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
National Public Education Support Fund Grantmakers for Thriving Youth Membership (2023) 03/06/23 $20,000.00 Education 1 - Field Building
National Public Education Support Fund Education Funder Strategy Group Membership (2023) 03/06/23 $25,000.00 Education 1 - Field Building
New Venture Fund Seek Common Ground’s Student Action Network for Equity General Operating Support 02/14/24 $100,000.00 Education 1 - Field Building
New Venture Fund Leading Now: Responsive Communications Support for Superintendents​ 04/01/23 $150,000.00 Education 1 - Field Building
National Public Education Support Fund Education Funder Strategy Group Membership (2024) 01/30/24 $25,000.00 Education 1 - K-12 Field Building
National Public Education Support Fund Grantmakers for Thriving Youth Membership (2024) 02/16/24 $20,000.00 Education 1 - K-12 Field Building
The National Center on Education and the Economy General Operating Support 04/16/24 $200,000.00 Education 1 - K-12 Field Building
National Governors Association Center for Best Practices Let’s Get Ready!: Educating All Americans For Success 12/02/24 $250,000.00 Education 1 - K-12 Field Building
Amalgamated Charitable Foundation Grantmakers for Thriving Youth Policy Working Group - Education Future Fund (2025) 12/16/24 $125,000.00 Education 1 - K-12 Field Building
Gilda's Club Middle Tennessee General Operating Support (in honor of Peter Tang) 01/13/25 $1,000.00 Education 1 - K-12 Field Building
National Public Education Support Fund Education Funder Strategy Group Membership (2025) 01/16/25 $25,000.00 Education 1 - K-12 Field Building
National Public Education Support Fund Grantmakers for Thriving Youth Membership (2025) 01/16/25 $20,000.00 Education 1 - K-12 Field Building
Amalgamated Charitable Foundation Grantmakers for Thriving Youth Policy Working Group - Education Forward Fund (2024) 02/20/24 $700,000.00 Education 1 - K-12 Field Building
Seabeck Conference Center General Operating Support 10/15/24 $10,000.00 Employee Anniversary Gifts
SisterSong, Inc General Operating Support 03/21/22 $5,000.00 Employee Anniversary Gifts
Northshore School District: Kenmore Elementary School Kenmore Elementary: Classroom Improvements 04/27/23 $500.00 Employee Anniversary Gifts
Ouray Ice Park Inc. General Operating Support 04/27/23 $4,500.00 Employee Anniversary Gifts
Washington Low Income Housing Alliance General Operating Support 08/23/24 $3,500.00 Employee Anniversary Gifts
Way To Rise General Operating Support 09/26/24 $500.00 Employee Anniversary Gifts
Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation General Operating Support 06/13/24 $2,500.00 Employee Anniversary Gifts
Interim Community Development Association General Operating Support 07/01/22 $2,500.00 Employee Anniversary Gifts
Carleton College General Operating Support 10/09/24 $500.00 Employee Anniversary Gifts
Whatcom Humane Society General Operating Support 06/13/24 $2,500.00 Employee Anniversary Gifts
Africatown Community Land Trust General Operating Support 06/01/22 $2,500.00 Employee Anniversary Gifts
Foothills Food Bank Winter Kids Pantry Program Support 06/13/24 $2,500.00 Employee Anniversary Gifts
Refugee Protection International General Operating Support 01/13/23 $5,000.00 Employee Anniversary Gifts
Connection2Culture General Operating Support 06/13/24 $2,500.00 Employee Anniversary Gifts
Skokomish Tribe Skokomish Wellness Center General Operations 04/09/24 $5,000.00 Employee Anniversary Gifts
The Loveland Foundation General Operating Support 06/01/22 $2,500.00 Employee Anniversary Gifts
Social Good Fund SeekHer Foundation: General Operating Support 06/23/22 $2,500.00 Employee Anniversary Gifts
Committee Against Anti-Asian Violence, Inc. General Operating Support 12/20/22 $2,000.00 Employee Anniversary Gifts
Resilient Hearts Animal Sanctuary General Operating Support 04/10/24 $5,000.00 Employee Anniversary Gifts
Africatown Community Land Trust From Imagination to Creation Campaign 11/18/22 $4,000.00 Employee Anniversary Gifts
Northwest African American Museum Inc General Operating Support 11/15/22 $2,500.00 Employee Anniversary Gifts
Wing Luke Memorial Foundation General Operating Support 11/15/22 $2,500.00 Employee Anniversary Gifts
Northwest Ultimate Association General Operating Support 11/15/22 $2,000.00 Employee Anniversary Gifts
Pacific Islander Community Association General Operating Support 08/22/24 $1,500.00 Employee Anniversary Gifts
RVC Seattle General Operating Support 11/15/22 $3,000.00 Employee Anniversary Gifts
Telluride AIDS Benefit Telluride AIDS Benefit: General Operating Support 11/15/22 $1,000.00 Employee Anniversary Gifts
Children’s Defense Fund General Operating Support 06/01/22 $50,000.00 Executive Director Discretionary
The Aspen Institute, Inc. The Aspen Institute Forum for Community Solutions: Belonging, Meaning, Wellbeing & Purpose Framework 12/16/24 $40,000.00 Executive Director Discretionary
Bowie State University Foundation, Inc. BSU Philanthropy Initiative-Managing Philanthropy and Non-Profit Programs 04/27/23 $25,000.00 Executive Director Discretionary
Center for Community Change Workshop Fellowship 08/02/22 $50,000.00 Executive Director Discretionary
Center for Empowered Politics Education Fund Funders for Organizing: General Operating Support 12/09/24 $25,000.00 Executive Director Discretionary
Possibility Labs Radiant Strategies Freedom School for Philanthropy PNW 09/25/24 $40,000.00 Executive Director Discretionary
Borealis Philanthropy Funders for Organizing: General Operating Support 12/04/23 $25,000.00 Executive Director Discretionary
PolicyLink Liberation Ventures: General Operating Support 11/28/23 $50,000.00 Executive Director Discretionary
Panorama Global The Fund for Alternative Journalism General Operating Support 12/11/24 $15,000.00 Executive Director Discretionary
Amalgamated Charitable Foundation New Era of Philanthropy Book Project Fund 10/07/24 $15,000.00 Executive Director Discretionary
Grantmakers For Effective Organizations Organizational Strategic Planning and Visioning 12/09/22 $50,000.00 Executive Director Discretionary