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Our Latest
August 31, 2026
Acts of Audacity Start With a Question
In philanthropy we tend to look for defining moments or leverage points that can change everything. What we hear less about is everything that made the moment possible: the questions people were willing to ask, the relationships built over time, and the steady work of trying, learning, and adapting. In my experience, those are often the most important parts of the story, and it begins when someone has the audacity to question something others have learned to live with. I began asking those kinds of questions as a first grade teacher in Houston. I watched students learn and succeed while navigating obstacles they never should have had to face—unreliable transportation, unstable housing, food insecurity, or classrooms that weren't designed to meet every learner's needs. Supporting my students through those challenges was part of my job. But I also found myself asking a bigger question: Why are we asking young people to adapt to systems that should, instead, be adapting to them? That question has stayed with me throughout my career. It's also one I’ve returned to often during my first six months as Executive Director of the Raikes Foundation. I have had the opportunity to listen, learn, and reflect alongside the people doing this work every day. Again and again, I've been reminded that meaningful progress rarely comes from one organization arriving with the answer. It grows from people who are willing to act audaciously—to question assumptions, listen deeply, and stay committed long enough to build something better together. That's what Audacity in Action means to me. It's not about being fearless or having all the answers. And it's certainly not about believing that one solution can fix the world. We recently asked several partners we admire what audacity in action looks like to them. Each described it differently, reflecting the many ways people are working to create change. But across their answers, I heard a shared conviction: the future isn't something we wait for. It's something we build together. That belief is central to our work at the Raikes Foundation. Young people and their families do not experience education, housing, and civic life as separate issues. Together, they shape whether a young person has the opportunity to thrive and a real say in the decisions that affect their life. When we understand those connections, we begin asking different—and often more ambitious—questions. Along with our partners, we are asking: What if we stopped managing youth homelessness and focused on preventing it? What would it take to redesign public education to expand opportunity in a world transformed by AI? What if every community had the power to shape its own future? Audacity doesn't begin when we have all the answers. It begins when we're willing to ask better questions and to keep pursuing them together, even when the path isn't clear. Our partners’ willingness to challenge what has long been treated as inevitable has opened the door to new partnerships, new approaches, and real progress. In a rapidly changing world, that willingness to learn and evolve is essential. This is one of the most important roles philanthropy can play: creating the space for people to test new ideas and build the relationships that make lasting change possible. At a time when so much feels uncertain, I find real hope in our work. The future has never been inevitable. Every generation has the opportunity to learn from what came before it, imagine what could be different, and leave something stronger for the next. Thank you to our partners who shared their perspectives with us.August 11, 2026
First-of-its-kind public-private partnership brings proven youth homelessness prevention program to Seattle
City approves launching the Homelessness Prevention and Diversion Fund to help more young people stay safely housed SEATTLE, WA – The Washington Acceleration Fund today warmly welcomed Seattle’s approval of a new public-private partnership to bring the state’s nationally recognized Homelessness Prevention and Diversion Fund (HPDF) to Seattle, expanding access to a proven youth homelessness prevention model for the first time to King County. The partnership pairs city investment with dollar-for-dollar matching philanthropic support from the Washington Acceleration Fund to help young people remain in stable housing before crisis becomes homelessness. Until now, young people in the state’s largest population center have not had access to one of Washington’s most effective homelessness prevention tools. By extending this proven model to Seattle, the partnership marks an important step in expanding early, flexible support for young people and strengthening a more coordinated response to homelessness prevention across the region. The Seattle pilot will be implemented in partnership with the Seattle Human Services Department, United Way of King County, and Building Changes. Launched this year, the Washington Acceleration Fund is a new philanthropic initiative dedicated to working in partnership with the public sector to scale proven, data-driven solutions to youth homelessness across Washington state. HPDF is Washington