Communities

This initiative is designed to empower the next generation of problem solvers, advocates, and stewards of the planet. The challenge incentivizes youth aged 13-18 to continuously seek and contribute solutions to our world’s most pressing environmental problems.

The foundation is partnering with Pride Foundation as an intermediary on a 2-year youth initiative program with 2 objectives: 1) to provide unrestricted sub-grants for nonprofits that primarily serve LGBTQ+ youth and to support growth capacity and movement building within and across the organizations, and 2) promote leadership development for participants to build relationships, share stories, and learn with each other as leaders. This work will strengthen LGBTQ+ organizations’ ability to provide youth programming, engagement, and outreach across Washington.

The Rhizome Civic Service Fellowship Washington State Pilot is a three-year project to establish a statewide network of Rhizome Chapters, connecting 128 teams of Civic Service Fellows across Washington State by the school year 2025-2026. The Rhizome network model seeks to encourage young individuals to perceive and engage in civic service as a lifelong commitment. This initial effort will position Rhizome to scale the Civic Service Fellowship to all high schools across Washington State over the next 6 years and demonstrate a successful public-private partnership for other US States to replicate.