Inland Empire Community Foundation

Inland Empire Community Foundation Our Mission: Strengthening Inland Southern California through Philanthropy. We connect donors with the causes they care about.

Established in 1941, the Inland Empire Community Foundation has over $130 million in assets and provides college scholarships and grants to nonprofit organizations across the two-county area. We are your center for charitable investment in your community:

We offer donors a wide variety of options for giving—establishing permanent endowments, creating flexible donor-advised funds, or donating to o

ur general operating fund to bring our initiatives to fruition. We provide wise stewardship of donor funds through a conservative, diversified investment strategy. Each year we award millions of dollars in scholarships and grants to the many educational, humanitarian, and cultural organizations. All contributions to IECF receive the maximum tax advantages afforded by law.

Our Board Chair Jesse Melgar will join The James Irvine Foundation's Azusena Favela, CIELO Fund Co-founder Luz Gallegos ...
06/05/2026

Our Board Chair Jesse Melgar will join The James Irvine Foundation's Azusena Favela, CIELO Fund Co-founder Luz Gallegos at TODEC Legal Center, LA Times DeLos' Fidel Martinez, and the Center for Nonprofit Management's Efrain Escobedo at the Hispanics in Philanthropy Conference in LA next week. They will lead a panel about the 's impact: From the Grassroots to el CIELO: Building Latino-Led Power Through Place-Based Philanthropy in California’s Inland Empire Region. ⛰️

The conversation will spotlight the CIELO Fund’s community-driven approach to grantmaking, research, narrative change, and scholarships—and what it takes to build Latino-led philanthropic power in the Inland Empire.

Three years in, the CIELO Fund has raised $3.5 million while centering trust, lived experience, and shared decision-making. If you're attending the conference, be sure to stop by! 🌟

🗺️Our region is growing, changing, and attracting attention in ways that would have been hard to imagine a generation ag...
06/05/2026

🗺️Our region is growing, changing, and attracting attention in ways that would have been hard to imagine a generation ago. The decisions being made today about housing, economic opportunity, education, infrastructure, public health, and our natural environment will shape life here for decades to come. We're talking about all this and more - with an eye on how we'll turn conversations into action - at IECF's 2026 Policy & Philanthropy Summit.

On August 6, leaders from every corner of our region will gather at the Riverside Convention Center for a day of thoughtful discussion, fresh perspectives, and meaningful connection. This year's theme, All Together, reflects our inclusive vision: a robust future for the Inland Empire belongs to all of us. Indeed, it will take all of us working hand in hand to get there.🫱🏽‍🫲🏽

👏We're honored to welcome keynote speaker Rip Rapson, CEO of The Kresge Foundation whose leadership has helped shape some of the nation's most important conversations about community investment, opportunity, and regional prosperity.

➡️Whether you're a nonprofit leader, public official, business executive, philanthropist, student, or engaged resident, the Summit offers a chance to hear new ideas, strengthen relationships, and be part of a conversation about where our region is headed next.

🎟️ Early Bird pricing ends June 30.
https://iecfsummit2026.eventbrite.com

Join us for a day that is consistently among the most anticipated gatherings of civic and philanthropic leaders in the Inland Empire!

🌟 Grantee Spotlight: Casa Blanca Home of Neighborly Service 🌟Since 1957, Casa Blanca Home of Neighborly Service has been...
06/04/2026

🌟 Grantee Spotlight: Casa Blanca Home of Neighborly Service 🌟

Since 1957, Casa Blanca Home of Neighborly Service has been showing up for the community, neighbor to neighbor.🥫🎒

Weekly food distributions serving 80+ families every Wednesday, monthly emergency food programs reaching 300 participants, and more, Casa Blanca meets people right where they are. Add in 500 backpacks full of school supplies, 150 Thanksgiving turkeys, free community events, STEM learning labs, and bilingual support — and you start to see just how far one organization's reach can go.

Coming up! Summer Movie Night on July 23! 🎥🌞

Read more on the blog 👉https://www.iegives.org/grantee-spotlight-casa-blanca/

📰When local journalism has the right kind of resources, residents stay informed and civic life functions better. The Des...
06/03/2026

📰When local journalism has the right kind of resources, residents stay informed and civic life functions better. The Desert Community News Fund at IECF was created to help make that possible in the Coachella Valley.

🍷On Wednesday, June 17th, Wine Down Wednesday at Fisherman's Market in Palm Desert directs 100% of proceeds to the fund. Join us from 5 to 7 p.m. — $20 at the door, wine tasting and apps included. Join us for a toast to good, local news!

Sharing on behalf of our friends at Bank of America Bank of America Neighborhood Builders Program®: Supporting developin...
06/03/2026

Sharing on behalf of our friends at Bank of America

Bank of America Neighborhood Builders Program®: Supporting developing leaders and helping communities thrive

https://about.bankofamerica.com/en/making-an-impact/grant-funding-for-nonprofits-sponsorship-programs

Local nonprofit organizations play an important role in addressing societal challenges and advancing economic opportunity in our communities. Since 2004, our commitment to the Neighborhood Builders® program has reflected Bank of America’s longstanding and continued philanthropic investment in nonprofit leadership development across the U.S. Over two decades, we’ve trained more than 4,000 leaders at nearly 2,000 U.S. nonprofits.

From June 1 to July 1, the 2026 Neighborhood Builders® application is open to 501(C)(3) nonprofit organizations that meet the eligibility criteria below.

