On this episode of the Charity Charge Show, we sat down with Valieria Koss, Executive Director of The RennerVation Foundation, to talk about their mission to create joy, growth, and belonging for foster and at-risk youth in Nevada and beyond.
From transformative summer camps to innovative new housing programs, Valieria and her team are helping young people not just survive, but thrive as they transition into adulthood.
About The RennerVation Foundation
Founded by actor Jeremy Renner alongside his sister Kym Renner (a child welfare professional) and a team of dedicated leaders, The RennerVation Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing safe spaces, life skills, and supportive programs for foster and at-risk youth.
Their values—integrity, accountability, empowerment, compassion, inclusivity, respect, collaboration, innovation, and excellence—are the foundation for everything they do.
Whether it’s through summer camps, Christmas celebrations, or ongoing wraparound services, their programs are built to meet children and young adults where they are and help them discover their purpose and joy.
Filling the Gaps in Foster Care
As Valieria explained, the foster care system often leaves young people without the multiple touchpoints and sense of community they need to thrive. Programs like Camp RennerVation provide foster youth with their first opportunity to experience Tahoe’s lakeside beauty, build confidence through positive childhood experiences, and connect with peers and mentors who understand their journeys.
But one of the biggest challenges comes when youth age out of the system at 18 (or 21 under recent law changes). Too often, they’re left without housing, employment, or even a support network.
That’s where RennerVation is stepping in.
Introducing Pave Your Way
The foundation’s newest initiative, Pave Your Way, provides case management, life skills, and—most importantly—supportive housing for youth transitioning into adulthood.
This fall, RennerVation will launch four fully furnished one-bedroom apartments for program participants. With low barriers to entry, the goal is simple: give young people a safe place to call home, while providing the wraparound services they need to succeed—financial literacy, career guidance, wellness programs, and community-building activities (including zombie paintball and yoga!).
As Valieria shared:
“We just want them to have the desire to work with us to start paving the way for a better life.”
Leading with Empathy and Accountability
In her first six months as Executive Director, Valieria has leaned on a key leadership lesson: balancing empathy with accountability.
For her, structure and compliance are essential for nonprofit success, but so is caring for her team and preventing burnout. “Team care is youth care,” she emphasized. By supporting staff and setting clear expectations, the foundation ensures that both the mission and the people driving it can thrive.
Valieria also highlighted the importance of strong board relationships, transparency with data, and collaboration with other local organizations like Eddy House, Boosted Diplomas, and UNR’s Foster the Pack program.
Valieria’s Journey Into Nonprofit Leadership
Valieria’s passion for this work is rooted in her own lived experience. Growing up in a turbulent environment, she credits her mother’s insistence on service and community involvement for shaping her path. From teaching special education in New Orleans to leading Boys & Girls Clubs and Head Start programs, her career has been dedicated to ensuring children receive the opportunities and support they deserve.
Now at RennerVation, she sees her work as a full-circle moment—helping foster youth build the foundation they need for a brighter future.
A Call to Action
For nonprofit leaders, Valieria left a clear message:
Diversify your funding. Relying on a single source can put an organization at risk. Building multiple revenue streams—from government grants to private sponsorships to events—ensures sustainability and impact.
For supporters and listeners, the invitation is simple:
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Donate to sponsor a camper or help furnish new apartments.
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Volunteer your time or expertise.
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Spread the word by sharing RennerVation’s story with your community.
As Valieria reminded us:
“There is always a way to give back if you feel compelled by the mission.”
Full Interview
Q: Valieria, thank you for joining us. Can you start by telling us more about The RennerVation Foundation and its origin story?
Valieria Koss: Thank you so much for having me. At the heart of our work is a simple belief: every child deserves a childhood filled with growth, joy, and belonging.
We serve foster and at-risk youth across Nevada and beyond, and our founder, Jeremy Renner, has always been deeply philanthropic in Northern Nevada. After his accident, he wanted to give back in a bigger way. His sister, Kim Renner, works in child welfare in Los Angeles County, and our vice president, Shana, serves with the Department of Children and Family Services in rural Nevada. Together, they combined their expertise and networks to launch RennerVation.
What’s powerful is that we didn’t just want to duplicate services. We held over 250 meetings with community partners to make sure we were filling gaps in the foster care system and focusing on collaboration.
Q: What gaps are you seeing in the foster care system that the foundation is working to fill?
Valieria: One of the biggest gaps is the lack of consistent touchpoints and community. Many services exist, but they’re not always connected.
Through programs like our summer camps, we provide life-changing experiences at no cost. We cover everything—sleeping bags, pillows, meals—so youth can just enjoy being kids. They’re surrounded by peers who understand their journeys and mentors with lived experience.
But the biggest gap we’ve identified is for youth aging out of foster care. When you turn 18, often there’s no safety net. Suddenly, you’re expected to secure housing, a job, and navigate life on your own. That’s where our Pave Your Way program steps in.
Q: Tell us more about the Pave Your Way program. How does it support youth transitioning into adulthood?
