our grantmaking process

The Raikes Foundation makes grants in three core program areas: Education, Youth Homelessness, and Impact-Driven Philanthropy. We also make a limited number of community grants and grants for special projects. Proposals are by invitation only. We make the majority of our grants to organizations we have identified. We do not accept unsolicited proposals. 

To be eligible for a grant, applicants must be classified as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and as public charities under section 509(a)(1), (2) or (3) of the Code. Public organizations designated under section 170(c) of the Code are also eligible. The Raikes Foundation does not make grants to individuals or to organizations outside the United States. 

The Raikes Foundation does not fund: individuals; organizations that discriminate on the basis of age, race, national origin or citizenship, ethnicity, gender, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation or religious belief; or religious purposes unless grant activities address the needs of the wider community without regard to religious beliefs.

Even if our grants and strategies don’t fully succeed, we only fail if we don’t learn.

– Jeff Raikes

List of Grants

Organization Requests Award Date Amount Program
Children & Youth Justice Center Philanthropy for Child Well Being (aka Philanthropist Forum) 08/22/23 $5,000.00 YSS Cross Cutting - State/Local Transformation Pilots
Think of Us Supporting Youth Engagement on Foster Care WA State Settlement 04/04/23 $5,000.00 YSS Cross Cutting - State/Local Transformation Pilots
Foster Forward Youth Transition Funders Group: Membership (2023) 03/27/23 $15,000.00 YSS Cross Cutting - Nat'l FB/Adv/Learning
The Seattle Foundation Funders for Adolescent Science Translation (FAST) Collaborative (2023) 07/18/23 $300,000.00 YSS Cross Cutting - Nat'l FB/Adv/Learning
Bend the Arc: A Jewish Partnership for Justice Funders’ Collaborative on Youth Organizing General Operating Support 12/22/21 $100,000.00 Youth Serving Systems - Cross Cutting
Common Counsel Foundation Visionary Freedom Fund 12/13/21 $50,000.00 Youth Serving Systems - Cross Cutting
National Network for Youth Inc. National Prevention Initiative Advancement (ASPYHR) 10/31/22 $30,000.00 Youth Homelessness
YMCA of Greater Seattle Facilitation of the Young Grantmakers Facilitator Funds 09/01/23 $95,922.00 Youth Homelessness
Northstar Advocates General Operating Support 09/27/22 $35,000.00 Youth Homelessness
Children & Youth Justice Center Youth Homeless Advocacy Coordination 02/16/22 $36,000.00 Youth Homelessness
Mockingbird Society 2022 Youth Leadership Summit Sponsorship 06/15/22 $2,500.00 Youth Homelessness
Fellow - Isaac Sanders 2022 Community Leaders Fellowship 06/30/22 $10,000.00 Youth Homelessness
True Colors United National Prevention Initiative Advancement (ASPYHR) 11/03/22 $15,000.00 Youth Homelessness
Resilient in Sustaining Empowerment General Operating Support (via Young Adult Grant Advisory Committee) 08/18/21 $5,000.00 Youth Homelessness
The Seattle Foundation The Seattle Times: Solutions Oriented Journalism Project on Homelessness 07/06/23 $37,500.00 Youth Homelessness
Third Sector New England Inc. A Way Home Washington Core Operations 09/12/22 $12,500.00 Youth Homelessness
Chapin Hall Center for Children Voices of Youth Count (Partnership with CloseKnit) 11/12/21 $7,500.00 Youth Homelessness
Legal Counsel for Youth and Children General Operating Support 10/30/23 $50,000.00 Youth Homelessness
Fellow - Kenneth Sinclair 2022 Community Leaders Fellowship 06/30/22 $10,000.00 Youth Homelessness
Third Sector New England Inc. A Way Home America: National Prevention Initiative Advancement (ASPYHR) 11/03/22 $15,000.00 Youth Homelessness
Northwest Hospitality General Operating Support (via Young Adult Grant Advisory Committee) 07/07/21 $15,000.00 Youth Homelessness
Children & Youth Justice Center Youth Homelessness Advocacy Coordination 06/06/23 $27,500.00 Youth Homelessness
CloseKnit Voices of Youth Count (Partnership with Chapin Hall) 11/12/21 $7,500.00 Youth Homelessness
Mockingbird Society Public Policy & Advocacy Director Professional Development Staff Capacity Support 11/15/23 $3,000.00 Youth Homelessness
Washington State Department of Commerce Office of Homeless Youth 6560 Rapid Response Team 12/01/21 $70,000.00 Youth Homelessness
Partnership for America's Children Chafee Redesign Policy Reform Initiative 08/31/21 $50,000.00 Youth Homelessness
SchoolHouse Connection American Rescue Plan - Homeless Children and Youth Sprint​ 12/01/23 $85,000.00 Youth Homelessness
Fellow - Courtney Jackson 2022 Community Leaders Fellowship 06/30/22 $10,000.00 Youth Homelessness
SchoolHouse Connection National Prevention Initiative Advancement (ASPYHR) 11/03/22 $15,000.00 Youth Homelessness
Fellow - Barbara Rockey 2022 Community Leaders Fellowship 07/29/22 $10,000.00 Youth Homelessness
African Community Housing & Development General Operating Support (via Young Adult Grant Advisory Committee) 07/07/21 $20,000.00 Youth Homelessness
Legal Counsel for Youth and Children Youth Homelessness Advocacy Coordination 05/09/23 $35,000.00 Youth Homelessness
National Conference of State Legislatures NCSL Youth Homelessness Fellows Phase II​ 10/26/22 $150,000.00 Youth Homelessness
National Homelessness Law Center State Index on Youth Homelessness (V4) 08/31/21 $55,000.00 Youth Homelessness
Ryther Northstar Advocates: Education of Stakeholders and Policymakers 03/16/22 $25,000.00 Youth Homelessness
Fellow - Azia Ruff 2022 Community Leaders Fellowship 07/29/22 $10,000.00 Youth Homelessness
National Homelessness Law Center National Prevention Initiative Advancement (ASPYHR) 10/31/22 $10,000.00 Youth Homelessness
Fellow - Drisana Malaambo 2022 Community Leaders Fellowship 07/11/22 $10,000.00 Youth Homelessness
Progress Pushers General Operating Support (via Young Adult Grant Advisory Committee) 07/20/21 $15,000.00 Youth Homelessness
One Nation Essential Needs Foundation General Operating Support (via Young Adult Grant Advisory Committee) 07/07/21 $15,000.00 Youth Homelessness
True Colors United Expansion of the National Youth Forum on Homelessness 07/16/21 $100,000.00 Youth Homelessness
National Homelessness Law Center State Index on Youth Homelessness (2022) 10/20/22 $27,500.00 Youth Homelessness
The Agape House Inc General Operating Support (via Young Adult Grant Advisory Committee) 08/27/21 $10,000.00 Youth Homelessness
YouthCare General Operating Support 02/20/24 $15,000.00 Youth Homelessness
TeamChild Youth Homelessness Advocacy Coordination 05/09/23 $27,500.00 Youth Homelessness
Third Sector New England Inc. A Way Home America: General Operating Support 12/01/21 $300,000.00 Youth Homelessness
Legal Counsel for Youth and Children General Operating Support 11/22/22 $40,000.00 Youth Homelessness
Treehouse Ending Foster Care to Prison Pipeline 08/03/22 $25,000.00 Youth Homelessness
Fellow - Michael Jones 2022 Community Leaders Fellowship 06/30/22 $10,000.00 Youth Homelessness
Mockingbird Society General Operating Support 11/08/23 $322,500.00 Youth Homelessness