state’s first flexible fund designed specifically for young people ages 12 to 24 who are at immediate risk of losing their housing or are experiencing homelessness. It uses a no wrong door model that enables broad accessibility to young people facing housing instability. Since launching in 2020, the program has become an important tool for preventing youth homelessness, contributing to Washington’s 40% decrease in youth homelessness over six years. HPDF is an important part of the regional Built for Zero approach, which launched earlier this year in King County to bring together youth, providers, government, and philanthropy around shared goals, accountability, and coordinated action. Through this public-private partnership, communities use real-time data, continuous improvement, and cross-sector collaboration to make youth homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring. Data shows that an integral part of solving homelessness is preventing it from occurring in the first place. Forty-eight percent of adults experiencing chronic homelessness first experienced homelessness as a young person. HPDF can break this cycle. The HPDF model promotes stability by providing flexible and accessible funding tailored to young people’s unique needs. 98% of participants exited into permanent housing, 87% remained housed one year later, and the average intervention cost ($1,683 per household) is a fraction of the cost of emergency shelter. HPDF also consistently reaches young people who may not be served by traditional programs: 53% of households served identify as BIPOC, 18% as LGBQ+, and 26% as pregnant or parenting. The Schultz Family Foundation, the Raikes Foundation, and the Campion Foundation supported HPDF's early development across Washington state. Now, through the new Washington Acceleration Fund, the funders are working with public and community partners to bring the program to Seattle . “Youth homelessness rarely looks the way people expect. Often a young person is couch-surfing at a friend's one week and staying with a relative the next, while trying to stay in school,” said Tricia Raikes of the Raikes Foundation, on behalf of the Washington Acceleration Fund. “Every situation is different, which is why tailored support matters. HPDF is coming to Seattle with the city, community partners, and philanthropy all at the table. Together we can help more young people find a safe place to call home and keep building the future they want.” “HPDF demonstrates the power of prevention and diversion: when we listen to young people and provide flexible support at the right moment, we can keep a housing challenge from becoming a life-altering crisis. We were proud to help catalyze HPDF’s launch in Washington six years ago and its success since then reflects the sustained commitment of young people, community organizations, philanthropy and public agencies across the state. That journey shows the unique power of multi-sector partnership. Philanthropy can help seed and test promising ideas, while public partners help shape, scale and sustain what works,” said Sheri Schultz, Co-Founder and Chair of the Schultz Family Foundation. “We are thrilled to bring this proven approach to Seattle and grateful to Councilmember Foster, the Seattle City Council for their leadership in helping more young people remain safely housed.” “This public-private partnership brings a proven youth homelessness prevention model to Seattle and shows how we can use creative budget solutions to meet urgent needs,” said Seattle Councilmember Dionne Foster. “This investment will ensure fewer young people experience homelessness in the first place. I’m grateful to the Washington Acceleration Fund and our community partners for helping bring this effective approach to Seattle.” About the Washington Acceleration Fund The Washington Acceleration Fund is a philanthropic initiative working to end youth homelessness in Washington by accelerating proven, data-driven solutions. Building on the state’s significant progress in reducing youth homelessness, the Fund supports public-private partnerships, community-led strategies, and investments that help more young people stay safely housed and thrive. The Fund is supported by individuals and foundations including the Schultz Family Foundation, Raikes Foundation, and Campion Foundation.May 28, 2026
How Communities are Building a Stronger Democracy Through Trust
Progress moves at the speed of trust. That’s something many organizers and community leaders have understood for a long time. It reflects the reality that real change doesn’t happen all at once. It happens through relationships and people showing up for one another over time. Lasting progress is possible when communities can work through disagreements and respond to challenges to move toward a shared future together. That trust is what makes democracy work in everyday life. It helps clear a path for people to feel connected to the decisions at their schools, in their neighborhoods, and at their workplaces. It creates the conditions for people to not just be heard, but to also work together to find solutions. That’s what we aim to support through our Resourcing Democracy portfolio. We invest in organizations and leaders to build trust among