon Mrs. Reinberger’s subsequent death in 1984, the major portion of her estate was also bequeathed to the Foundation. Although the Reinbergers had no children, the Foundation continues to be managed by several generations of Mr. Reinberger’s family.
Louise Fischer Reinberger
(1894-1984)
Emeritus Trustees
William Reinberger
(1922-2019)
William Reinberger began his work in Philanthropy in 1970 beside his twin brother Robert. His career as an automotive engineer at TRW gave him a strong counterbalance to his rich understanding of the non-profit institutions of the Greater Cleveland area. He continued his work for over 45 years before moving to Trustee Emeritus in 2015.
Bill’s love of his wife, family, church and community guided his work. His passing on Christmas Eve of 2019 saw him once again reunited with his best friend, brother & twin Bob.
The 4 grandchildren of William as well as one of his daughters serve as Trustees of The Reinberger Foundation.
Robert Reinberger, our long-time Co-Director and Trustee, passed away in 2011. Bob’s tenure at The Foundation began in 1970, and he continued to attend meetings regularly until shortly before his death.
After retiring from a successful career in the aerospace industry in 1986, Bob was able to devote much time and energy to The Reinberger Foundation. Under the guidance of Bob and his identical twin, Bill, the assets of The Foundation grew significantly and through their thoughtful grantmaking, the lives of countless Greater Clevelanders have been improved.
Robert Reinberger
(1922-2011)
Richard Heer Oman
(1926-2017)
Richard Heer Oman served as Trustee and Secretary of the Board for over thirty years. As a lifelong resident of Columbus, Dick was a strong advocate of The Foundation’s grant program in Franklin County.
Dick was a retired partner of the Vorys, Sater, Seymour, and Pease law firm, and throughout his life was active in the community, serving on many boards. As a longtime summer resident of Nantucket, Massachusetts, Dick was also a founder of the Community Foundation for Nantucket.
Board of Trustees
Trustees are descendants of Robert Reinberger and William Reinberger
Robert Reinberger:
- Daughter – Sally (Reinberger) Dyer
- Grandchildren- Nick, and Ted Bedell, Bob and Katie Dyer
William Reinberger:
- Daughter – Karen (Reinberger) Hooser
- Grandchildren – Rich Secor, Will Bates, Lee Bates and Mary Hooser
non-family Trustee
- Victor Ferguson
Contact
Karen R. Hooser
President
The Reinberger Foundation
30000 Chagrin Blvd., #300
Cleveland, OH 44124
Phone: (216) 292-2790
E-Mail: info@reinbergerfoundation.org