Grants to Strengthen Communities and Democracy (Resourcing Democracy portfolio)

Grants to Strengthen Communities and Democracy (Resourcing Democracy portfolio) is sponsored by Raikes Foundation. The Raikes Foundation's Resourcing Democracy portfolio awards grants to organizations helping working people come together to shape a fairer future in Michigan, Washington, and North Carolina, and to national partners building networks that sustain this work.

Raikes Foundation | The Raikes Foundation Announces Grants to… Strong communities make strong democracies . When people have the voice, choice, and power to shape the decisions that affect their lives, we all prosper.

That belief is at the center of the Raikes Foundation’s Resourcing Democracy portfolio, which has awarded its first set of grants to organizations helping working people come together to shape a fairer future in Michigan, Washington, and North Carolina —and to national partners building the networks that sustain this work across the country.

These investments support organizations deeply rooted in their communities—groups that know the challenges, the opportunities, and the people driving change. Together, they are strengthening local leadership, aligning state and national strategies, and building the civic infrastructure needed for a more inclusive and resilient democracy. This kind of progress takes time and trust .

While each state and organization has its own priorities, all share a common purpose: organizing beyond short-term election cycles to ensure communities have lasting power and voice. These grants help these partnerships grow, experiment, and adapt as conditions evolve—because durable change happens when communities lead. Here are two examples of what this work looks like in practice.

The Washington Power Building Table (PBT) is a partnership of six community-based organizations—Firelands, OneAmerica, Latino Community Fund, The Washington Bus, Washington Community Action Network, and Working Washington — working together to build statewide power in low-income and communities of color in the state.

For years, PBT organizations have been on the frontlines—responding to escalating ICE enforcement, supporting immigrant families, and preparing communities for the ripple of effects of federal actions. Their efforts go beyond near-term change: they are creating lasting infrastructure so communities can advocate for themselves and influence decisions that shape their futures.

In partnership with other statewide networks, PBT helped lead a successful campaign urging state leaders to use their power to protect immigrant residents. This collective effort led the governor to establish a new immigrant sub-cabinet, ensuring greater coordination across state agencies on immigration-related issues.

Their work shows how community-rooted organizing not only responds to urgent challenges—it builds the civic muscle that makes our democracy stronger and more inclusive.

The Grassroots Power Project’s Grassroots Strategy College shows the powerful role national organizations can play in supporting long-term, community-driven solutions—by amplifying state work, connecting groups across states, and equipping them with the tools, research, and strategies that help them succeed.

The fifth Strategy College was a weeklong convening that brought together seasoned organizers from 44 organizations across 11 states. These leaders are advancing a shift away from short-term, reactive tactics toward long-term strategies that make transformational change possible. The convening served as a community of practice—an opportunity for state leaders to learn from one another, share what’s working, and deepen collaboration.

In a political and funding landscape that too often rewards competition rather than collaboration, the Strategy College created a unique opportunity for groups to build trust, alignment, and collective vision. It’s a reminder that durable change doesn’t happen in silos—it grows when organizers, funders, and communities invest in one another and work toward a shared future.

Washington Power Building Table The Carolina Federation Fund Alliance for Youth Organizing Center for Popular Democracy Native Organizers Alliance Rural Democracy Initiative (Heartland Fund) State Power Fund | Organizing Lab 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. 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. 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.