We Raise Foundation Awards Three Emerging Leader Grants
We Raise Foundation Awards Three Emerging Leader Grants
Itasca, IL—We Raise Foundation recently awarded three Emerging Leader Grants totaling $45,000. Emerging Leader Grants are an investment in the development of rising nonprofit professionals at Christian organizations who are leading new programs at the intersection of poverty, violence, and inequality.
Each Emerging Leader grantee receives $15,000 over two years, with $10,000 supporting the program and $5,000 supporting leadership development. This leadership development includes attending a Leadership Fundamentals Course through The Center for Creative Leadership, attending the Global Leadership Summit through satellite locations, and receiving individualized leadership coaching.
“We Raise Foundation is proud to announce our investment in three impressive leaders making a measurable impact in their communities,” said Paul Miles, President/CEO of We Raise. “Each has applied their remarkable gifts in service to others, living their faith as the hands and feet of Jesus. Our commitment to supporting the next generation of leaders is rooted in our history of connecting young people to opportunities to carry out their faith with purpose in a world that is increasingly challenging. They are the best of us, and we lift them up as examples of true servant leaders.”
The Emerging Leader Grant Program has a rolling deadline and awards grants twice yearly. The next deadline is February 15, 2026, and grants will be awarded in April. For more information regarding grant requests, please visit the website at weraise.org/emergingleadergrants.
The newest Emerging Leader Grant recipients are:
Jared Harbison
Seeds of Purpose: Youth Empowerment through Gardening, Farming, and Trades
The Overflow, Morganton, NC
Leader Profile:
Born and raised in Morganton, NC, Jared Harbison grew up with a strong foundation of responsibility, service, and faith—values that would later shape his calling as a community leader. Harbison brings more than a decade of leadership experience, including roles in manufacturing, where he learned the importance of teamwork, communication, and problem-solving. He later became a certified Life Purpose Coach, equipping him to guide others through personal growth and transformation. In 2025, he graduated from the NC Farm School through NC State Extension, strengthening his expertise in sustainable agriculture and land stewardship. In 2024, Harbison purchased 20 acres in Morganton to establish a homestead and create a permanent space for The Overflow, a nonprofit that began with his community garden project—an effort inspired by the generosity and joy shared by his great-grandmother and neighbors.
Project Summary:
The Overflow, established in September 2024, helps young men discover their identity, build life and vocational skills, and grow into who they were created to be. Its Inward, Outward, Upward mentoring model guides holistic growth:
- Inward fosters self-awareness and personal development.
- Outward turns growth into action through life skills, trades, service, and community stewardship.
- Upward uses Scripture to guide understanding of identity, responsibility, and purpose.
Programs include gardening, farming, trades training, and immersive outdoor workshops—hosted in natural settings that encourage reflection and connection.
The yearlong Seeds of Purpose initiative will serve 100 young men ages 11–18 with weekly mentoring, hands-on skills training, and seasonal camps. Participants gain practical skills, consistent mentorship, and biblical teaching that cultivate character, responsibility, and a heart for service.
James Mitchell
The Crusader Innovation Lab – A Space for STEM, Arts, and Student Life
Lutheran North Middle & High School, St. Louis, MO
Leader Profile:
James Mitchell serves as Assistant Principal and Director of Athletics & Student Activities at Lutheran North Middle & High School in St. Louis, Missouri. A lifelong product of Lutheran education, he attended River Roads Lutheran School and later graduated from Lutheran North, experiences that shaped his faith, values, and passion for serving young people. Mitchell continued his academic and athletic career playing college basketball at Concordia College Alabama before transferring to Concordia University Wisconsin. Returning to Lutheran North has been a meaningful calling. Mitchell played a key role in launching the middle school program, supporting admissions, curriculum, student culture, and operations while teaching and coaching. He later stepped into a leadership role during a period of transition, deepening his commitment to servant leadership. Today, Mitchell oversees athletics, student activities, and school culture, coaches basketball, officiates high school and college games, and serves as Vice President of ATM Sports.
Project Summary:
Lutheran North Middle and High School plans to transform an underutilized, outdated room into a dynamic, multi-purpose innovation lab. The redesigned space will enhance STEM programs, expand broadcasting and media production capabilities, and create after-school opportunities—including a competitive e-sports team and student activity hub. The current space, though structurally sound and centrally located, has dim lighting, worn furniture, outdated flooring, and obsolete technology, making it uninviting and impractical for modern learning. The renovation will turn the room into a vibrant center of creativity, collaboration, and exploration, benefiting all 350 students daily. The upgraded lab will provide hands-on learning, foster teamwork, and serve as a hub for student innovation, while also inviting the broader community to engage with the school’s mission and witness the excitement of student growth and achievement.
Erica Reyes, BSN, RN
Resource Navigator Program
AllThrive 365, Phoenix, AZ
Leader Profile:
Erica Reyes, BSN, RN, has been dedicated to the aging population throughout her career. Since completing nursing school, she has worked with senior-focused organizations, delivering compassionate, individualized care. Joining AllThrive 365 in 2020, Reyes now serves as the Health & Wellness Programs Administrator, where she leads essential community-based programs that support seniors, families, and caregivers. In addition to her leadership role with AllThrive 365, Reyes is a vocal advocate for senior health issues. Her expertise has been highlighted through media appearances discussing key topics such as the nursing shortage, identifying caregiver risk factors, and the impact of adult day health facilities. Reyes serves as a Board Member for Arizona Caregiver Coalition and as a Committee Lead for the 2025-2028 Arizona Family Caregiver Action Plan.
Project Summary:
AllThrive 365, a Christian nonprofit founded in 1974 by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix, serves under-resourced Arizonans, helping those most at risk of falling through the cracks access health and social supports. In 2024, AllThrive 365 launched the Resource Navigator Program, a year-round initiative connecting seniors, adults with disabilities, and caregivers to trusted resources, information, and support. Operating Monday through Friday, it addresses home and community factors affecting wellbeing and provides guidance for physical, mental, and financial health. The program includes a Program Manager, two Navigators, and volunteers who serve as Friendly Callers, offering regular check-ins. Through personalized support, community outreach, and education, the Resource Navigator Program empowers participants to age safely, independently, and with confidence across Arizona.
About We Raise Foundation
Motivated by the belief that freedom is grace in action (Galatians 5:1a), We Raise Foundation funds innovative ideas and leaders that help individuals and communities thrive. We have a preference for funding solutions within the areas of education, workforce development, and reentry, and employ a unique approach to our investing by coupling program funding with a variety of robust value-added services that empower our grantees to grow their solutions. As a result of these value-added services, every $1 that donors invest through We Raise multiplies into more than double the benefit to the organizations we support. To learn more, please visit weraise.org. You can also find We Raise on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
