Out in the IE LGBTQ+ Empowerment Fund
Creating a unique funding source and catalyst for lasting change
What Is the Out in the IE LGBTQ+ Empowerment Fund?
The Out in the IE LGBTQ+ Empowerment Fund at the Inland Empire Community Foundation is dedicated to advancing equity, dignity, and opportunity for LGBTQ+ individuals and communities across the Inland Empire and the Coachella Valley.
Through a collective impact approach to fundraising and grantmaking, the Fund brings together community leaders, donors, and nonprofit partners to address critical LGBTQ+ issues and strengthen the region’s nonprofit ecosystem, using data, research, and community-informed insights to guide decision-making and maximize impact.
The Fund is supported by two endowed funds designed to ensure sustainable, long-term investment in LGBTQ+ communities. The Endowed General Fund supports ongoing grantmaking to LGBTQ+-serving organizations, as well as investments in advocacy and research that inform policy, elevate lived experiences, and drive systems-level change. The Endowed Scholarship Fund provides lasting support for scholarships benefiting LGBTQ+ students and their allies attending colleges and universities throughout the Inland Empire and Coachella Valley.
By aligning resources, sharing knowledge, and investing strategically across grantmaking, advocacy, research, and education—and by grounding decisions in data and evidence—the Out in the IE LGBTQ+ Empowerment Fund helps build a more inclusive, resilient, and vibrant region where LGBTQ+ people are supported, visible, and empowered to thrive.
What are the benefits of joining the Out in the IE LGBTQ+ Empowerment Fund?
When you give through the Out in the IE LGBTQ+ Empowerment Fund, you join a movement of local donors committed to creating collective impact. Together, we can:
- Multiply your impact by pooling resources to support high-performing nonprofit organizations.
- Learn and engage with experts about pressing local issues and evidence-based solutions.
- Connect and collaborate with others who share a passion for improving the region.
- Stay informed with regular updates on collaborative grantmaking, outcomes, and community progress.
How the Fund Invests
Grant decisions are guided by a community-based committee that evaluates proposals for:
- Sound, data-driven strategies grounded in science and feasibility
- Community-informed design, ensuring that projects are guided by local voices and needs
- Collaborative partnerships among nonprofits, advocacy groups, businesses, and residents
- Measurable outcomes demonstrating clear and lasting impact
Statistically Speaking
- 13.9 million adults in the U.S. identify as LGBTQ+, including about 1.5 million in California, the largest LGBTQ+ population of any state.
- Young people are identifying as LGBTQ+ at far higher rates than older generations, with 15.2% of adults ages 18–24 identifying as LGBTQ+ compared with 1.8% of adults age 65 and older.
- LGBTQ+ communities face significant economic and housing challenges, with 23% earning less than $24,000 annually and up to 40% of homeless youth identifying as LGBTQ+.
Based on 2023 Williams Institute data, UCLA School of Law
Our Mission
The Out in the IE Empowerment Fund exists to strengthen, support, and uplift LGBTQ+ individuals and families across the Inland Empire through strategic philanthropy and community partnership.
Our Impact and Focus Areas
With the support of visionary donors, we aim to:
- Fund a first-of-its-kind report on the LGBTQ+ community in the Inland Empire to guide smart, strategic giving.
- Make grants to trusted local organizations improving the lives of LGBTQ+ individuals and families.
- Provide scholarship opportunities that expand access to education and opportunity for LGBTQ+ students.
- Support the preservation and sharing of LGBTQ+ history, including the online Out in the IE exhibition.
- Bring donors together to create lasting, measurable impact across our region.
Through these investments, the fund will strengthen the Inland Empire’s capacity for inclusive growth and long-term prosperity.
To learn more about the Fund, download the PDF
Out in the IE LBGTQ+ Empowerment Fund Founding Leadership and Grant Committee Members
Scott Discount
Jesse Melgar
Jack Fitzsimmons
Angel Rodriguez
Walter Gendel
Ariel Savage
Gabriel Maldanado
