Related Ideas
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 Raikes