Rise East Raises $40 Million – Needs $10 Million to Reach Goal

More than 25 major funders have joined the effort to revitalize 40x40 blocks in Deep East Oakland but more donors are urgently needed 

Oakland, CA – May 23, 2024 – Leaders of Rise East, a collaborative effort guided by a comprehensive 10-year plan to revitalize Deep East Oakland, celebrated a major fund-raising milestone Thursday evening by announcing they’d hit the $40 million mark. 

Donors and community leaders gathered at The Overlook in Oakland for the first “Raise East” fund-raising event, where they applauded the $40 million milestone but also urged more people to join the movement – and quickly. 

If Rise East can raise $50 million this year, a national philanthropic group pledged to match the same amount. It would deliver an unprecedented investment of $100 million into Deep East Oakland.   

“Thanks to a groundswell of support from Oakland and beyond, our wildly ambitious goal to raise $50 million is now within reach,” said Melanie Moore, CEO of Oakland Thrives, the collective impact organization coordinating the fundraising effort. “We are grateful to every funder who has committed their support, and we thank you for believing that we can create an East Oakland where Black children and families thrive.”

At the event, Rise East partners, elected officials, community leaders, and East Oakland residents shared the vision for East Oakland and what they believe is possible with the monumental investment.

“What makes Rise East unique is that this is truly a community-led vision that started in the 40x40 but will reverberate citywide,” said Greg Hodge, CEO, Brotherhood of Elders Network. “We know that when we invest in East Oakland, it benefits all of Oakland.” 

Many companies and donors made financial commitments to Rise East in the days leading up to the event, moving Rise East just past $40 million in funding. 

“We are deeply committed to the prosperity of every one of the hometowns we serve, this includes a special love for Oakland — the beautiful and vibrant hometown headquarters for PG&E. We’re thrilled to announce an initial commitment of support for the Rise East initiative to help make a lasting and meaningful impact to improve the lives of East Oakland residents,”

said Stephanie Isaacson, Executive Director of The PG&E Corporation Foundation.

“Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping Rise East in this collective effort to ensure Black families have the resources and support needed to lead healthy lives,” said Yvette Radford, vice president of External and Community Affairs for Kaiser Permanente Northern California. “We believe in building healthy communities, and we know transforming East Oakland’s neighborhoods will help improve the health and well-being of residents.”

Rise East received a recent $2 million commitment from BMO, a leading North American, purpose-driven bank that is dedicated to supporting the progress of underserved communities and those facing systemic barriers to promote an inclusive society.

Other notable philanthropic organizations and entities that have committed funds to Rise East include (LINK TO PROGRAM): Akonadi Foundation, Amalgamated Bank, BMO, Block, California Black Freedom Fund, Crankstart Foundation, David and Lucile Packard Foundation, East Bay Community Foundation, Fremont Bank Foundation, Google Foundation, Hellman Foundation, Kaiser Permanente, Kataly Foundation, Levitt Foundation, Mellon Foundation, NBA Foundation, PG&E, San Francisco Foundation, Sierra Health Foundation, Stupski Foundation, Sunlight Giving, The California Endowment, Tipping Point Community, Wells Fargo, William H Donner Foundation, and Zellerbach Family Foundation.

Rise East is a collaborative effort guided by a comprehensive 10-Year Plan to revitalize East Oakland. It brings together neighborhood nonprofits, government, and the private sector to transform a 40x40 block area of East Oakland. Its mission is to make lasting improvements for Black children and families right now, but also long into the future. 

Residents and potential donors who want to learn more about the transformational vision of Rise East are encouraged to visit their website at www.riseeast.org 

Rise East grew out of a community-led vision to develop a Black Cultural Zone in East Oakland over ten years ago. Community members born and raised in East Oakland are leading this effort and hope it will keep Black families in the area and lead to the return of families who were displaced due to economic barriers and systemic disinvestment. 

This initiative will focus on an East Oakland community known as the 40x40, which runs from Seminary Avenue to the Oakland-San Leandro border and from MacArthur Boulevard to the Bay. This area is home to the largest concentration of Black residents (over 30,000) who remain across Oakland flatlands today.

Rise East is a joint effort stewarded by the 40x40 Council and Oakland Thrives. Oakland Thrives is a collective impact organization created to coordinate large-scale strategies that involve the public and private sectors working together to improve well-being for Oakland families. The network comprises resident leaders, major employers, and representatives from philanthropy and large public agencies, including the City of Oakland, Alameda County, and Oakland Unified School District. 

The 40x40 Council is a network of community-based organizations in the 40x40 area of East Oakland working together to improve the neighborhood's health and quality of life. Launched in 2019, the 40x40 Council includes four longstanding, Black-led nonprofits: Black Cultural Zone CDC, Brotherhood of Elders Network, East Oakland Youth Development Center, and Roots Community Health Center. The initiative includes a People’s Advisory Council of Black community leaders and residents from the 40x40 who know the issues impacting the community and have a vested interest in improving the neighborhood without displacing the residents. The 40x40 Council will take the lead on operationalizing and implementing the 10-Year Plan.

Oakland Thrives is a collective impact backbone organization that convenes decision-makers and community leaders to collaborate on policies that ensure long-term gains in health, wealth, education, housing, and safety for Oakland families. Oakland Thrives is governed by an executive team of leaders in government, philanthropy, business, and the nonprofit ecosystem, including the Mayor of Oakland, the Superintendent of OUSD, the Alameda County Administrator, and senior leadership at Kaiser Permanente. The Oakland Thrives Executive team and a community Steering Committee made up of East Oakland residents will share decision-making authority over Rise East, setting the course of the initiative and monitoring progress toward its goals. www.oaklandthrives.org