GANAS
In an era where nonprofit organizations are feeling a significant effect of the 2025 federal funding cuts, Inland Empire Community Foundation delivers some good news: we are proud to announce that $850,000 in grants has been distributed via our Community Impact Fund (CIF).
IECF launched the competitive grant opportunity two years ago. The result enabled the region’s nonprofits to explore and pursue various pathways of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and to consider how those ideas could enhance their impact.
The impact of 2025’s executive orders nearly thwarted those efforts, threatening future financial support to the region’s nonprofit sector. However, IECF remained proactive. We focused on a grant opportunity informed by focus groups, which aided nonprofits to “meet the moment” through core support grants, expended in six months.
Although the initial goal was to give out $500,000, funds were bolstered when the James Irvine Foundation offered a $250,000 contribution and the IE Funders Alliance gave $100,000.
IECF received 132 applications, paving the way for 45 nonprofits to be funded, for a total of $850,000.
“The number of applicants signifies the severity of and validates the impact of the executive orders, federal funding cuts, and threats to future financial support to our nonprofit sector,” said Celia Cudiamat, IECF’s chief impact officer.
Collectively, these individual grants to nonprofits, each up to $20,000, provided six months of operating support. Those funds were allocated for day-to-day expenses, to adjust programs and services as community needs shifted, or to reinforce organizational capacity.
“One of the best things that can emerge from Community Impact Fund is that the grantees are able to mitigate disruption of services to the community by using the grant funds quickly at their own discretion,” Cudiamat added. “This helps address their greatest needs, providing organizational stability and resiliency.”
To be sure, the list of CIF grantees covers a wide spectrum of change agents, from those offering youth services, like GANAS, Girls on the Run IE, and Project K.I.N.D. (Kids in Need of Doctors) to the arts (Artists Council and Culturas Music & Arts).
Some of the other grantees include: Riverside Meals on Wheels Inc., which ensures senior, disabled, and housebound neighbors are cared for—from providing fresh meals to safety checks; Inland Caregivers Resource Center, which helps families and communities manage the challenges of caregiving and aging; Little Seeds Matter, a vibrant literacy, health and wellness Initiative; and RMC Foundation, which strives to enhance health and quality of life in the Inland Empire by fostering social, emotional, and physical well-being through education, service, and community engagement.
About 22 organizations participated in IECF’s 2025 focus groups, held in Riverside, San Bernardino, and the Coachella Valley. Those groups represented significant sectors in the region, from veterans’ services, youth mentoring, and immigrant services to those involved in arts and culture, after-school programs, and child advocacy.
RMC Foundation
Individuals in the fields of foster youth, health, housing, senior services, food insecurity, and college preparation also filtered into the diverse mix.
To be eligible, organizations had to have 501(c)(3) status for at least three years, operate within Riverside and/or San Bernardino counties, hold annual operating budgets between $100,000 and $500,000, and uphold a nondiscrimination policy in staffing and services.
IECF’s Community Impact Fund delivers flexible support to nonprofits across Riverside and San Bernardino counties when they need it most. This year, 132 organizations applied and only 45 could be funded, leaving many strong programs without resources. Support for the Community Impact Fund helps close that gap and keeps critical community work moving forward. We invite your donation in any amount. Contribute here, or contact IECF’s Charitable Giving team at giving@iegives.org.
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