Jeff and Tricia Raikes grew up 1,700 miles apart, in very different settings—Tricia in the city of Seattle, Jeff on a farm near Ashland, Nebraska—but they were each raised by parents who believed in giving back to the community and who lived their values in ways big and small every day. Working at Microsoft brought them together in the early 1980s, where they were the first couple to meet at the company and marry while there.
An invaluable part of their Microsoft experience was meeting some inspiring role models. Tricia built a fond relationship with Mary Gates, who encouraged her to get more engaged in the nonprofit world and join the board of the local Boys and Girls Club. Jeff and Tricia both spoke often with Bill and Melinda Gates about their interest in philanthropy, and Jeff later helped further their mission while serving as CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation from 2008 to 2014. The couple also had the privilege of learning from Jeff's fellow Nebraskan, Warren Buffett, about the importance of investing in society so more people experience well-being and prosperity.
Jeff and Tricia launched the Raikes Foundation in 2002 with a focus on young people. Like many philanthropists, their initial choices were informed by their own experiences—in this case raising their three children.
As their children grew, Jeff and Tricia watched each of them struggle with a range of childhood and adolescent challenges. They realized that if their own children, who had every advantage, were having a tough time, millions of young people without the Raikes’s resources were relying on outmoded institutions that didn’t truly support their development.
As Jeff and Tricia become more immersed in learning about adolescent development and the challenges facing young people, they saw again and again how young people who are marginalized by society because of their race, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability status, had their futures hamstrung by systemic and institutional discrimination. Jeff and Tricia are passionate about reimagining systems, like education, child welfare, and others, to ensure they are giving youth the best shot at success—especially the young people who rely on these systems the most.
In 2017 the Raikes Foundation updated its mission, vision, and values to reflect what Jeff, Tricia, and the staff have learned while working to transform the systems that impact youth.
The foundation is now guided by two goals: To break down the barriers that stand in the way of young people’s success and to build up the environments where they learn, live and grow. Through the Raikes Foundation, Jeff and Tricia hope to help build a more just and inclusive world for our young people.
The Raikes Foundation invests in youth-serving institutions and systems to make them more effective in supporting and empowering all young people, especially those who have been most marginalized.
We envision a just and inclusive society where all young people have the support they need to achieve their full potential.
Equity: We aspire to a more just and equitable world. We accept our responsibility to understand and address the longstanding racial and social inequities that shape the systems we aim to impact today. Our commitment to equity guides the problems we aim to solve, the partners we choose, and the actions we take.
The power of young people: We believe in the boundless potential of young people to change the world. By acknowledging the humanity in every young person and ensuring systems work for those who have been most marginalized, all young people will be able reach their full potential.
Systemic change: We believe that the most enduring impact comes from improving systems that serve young people, not limiting our focus to specific programs or organizations. To achieve change at this level, we focus on high-leverage opportunities for impact where private philanthropy can play a catalytic role.
Collaboration and partnership: Systems-level change doesn’t happen without collaboration and deep engagement with the communities the systems serve. There are multiple constituencies who must work together to advance solutions. Collaboration is an essential ingredient of our approach, both internally and externally.
Diversity of knowledge and expertise: We use scientific research and data to inform our work while also proactively seeking out the insights and expertise of people with lived experience from the communities we serve, especially young people.
Learning: The work we do is always evolving. Our desire to continuously learn drives us to seek and embrace feedback, integrate new information, reflect on successes and failures, and always look for ways to more effectively achieve our mission.
Co-Founder
Co-Founder
Administrative Assistant
Program Officer, Education
Program Officer, Youth Homelessness
Senior Grants Manager
Program Assistant
Director, Impact-Driven Philanthropy Initiative
Chief of Staff
Executive Director
Grants & Contracts Administrator
Director, Education
Senior Director, Youth Serving Systems
Program Assistant
Director, Youth Homelessness
