We Raise Foundation

Last night, our board of directors and donor partners came together for a wonderful and inspiring evening filled with great conversation, reconnecting with familiar faces, and meeting new ones. The evening featured a screening of “A Walk in My Shoes,” a documentary by Gloria Craig. Craig, who served as the Community Engagement Coordinator at LMM, received an Emerging Leader Grant from We Raise in 2022 to help fund the film's creation. Following the screening, she was on hand for a Q&A session, offering valuable insights into the filmmaking process and the stories behind the documentary. We are so grateful for our donors, board of directors, and emerging leaders like Gloria, whose passion and dedication are creating lasting change in their communities. It was a wonderful evening of connection, inspiration, and shared commitment to change. Thank you to everyone who joined us and continues to support this important work.

When Andre Klass became a Christian, his life took a dramatic turn. Leaving behind a successful tech career, he followed God’s call to launch Christian Tech Center Ministries in 2022. His nonprofit provides computers, training, and repairs to those in need, helping over 1,000 people annually. With a We Raise grant affirming his mission, Andre’s story is one of faith, perseverance, and impact. Click here to read more - https://lnkd.in/gz9HG-5D

We are excited to wish Ann Vasquez a ?? big congratulations ?? on her retirement as President/CEO of the Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis! Ann’s leadership and dedication have made a lasting impact, and we are grateful for her partnership with We Raise. Through our collaboration with the Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis, We Raise awarded a $500,000 joint grant to Keyway Center for Diversion & Reentry in 2022, supporting their vital work advocating for and assisting women in the criminal justice system as they transition back to family and community. Our staff was thrilled to celebrate with Ann and members of the St. Louis community last week! We wish her God’s abundant blessings in this next chapter—her legacy of service will continue to inspire!

We are pleased to share our FY2024 Annual Report, “Thrive.” Thrive defines the impact we’ve made together this past year. Thanks to your generosity, We Raise has supported nonprofit Christian organizations transforming lives through education, workforce development, and reentry programs. We’ve seen individuals overcome obstacles, communities flourish, and hope restored. These programs create opportunities, restore dignity, and reflect God’s love in action. Your support empowers us to continue this vital work. As you read our annual report, may it serve as both a celebration of what we’ve accomplished and an inspiration for the future. Thank you for walking this journey with us. Together, we are building a world where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Read the annual report here - https://lnkd.in/g2MRqrGA

At We Raise, we are inspired by these timeless wisdom of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This powerful call for selflessness and collective compassion is vividly reflected in the work of our grantee partners across the country. Each day, they are addressing the broader needs of their communities. Whether they are creating pathways out of poverty, supporting successful reentry, or fostering educational equity, their work is a testament to the transformative power of service. With support from We Raise, thanks to the generosity of our donors, these organizations are living out Dr. King's vision, putting humanity first and making a lasting difference. Their dedication to lifting others exemplifies what it means to truly live — not just for oneself, but for the greater good.

?? Emerging Christian Leaders Wanted! ?? Are you an emerging nonprofit professional passionate about driving change in your community? Our Emerging Leader Grants are here to equip and empower you! These grants provide $15,000 over two years to support new programs at the intersection of poverty, violence, and inequality in the United States. Of this, $10,000 is dedicated to your program, and $5,000 is reserved for your personal leadership development. Don’t miss this opportunity to invest in your growth and make a lasting impact in your community. Apply by February 15, 2025. Visit https://lnkd.in/g_349ZsG to learn more and apply.

?? Big News???? We Raise recently awarded a $100,000 GrantsPlus Grant to JUMPSTART USA to expand its prison ministry in North Carolina. JUMPSTART’s 40-week discipleship program transforms lives through faith, mentoring, and reentry support, with a 96% success rate in keeping graduates out of prison. Active in 5?? states, JUMPSTART’s programs address spiritual, educational, and reentry needs. The grant will fund program expansion into seven North Carolina prisons, impacting 600 participants over the next three years. Learn more - https://lnkd.in/gb6TrpjK

We Raise is pleased to announce that Mr. Mark Wimer has joined its board of directors for a three-year term starting January 1, 2025. “We are thrilled to have Mark’s presence, his financial expertise and experience, and his passion to serve others on our board of directors,” said Paul Miles, President/CEO of We Raise. “We strive to be a good steward of other people’s generosity at We Raise, and Mark will help us achieve that objective.” Wimer, CIFD, CFA, is an experienced institutional equity portfolio manager and investment management executive with broad experience managing multi-billion dollar global equity portfolios and growing an institutional asset manager from a very early stage to over $5 billion in assets under management. Welcome Mark! Read more - https://lnkd.in/g52TGrpr

?? Exciting News! ?? We Raise has awarded three Emerging Leader Grants totaling $45,000! These grants support rising nonprofit leaders at Christian organizations addressing poverty, violence, and inequality. Each recipient receives funding for their programs and leadership development opportunities, including personalized coaching and courses through The Center for Creative Leadership and the Global Leadership Summit. Congratulations to our newest grantees: ???Ben Gipson – CAP Trade Skills Program, Mount Tabor School of the Liberal Arts (Kansas City, Mo.) ?? Andre Klass – Elevating Our Community Through Technology, Christian Tech Center Ministries (Longwood, Fla.) ?? Sierhah Price – Reviving the 360 Experience, Marian Middle School (St. Louis, Mo.) Their inspiring programs are transforming communities through #education, #technology, and #holistic support! Applications for the next round of grants are open until February 15, 2025. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/g-SPWgek #WeRaise #grantees #granteepartners #emergingleaders #leaders #leadership #FaithInAction #NonprofitLeadership

Missed our State of the Organization webinar last Thursday? No worries! You can now watch the full recording online as President/CEO Paul Miles shares the impact of your generosity, what makes We Raise and our work unique, and our exciting plans for the future. If you have any questions, we’d love to hear from you! Watch the recording here ?? https://lnkd.in/gb5e-pHP