themselves and within their communities. We believe stronger communities lead to a stronger democracy, and that this work must continue long after any single election cycle ends. Across Michigan, Washington, and North Carolina, our partners are doing exactly that. Several community-based organizations in each state have come together in sustained alliances to build shared priorities, build power through local leadership, and coordinate around long-term goals for their communities. This spring, we gathered with state organizations alongside our partners at the Grassroots Power Project. Over three days, organizational leaders from across three states came together for honesty about what it takes to build durable partnerships while also meeting the urgent needs of today.December 16, 2025
Announcing Zoë Stemm-Calderon as the Next Executive Director of the Raikes Foundation
We’re excited to share an important leadership update for the Raikes Foundation. After a comprehensive and competitive national search, we’re delighted to announce that Dr. Zoë Stemm-Calderon will serve as our next Executive Director. Zoë currently serves as our Senior Director of Youth Serving Systems and will assume her new role on January 1, 2026. We are grateful to the many advisors and committee members who contributed their time, insight, and judgment throughout this process. Their perspectives helped ensure a thoughtful and rigorous review, grounded in what this moment and our organization requires. We also extend our sincere appreciation to Fatima Gulamali, who has served as Interim Executive Director with steadiness and clarity. Her leadership during this transition upheld the integrity of our work, and we are grateful that she will continue to serve as Chief of Staff. A Proven Leader Committed to Building the Future Young People Deserve Zoë brings a rare combination of field experience, systems-level leadership, and deep alignment with the values that guide our work. She began her career as an elementary teacher in Houston, where she saw firsthand that the path to the American dream is not paved the same for every child. She went on to serve in district leadership as Assistant Superintendent at Houston ISD, as a Fellow at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and in senior leadership roles at Teach for America. Zoë holds a doctorate in education leadership from Harvard University and a B.A. from the University of Washington. Over the past decade at the Raikes Foundation, Zoë has led our Youth Serving Systems portfolio, overseeing $20 million in annual investments to strengthen K-12, postsecondary, and youth homelessness systems. She and the Youth Serving Systems team have helped mobilize more than $500 million in philanthropic co-investment through projects and funder collaboratives that they’ve co-founded and stewarded, including the Education Future Fund and Resource Equity Funders Collaborative. This work reflects a focus not only on grantmaking, but on building durable fields and partnerships that outlast any single institution. Beyond the numbers, Zoë brings a clear point of view about what young people need to thrive. She has consistently emphasized that when schools are adequately resourced and students feel safe, respected, and supported, learning follows. She understands that this is foundational not only to individual opportunity, but to a healthy and resilient democracy. While her portfolio has centered on education and youth homelessness, Zoë has approached these issues as deeply interconnected with civic life, public trust, and who has voice and power in our systems. She brings a clear-eyed understanding of the choices facing our country and how emerging technologies, including AI, will shape learning, work, and opportunity in the years ahead. As trustees, we have experienced Zoë as a thoughtful strategic partner who translates vision into action and leads with clarity, rigor, and authenticity. The Path Ahead Zoë’s deep institutional knowledge positions her to lead from day one, particularly as we continue the work of a spend-down foundation and focus on ensuring that the progress we support endures well beyond our final grant. She knows our people, strategy, and commitments. We're excited about the leadership she will bring, the relationships she will deepen, and the impact we will continue to advance together. Thank you for your partnership and trust. With gratitude, Jeff and Tricia RaikesNovember 05, 2025
Beyond Elections: Investing in Strategic State Alignment