As a Neighborhood Builder®, each organization receives comprehensive leadership training for the executive director and an emerging leader. The group also joins a nationwide network of peer organizations and gains the opportunity to access resources to expand their impact.

If you or someone you know is interested in advancing nonprofit leadership and community impact, learn more about our Neighborhood Builders eligibility criteria.

If you are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit interested in applying, join our information session on Thursday, June 4 at 1:00 PM ET (10:00 AM PT) to learn more. Register here:

https://bofa.veracast.com/webcasts/bofa/NB/idNK11a2.cfm.
A recording will be available via the same link through month-end.

🌟 Grantee Spotlight: Tools for Tomorrow 🌟Since 1998, Tools for Tomorrow has been unlocking creative potential for Coache...
06/02/2026

🌟 Grantee Spotlight: Tools for Tomorrow 🌟

Since 1998, Tools for Tomorrow has been unlocking creative potential for Coachella Valley kids, and a grant from the FitzDell Gifting Fund via Inland Empire Community Foundation is helping them dream even bigger. 🎨✏️🎭

From gel printing and oil pastels to theater programs and field trips to Desert X and the Herb Alpert Gallery, TFT gives 1,200+ students across 22 schools a safe space to create, collaborate, and grow.
Every child gets an art kit. Every lesson is led by a professional teaching artist. And every kid gets to discover that it's okay to make mistakes. That's part of the process. 💛
Tools For Tomorrow Visionaries

Read more on the blog 😉

Tune in to this episode of IE Latino Voices! 🎙️🎧Mead Valley has the highest concentration of diesel trucks per person in...
06/02/2026

Tune in to this episode of IE Latino Voices! 🎙️🎧

Mead Valley has the highest concentration of diesel trucks per person in the region — and residents are feeling it. 😷

Community Organizer Karla Cervantes joins host Yvette Walker to talk air quality, warehouse expansion, and why Latino communities are carrying the heaviest burden. Plus, practical steps YOU can take to protect your health right now. 💪🌱

This conversation KVCR Public Media is made possible by the CIELO Fund at Inland Empire Community Foundation, uplifting and investing in the IE's Latino community.

🎧 Listen now 👉 https://kvcr.org/news/local-interest/2026-05-13/may-13-ie-latino-voices

🔥California has made significant progress in reducing wildfire risk through forest management, fuel reduction, and commu...
06/01/2026

🔥California has made significant progress in reducing wildfire risk through forest management, fuel reduction, and community preparedness. But a recent Los Angeles Times report warns that key funding sources supporting this work are beginning to dry up, potentially reducing annual wildfire prevention investments by hundreds of millions of dollars.

As Michelle Decker, President & CEO of IECF and a member of The Wildfire Solutions Coalition executive committee, told the Times: “We have the scientists, we have the technicians, we have the advocates. We see this problem. We can get ahead of this problem. It is a revenue issue.”

Years of investment have built momentum. Maintaining that commitment is essential to protecting people, property, and the natural resources our region depends on. 🌲

Read the story: https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2026-05-29/california-wildfire-prevention-funding-at-risk

🏳️‍🌈Happy Pride Month! 🏳️‍🌈The Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern California (CRIISC) is currently presenting Out...
06/01/2026

🏳️‍🌈Happy Pride Month!

🏳️‍🌈The Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern California (CRIISC) is currently presenting Out in the IE, a powerful exhibition celebrating the stories, history, resilience, and contributions of the LGBTQ+ community across Inland Southern California.

🏳️‍🌈Through personal narratives, photography, archival materials, and community voices, the exhibition highlights the importance of visibility, inclusion, and empowerment throughout the Inland Empire.

🏳️‍🌈As part of our partnership with CRIISC, the Inland Empire Community Foundation (IECF) is proud to support awareness and engagement around this meaningful exhibition and the work of the Out in the IE LGBTQ+ Empowerment Fund, which helps strengthen and uplift LGBTQ+ organizations, initiatives, and community leadership throughout the region.

🏳️‍🌈We encourage everyone to visit the exhibition and experience these important stories firsthand. For more information about the exhibition, visiting hours, and upcoming programs, please visit CRIISC’s website.

https://www.inlandcivilrights.org/exhibitions

🏳️‍🌈To learn more about the Out in the IE LGBTQ+ Empowerment Fund and ways to support LGBTQ+ empowerment across the Inland Empire, please visit Out in the IE LGBTQ+ Empowerment Fund.

https://www.iegives.org/funds/out-in-the-ie-lgbtq-empowerment-fund

⏳ Last Day to Save! Super Early Bird tickets are just $100, but this special rate ends Sunday, May 31.🌟When we align our...
05/31/2026

⏳ Last Day to Save! Super Early Bird tickets are just $100, but this special rate ends Sunday, May 31.

🌟When we align our vision and move toward a single north star, we accelerate change across our communities. Join us at the Inland Empire at the IECF Policy and Philanthropy Summit on August 6 at the Riverside Convention Center.

🌟This year’s theme, All Together, demonstrates how our collective focus on place-based philanthropy and policy innovation can strengthen the IE. We are thrilled to welcome Rip Rapson, President & CEO of The Kresge Foundation as our featured keynote speaker.

Secure your spot today and join the conversation to ensure all people and places in our region thrive: https://iecfsummit2026.eventbrite.com 🎟️✨

Address

3700 Sixth Street, Suite 200
Riverside, CA
92501

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+19512417777

Website

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