Apply for the Leadership Award | We Raise Foundation

Richard E. Herman Leadership Award

Richard E. Herman Leadership Award

The Richard E. Herman Leadership Award is an opportunity to lift up the innovative, creative, and committed work of emerging leaders, encouraging and honoring them with this prestigious award.

The Leadership Award recognizes the commitment and service of one Christian leader interrupting the cycles of poverty, violence, and inequality in the United States, whether through their professional work or as a volunteer. This focus is driven by an understanding that Jesus’ life, ministry, and teachings were incarnational. He lived among the people, with those on the margins of society, sharing in their suffering and pain, but also desiring and bringing about reconciliation and shalom.

The honoree will receive public recognition and a cash award of $4,000 from We Raise Foundation.

The 2024 application period has ended.

Who We Are Looking For

The honoree will be an emerging Christian leader between 20 and 35 years of age whose professional or volunteer efforts are interrupting the cycles that perpetuate poverty, violence, and inequality in the United States.

The Leadership Award seeks to highlight a leader who works tirelessly for the good of their community. This is someone who cares deeply about the injustices experienced by their neighbors and works alongside people for solutions that transform communities. This award recognizes a leader who has spent significant time in the community, listening, developing, and growing together. Rooted in the Gospel, this leader’s work is a reflection of their love for Jesus to recognize the Imago Dei in their neighbors.

The honoree will be an effective leader with an understanding of the challenges of systemic poverty. We will value realistic and authentic approaches to solutions that are informed by the wisdom and experience of the local community and grounded in the assets of that community.

Nominate a Leader

Do you know a leader that is a fit for this award? Nominate them and we will send them an email to request they apply.

The 2024 nomination period has ended.

How to Apply

Applicants must submit an essay when they apply addressing the four questions below (5200 character limit). Competitive submissions include stories and specific numbers to describe the scope of the work.

  • Who are you? (Include your name, location, age and your work).
  • How has your service and leadership within your community interrupted the cycle of poverty, violence and inequality?
    • Share details or stories of the changes you’ve helped lead
    • Examples could be: creative problem-solving, a new approach, or narrative shift
  • How is this work a reflection of your calling to follow Jesus?
  • What inspires you to continue this work?

Applicants are required to include contact information for two references who will be required to fill out a separate form answering supporting questions regarding the applicant. References must complete and submit the reference form by July 12, 2024.

The 2024 application period has ended.

More Information

Who is We Raise Foundation? We Raise Foundation has a long history of equipping bold Christian leaders as they serve the needs of their community. The primary way we do this is through our two grant programs. Our Emerging Leader Grant program, is specifically an investment in the development of rising nonprofit professionals and the program they are leading at the intersection of poverty, violence, and inequality.

Who is Richard E. Herman? Richard E. Herman served as the fourth president of We Raise Foundation, formerly Wheat Ridge Ministries, from 2006-2015. He joined Wheat Ridge in 1992 as vice president and was appointed vice president/chief operating officer in 2002. Rick’s enthusiasm for and commitment to emerging leaders in his work continues on at We Raise Foundation through this award.

Questions? Please contact our Programs Department by email or 800.762.6748.

 The Richard E. Herman Leadership Award is an opportunity to lift up the innovative, creative, and committed work of emerging leaders, encouraging and honoring them through a monetary award and support resources.

We want to recognize the commitment and service of one Christian leader interrupting the cycles of poverty, violence, and inequality in the United States, whether through their professional work or as a volunteer. This focus is driven by an understanding that Jesus’ life, ministry, and teachings were incarnational. He lived among the people, with those on the margins of society, sharing in their suffering and pain, but also desiring and bringing about reconciliation and shalom.

About The Award

In recognition of their leadership to interrupt cycles of poverty, violence, and inequality, the honoree will receive public recognition and a cash award of $4,000 from We Raise Foundation.

The application process is now closed.

Who We Are Looking For

The honoree will be an emerging Christian leader between 20 and 35 years of age whose professional or volunteer efforts are interrupting the cycles that perpetuate poverty, violence, and inequality in the United States.

The Leadership Award seeks to highlight a leader who works tirelessly for the good of their community. This is someone who cares deeply about the injustices experienced by their neighbors and works alongside people for solutions that transform communities. This award recognizes a leader who has spent significant time in the community, listening, developing, and growing together. Rooted in the Gospel, this leader’s work is a reflection of their love for Jesus to recognize the Imago Dei in their neighbors.

The honoree will be an effective leader with an understanding of the challenges of systemic poverty. We will value realistic and authentic approaches to solutions that are informed by the wisdom and experience of the local community and grounded in the assets of that community.

More Information

Who is We Raise Foundation? We Raise Foundation has a long history of equipping bold Christian leaders as they serve the needs of their community. The primary way we do this is through our two grant programs. Our Emerging Leader Grant program, is specifically an investment in the development of rising nonprofit professionals and the program they are leading at the intersection of poverty, violence, and inequality.

Who is Richard E. Herman? Richard E. Herman served as the fourth president of We Raise Foundation, formerly Wheat Ridge Ministries, from 2006-2015. He joined Wheat Ridge in 1992 as vice president and was appointed vice president/chief operating officer in 2002. Rick’s enthusiasm for and commitment to emerging leaders in his work continues on through this award.

How To Apply

The 2024 application period is closed.

Applicants are required to include contact information for two references who will be required to fill out a separate form answering supporting questions regarding the applicant. References must complete and submit the reference form by July 12, 2024.

Applicants must submit an essay when they apply addressing the four questions below (5200 character limit). Competitive submissions include stories and specific numbers to describe the scope of the work.

  • Who are you? (Include your name, location, age and your work).
  • How has your service and leadership within your community interrupted the cycle of poverty, violence and inequality?
    • Share details or stories of the changes you’ve helped lead
    • Examples could be: creative problem-solving, a new approach, or narrative shift
  • How is this work a reflection of your calling to follow Jesus?
  • What inspires you to continue this work?

Nominate a Leader

Do you know a leader that is a fit for this award? Nominate them and we will send them an email to request they apply.

The 2024 nomination period is closed.

Questions? Please contact our Program Department by email or call 800.762.6748.

2019 Expert Panel

Justin Beene

Justin Beene
Director and Founder
Grand Rapids Center for Community Transformation

Cliff Nellis

Cliff Nellis
ExecutiveDirector
Lawndale Christian Legal Center

Meghan Sobocieski

Meghan Sobocienski
Executive Director
Grace in Action

Michelle Warren

Michelle Warren
Advocacy and Strategic Engagement Director
Christian Community Development Association

Rozella White

Rozella White
RHW Consulting

Mr. Kevin Coker
Restoring Justice, Houston, Texas

Coker serves as the chief attorney and CEO of Restoring Justice in Houston, Texas. Restoring Justice provides holistic, client-centered legal representation and social services to people who cannot afford an adequate lawyer, free-of-charge. As CEO, Coker provides leadership, strategic direction, and resource development for the day-to-day operations of the organization. As an attorney, he zealously represents marginalized individuals in state court who otherwise could not afford adequate representation.

kevin-coker-headshot

2023

Kevin Coker

raquel-patterson-crop-2

2022

Raquel Patterson

jerome-harris-square

2021

Jerome Harris

Photo of Derrick Braziel

2020

Derrick Braziel

niki-wong

2019

Niki Wong

olivia-ojeda_scr-sht

2018

Olivia Ojeda

justin-beene_glocal-transformative-impact-webinar

2017

Justin Beene

kristian-blackmon-headshot_cropped

2016

Kristian Blackmon

Stay informed about the many ways we’re investing in communities across the country