Democracy doesn’t begin or end at the ballot box. It takes root when people have the voice, choice, and power to shape the decisions that affect their lives — not just during elections, but every day. That’s the heart of our Resourcing Democracy portfolio—a long-term effort to build lasting power—so communities can stay engaged, organize, and lead long after campaigns end. Yesterday’s local elections—taking place in towns, counties, and states across the country—reminded us that some of the most meaningful decisions about our future are made closest to home. And with midterm elections now a year away, attention and funding will soon shift toward congressional candidates and campaigns. But building a healthy democracy takes more than winning elections. It requires steady investing in the people, relationships, and organizations that keep communities engaged long after the votes are counted. That’s why we invest in state and local organizations that work year-round to bring people together to identify problems, develop solutions, and take collective action that improves the daily lives of working people. And it’s why we’re inviting other funders to join us in supporting the conditions for lasting change—rooted in communities, led by lived experience, and designed to outlast any one election cycle. Building Lasting Power Across the country, local organizations are working year-round to meet their neighbor’s needs—helping families find housing, supporting immigrant communities, or strengthening local schools. Groups like this—rooted in trust and deep local knowledge of the challenges, opportunities, and people driving change—are the foundation of our Resourcing Democracy strategy. We’re partnering with leaders in Michigan, Washington, and North Carolina, as well as national networks, to help everyday people come together to shape a fairer future. Our role is simple: to listen, learn, and resource. We don’t set agendas—we invest in our partners’ ability to do so. Across our priority states, trusted, community-rooted organizations are joining forces around shared goals and long-term priorities through state alignment tables. With multi-year support, they’re strengthening local leadership, identifying challenges, and building the relationships that turn near-term wins into long-term change. As Megan Hess, Co-Director of We The People Michigan, shared during a recent funder briefing we hosted last month, this kind of deep collaboration is about more than coordination. “It’s about trust,” she said – the kind that allows leaders to move together and deliver shared wins for their communities. Megan and her co-panelists, Roxana Norouzi, Executive Director of OneAmerica and Jenn Frye, Co-Director of the Carolina Federation, shared why alignment tables are a powerful model for lasting change. By coordinating across organizations, partners, and coalitions, alignment tables: Bring people together across race, class, and experienceBuild trust and foster collaboration across issues and sectorsStrengthen and sustain strategic partnerships among community-rooted organizationsSet collective state agendas that deliver tangible results for communitiesSustain momentum beyond any single election, issue, or policyCreate the long-term conditions for systems change Alignment tables ensure that no matter who is in office, communities maintain the power to hold their leaders accountable and shape the future they deserve. From Election Day to Every Day Our democracy underpins everything we care about. It is the foundation for strong public schools, safe and stable homes, and real opportunity for every family. Sustaining it requires long-term commitment, not just campaign-season engagement. By investing in the people and organizations building lasting civic power, we can help ensure our democracy works the way it should—for all of us, every day. Learn more about our recent Resourcing Democracy grants here. ###
Get to know our partners
Partner Spotlight
True Colors United
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning (LGBTQ+) youth face unique societal obstacles including discrimination that put them at higher risk of housing instability. While 4.2 million young people experience homelessness each year in the United States, LGBTQ+ youth have a 2.2x greater risk of experiencing homelessness compared to their non-LGBTQ+ peers, all else held equal. True Colors United believes that safe, stable housing is a basic human need, and that in order to develop effective policy solutions to end youth homelessness, young people who have been affected by homelessness must be a part of the solution.
Partner Spotlight
JustFund
Philanthropy often perpetuates the same social and economic inequalities that it seeks to alleviate. The JustFund seeks to realize a new approach to philanthropic grantmaking that is centered in equity and trust. It is the only nonprofit grantmaking solution that removes traditional barriers that prevent grantmakers from moving resources quickly and efficiently to organizations at the forefront of social change.
Partner Spotlight
Equity Accelerator
Founded by Dr. Mary C. Murphy, lead scholar of the Student Experience Project, Equity Accelerator harnesses research, practice, and policy to create more equitable learning and working environments, from college through careers. Equity Accelerator creates and consults on the implementation of evidence-based solutions for equitable institutional and system transformation that are practical, efficient, and have greater potential to be widely adopted and highly effective.
Partner Spotlight
BELE Network
The Building Equitable Learning Environment (BELE) Network is a collective of educators, students and parents, community partners, school and system leaders, and policymakers committed to prioritizing practices and structural changes that improve student engagement, experience, and outcomes. We are reimagining public education and enacting change to ensure every student receives a quality education.