Valieria: Pave Your Way is all about wraparound support. It includes case management, financial literacy, employment support, wellness activities, and community-building experiences—like fitness classes, meetups, or even zombie paintball.
This fall, we’re launching something I’m especially excited about: four fully furnished one-bedroom apartments for youth in the program. These apartments give them a safe, stable home with low barriers to entry. They don’t need to be employed or in school yet—just willing to work with our case manager and start building a better life.
It’s about meeting each young adult where they are and helping them move forward at their own pace.
Q: That’s incredible. You also run summer camps. How have those programs grown, and what impact are you seeing?
Valieria: Our camps are truly transformative. Many of our youth have never even seen Lake Tahoe, despite living nearby. To watch their faces light up is like experiencing the lake for the first time yourself.
We focus on positive childhood experiences (PCEs)—things that help counteract past trauma, build confidence, and create belonging. With the right support, even a week of camp can change how a child views themselves and the world.
We work with partners like Vitality and Raise the Future to ensure our campers have access to mental health support and that our staff are fully trained in trauma-informed care.
Q: Partnerships and collaboration seem central to your approach. How do you work with other organizations in Nevada?
Valieria: Collaboration is everything. We serve youth from birth through age 24, but we also connect with other nonprofits to provide the best fit for each young person.
For example, we work with Eddy House, which provides transitional housing. If one of their youth is ready for independent living, they may refer them to our one-bedroom apartments. We also partner with Boosted Diplomas for tutoring, and with higher education programs like UNR’s Foster the Pack and Truckee Meadows Community College’s foster initiatives.
By cross-referring and creating wraparound services, we ensure no youth falls through the cracks.
Q: Measuring impact can be tough in this space. How does your foundation track success?
Valieria: You can’t run a nonprofit effectively without being data-driven. We collect both qualitative and quantitative data.
That means surveys, focus groups, and stories from campers, foster families, and program participants, alongside hard numbers like program participation, job placements, and collaborative partnerships.
Since Pave Your Way is new, I’m especially excited to track long-term outcomes—how many youth retain jobs, pursue higher education, or transition into independent housing. That data will guide our growth and prove our impact to funders.
Q: Let’s shift to you for a moment. Can you share your personal journey into nonprofit leadership?
Valieria: My story is deeply tied to this work. I grew up in a turbulent environment—my earliest memory is my mom shielding me from gunfire when I was three years old. Despite the hardships, she always instilled in me the importance of giving back, no matter how little we had.
Her commitment to community shaped me. I went on to earn degrees at UC San Diego and Pepperdine, joined AmeriCorps, taught special education in New Orleans, worked with Boys & Girls Clubs, directed Head Start programs, and even served as an assistant dean at UNR.
Every experience reinforced my belief in the power of early intervention, education, and community support. Leading RennerVation feels like a full-circle moment—it allows me to give back in the same way others gave to me.
Q: In your first six months as Executive Director, what’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned?
Valieria: The most important lesson is balancing empathy with accountability.
Working with foster youth requires deep compassion, but nonprofits also require structure, compliance, and accountability to succeed. Empathy can’t replace structure, and structure can’t replace empathy. Both are necessary.
I also believe team care is youth care. If your staff is burned out, your programs suffer. Supporting your team’s well-being is essential to serving youth well.
Q: You mentioned strong board relationships earlier. How do you build effective partnerships with your board?
Valieria: Start by understanding each board member’s “why.” Why did they join? What skills do they bring, and what do they actually enjoy doing?
Some may have finance expertise but prefer to serve on events committees. Others may want hands-on involvement at camp. Aligning their roles with their passions keeps them engaged.
We also emphasize structure and training—clear expectations for attendance, committee service, and term length. That helps avoid burnout and turnover.
And finally, we foster empathy and connection by having our board experience the work firsthand. Many of them come to camp, sleep in bunk beds, and join the youth. Experiencing the mission directly creates deeper buy-in than any report could.
Q: What tools or technologies help your team stay organized?
Valieria: We use DonorPerfect for donor relations, Casebook for client management, and are exploring new platforms for volunteer management and engagement.
The key is not to overwhelm yourself with too many systems but to invest in the right tools—and train your team to use them. We believe in cross-training so everyone can step in when needed.
Q: Looking ahead, what’s next for The RennerVation Foundation?
Valieria: I’m thrilled about our upcoming supportive housing launch—the four one-bedroom apartments I mentioned earlier. With help from partners like Sons of Home in Los Angeles, we’ll fully furnish and personalize each apartment for our youth.
It’s such a powerful step for young people who’ve never had a place of their own. This housing, combined with our wraparound services, will be life-changing.
Q: Finally, what message would you share with nonprofit leaders and supporters listening today?
Valieria: For nonprofit leaders: diversify your funding. Don’t rely on a single source—explore government grants, private foundations, corporate sponsors, and community events. It can feel daunting, but it’s essential for long-term sustainability.
For supporters: there’s always a way to give back. You can donate, volunteer, sponsor a camper, or simply spread the word. Even small acts of generosity make a huge difference in the lives of foster youth.
