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
We Are Down Home Down Home NC General Operating Support 03/25/24 $25,000.00 RED 2 - State-Based Organizing
National Public Education Support Fund Education Funder Strategy Group Membership (2023) 03/06/23 $25,000.00 Education 1 - Field Building
National Public Education Support Fund Education Funder Strategy Group Membership (2024) 01/30/24 $25,000.00 Education 1 - Field Building
National Public Education Support Fund Education Funders Strategy Group Membership (2021) 04/26/21 $25,000.00 Education
National Public Education Support Fund Education Funders Strategy Group Membership (2022) 05/04/22 $25,000.00 Education
SchoolHouse Connection Education Leads Home: Supporting Students Experiencing Homelessness in the Pandemic Recovery and Beyond 04/04/22 $500,000.00 Youth Homelessness
Amalgamated Charitable Foundation Emergent Fund: Movement Rapid Response Organizing Initiative 12/07/22 $50,000.00 Trustee Directed Gifts (Historical)
Treehouse Ending Foster Care to Prison Pipeline 10/01/23 $35,000.00 Youth Homelessness
Treehouse Ending Foster Care to Prison Pipeline 08/03/22 $25,000.00 Youth Homelessness
National Conference of State Legislatures Engaging Legislators in the Fight to End Youth Homelessness 11/27/23 $410,000.00 Youth Homelessness
Think of Us Envisioning and Co-Creating an Anti-Racist Legal System for Children 11/16/22 $100,000.00 RED Base
Trustees of Indiana University Equitable Giving Lab​ 12/15/23 $30,000.00 Impact Driven Philanthropy
National Center for Civic Innovation Inc. Equity Accelerator: Institutional Transformation for Equitable Student Success in Higher Education Core Operations 07/01/22 $560,000.00 Education
National Association of System Heads Equity Action Initiative 12/15/22 $100,000.00 Education
Mockingbird Society Executive Director Support Gift 01/31/23 $5,000.00 Youth Homelessness
OneAmerica Executive Director Transition Fund Core Operating Support 07/27/21 $25,000.00 Special Initiatives
True Colors United Expansion of the National Youth Forum on Homelessness 07/16/21 $100,000.00 Youth Homelessness
True Colors United Expansion of the National Youth Forum on Homelessness 08/10/22 $100,000.00 Youth Homelessness
YMCA of Greater Seattle Facilitation of the Young Grantmakers Facilitator Funds 11/10/22 $46,000.00 Youth Homelessness
YMCA of Greater Seattle Facilitation of the Young Grantmakers Facilitator Funds 09/01/23 $95,922.00 Youth Homelessness
The Seattle Clemency Project Formerly Homeless or Foster Youth Support 05/05/21 $1,049.00 Community Giving
Treehouse Foster Care to Prison Pipeline Support 05/05/21 $1,049.00 Community Giving
Africatown Community Land Trust From Imagination to Creation Campaign 11/18/22 $4,000.00 Employee Anniversary Gifts
Amalgamated Charitable Foundation Fund for Education Success: Project Education Impact (PEI) 11/21/23 $35,000.00 Youth Homelessness
Amalgamated Charitable Foundation Fund for the Education Success of Students Experiencing Homelessness, Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice​ 06/23/23 $250,000.00 Youth Homelessness
Bend the Arc: A Jewish Partnership for Justice Funder's Collaborative on Youth Organizing: General Operating Support 11/06/23 $25,000.00 RED Base
The Seattle Foundation Funders for Adolescent Science Translation (FAST) Collaborative (2021-2022) 04/08/21 $600,000.00 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
Borealis Philanthropy Funders for Organizing: General Operating Support 12/04/23 $25,000.00 Executive Director Discretionary
NEO Philanthropy Funders' Committee for Civic Participation: General Operating Support 11/10/23 $25,000.00 RED Base
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
The Bridgespan Group Inc. Funds/Funder Collaboration Research 09/28/22 $50,000.00 Impact Driven Philanthropy
Hopewell Fund Galvanize USA: General Operating Support 12/01/23 $1,000.00 RED Base
National Domestic Workers Alliance General Operating Support 03/31/21 $1,500.00 Community Giving
Legal Counsel for Youth and Children General Operating Support 05/20/21 $1,500.00 Community Giving
American Civil Liberties Union of Washington Foundation General Operating Support 05/20/21 $750.00 Community Giving
Northwest Immigrants Rights Project General Operating Support 05/05/21 $786.75 Community Giving
Neighborhood Funders Group General Operating Support 10/21/21 $20,000.00 Community Giving
Seattle Girls School General Operating Support 08/24/21 $2,500.00 Community Giving
The Seattle Academy Of Arts And Sciences General Operating Support 08/24/21 $2,500.00 Community Giving
University Child Development School General Operating Support 08/19/21 $2,500.00 Community Giving
Ashland Greenwood Public Schools Foundation General Operating Support 08/26/21 $2,500.00 Community Giving
Bishop Blanchet High School General Operating Support 08/25/21 $2,500.00 Community Giving
Holy Names Academy General Operating Support 08/26/21 $2,500.00 Community Giving
U-Power General Operating Support 11/03/21 $2,500.00 Community Giving
KUOW Puget Sound Public Radio General Operating Support 10/13/21 $2,500.00 Community Giving
Partners Asia General Operating Support 08/25/21 $2,500.00 Community Giving
Recovery Cafe General Operating Support 07/19/21 $2,500.00 Community Giving
Soulumination General Operating Support 07/19/21 $500.00 Community Giving
NPR Foundation General Operating Support 10/13/21 $2,500.00 Community Giving