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 Center for Youth Law General Operating Support 05/24/22 $750,000.00 Education
National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy Resource Mobilizers Coalition General Operating Support 10/15/21 $200,000.00 Impact Driven Philanthropy
National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy General Operating Support 05/06/22 $450,000.00 Impact Driven Philanthropy
National Conference of State Legislatures NCSL Youth Homelessness Fellows Phase II​ 10/26/22 $150,000.00 Youth Homelessness
National Conference of State Legislatures Engaging Legislators in the Fight to End Youth Homelessness 11/27/23 $410,000.00 Youth Homelessness
National Domestic Workers Alliance General Operating Support 03/31/21 $1,500.00 Community Giving
National Equity Project BELE Network: Student Experience-centered, Equity-embedded, Data-driven (SEED) District Strategic Planning Project 10/01/23 $150,000.00 Education
National Equity Project BELE Network: District Network & Field Catalyst Strategy Development 08/01/23 $1,500,000.00 Education
National Equity Project General Operating Support 09/19/22 $1,500.00 Community Giving
National Equity Project BELE Network: Equipping Chief Equity Officers to Drive Transformation (2021-2023) 07/26/21 $150,000.00 Education
National Homelessness Law Center State Index on Youth Homelessness (V4) 08/31/21 $55,000.00 Youth Homelessness
National Homelessness Law Center Tracking Laws to End Youth Homelessness - Federal and Tribal Indexes & Website 08/01/23 $50,000.00 Youth Homelessness
National Homelessness Law Center State Index on Youth Homelessness (2022) 10/20/22 $27,500.00 Youth Homelessness
National Homelessness Law Center National Prevention Initiative Advancement 11/23/21 $15,000.00 Youth Homelessness
National Homelessness Law Center National Prevention Initiative Advancement (ASPYHR) 10/31/22 $10,000.00 Youth Homelessness
National Network for Youth Inc. National Prevention Initiative Advancement 11/23/21 $30,000.00 Youth Homelessness
National Network for Youth Inc. National Prevention Initiative Advancement (ASPYHR) 10/31/22 $30,000.00 Youth Homelessness
National Network for Youth Inc. Summit Sponsorship (2024) 01/31/24 $5,000.00 Youth Homelessness
National Network for Youth Inc. National Learning Collaborative on Youth Homelessness Prevention 12/05/23 $40,000.00 Youth Homelessness
National Public Education Support Fund Narrative and Policy Work on Critical Race Theory 09/16/21 $50,000.00 Education
National Public Education Support Fund Education Funders Strategy Group Membership (2022) 05/04/22 $25,000.00 Education
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
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 Grantmakers for Thriving Youth Membership (2024) 02/16/24 $20,000.00 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 Grantmakers for Thriving Youth Membership (2021) 04/26/21 $20,000.00 Education
Neighborhood Funders Group Philanthropy Forward 09/28/22 $15,000.00 Community Giving
Neighborhood Funders Group General Operating Support 10/21/23 $45,000.00 Community Giving
Neighborhood Funders Group Annual Membership (2022) 09/28/22 $15,000.00 Community Giving
Neighborhood Funders Group Philanthropy Forward 10/21/23 $15,000.00 Community Giving
Neighborhood Funders Group Annual Membership (2023) 10/21/23 $15,000.00 Community Giving
Neighborhood Funders Group General Operating Support 10/21/21 $20,000.00 Community Giving
Neighborhood Funders Group Annual Membership (2021) 10/21/21 $15,000.00 Community Giving
Neighborhood Funders Group Amplify Fund Core Operations 11/01/23 $25,000.00 RED Base
Neighborhood Funders Group NFG National Convening (2023) 02/06/23 $20,000.00 Community Giving
Neighborhood Funders Group Amplify Fund 10/21/21 $50,000.00 Community Giving
Neighborhood Funders Group Philanthropy Forward 10/21/21 $15,000.00 Community Giving
Neighborhood Funders Group General Operating Support 09/28/22 $45,000.00 Community Giving
NEO Philanthropy AAPI Civic Engagement Fund 05/11/21 $75,000.00 Special Initiatives
NEO Philanthropy Funders' Committee for Civic Participation: General Operating Support 11/10/23 $25,000.00 RED Base
New Profit Inc General Operating Support 11/25/22 $25,000.00 Impact Driven Philanthropy
New Venture Fund Seek Common Ground: Student Action Network for Equity 08/03/23 $100,000.00 Education 1 - Field Building
New Venture Fund Communities for Just Schools: General Operating Support 12/06/23 $500,000.00 Education 1 - Field Building
New Venture Fund Leading Now: Responsive Communications Support for Superintendents​ 04/01/23 $150,000.00 Education 1 - Field Building
New Venture Fund Seek Common Ground: Student Action Network for Equity 07/07/22 $25,000.00 Education
New Venture Fund Leading Now: Responsive Communications Support for System Leaders 04/13/22 $150,000.00 RED Base
New Venture Fund Leading Now: AI Series for Superintendents in Leading Now and Chiefs for Change 11/01/23 $32,500.00 Education 1 - Field Building
New Venture Fund Communities for Just Schools Fund: General Operating Support 07/07/22 $2,100.00 Community Giving
New Venture Fund Campaign for Our Shared Future: General Operating Support 08/14/23 $250,000.00 RED 1 - National Strategy