The Seattle-based Raikes Foundation, established by former Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation CEO Jeff Raikes and his wife, Tricia, has announced a new strategic vision and grantmaking portfolio focused on building a robust multiracial democracy in the United States.

The Resourcing Equity and Democracy (RED) portfolio will expand the foundation’s current focus on education, impact-driven philanthropy, and housing stability for youth by bolstering organizations and initiatives dedicated to building a more fair, representative, and effective democracy and civil society through community organizing. In 2021, the foundation reported awarding a total of $23.68 million in grants.

“At a time when American democracy is in severe decline and flagrant inequities continue to persist across all our systems, there has never been a more urgent need for the RED portfolio’s body of work,” said newly appointed RED senior director Maria De La Cruz, who most recently served as vice president and chief external affairs officer at the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy.

“The RED portfolio will be a critical component of our collective work to reimagine systems, to better support all young people to reach their full potential,” said Jeff and Tricia Raikes. “Together, we will build a fair and just country where every young person has an opportunity to thrive.”

(Photo credit: Getty Images/FG Trade)