Public and Private Partnerships
In the heart of the Inland Empire, collaboration is the driving force behind lasting change. Across cities, neighborhoods, and desert communities, public and private partners are coming together with a shared purpose to strengthen the region and expand opportunities for all who call it home.
IE Non-Profit Loan Fund
Too many nonprofits doing vital work in our region have been held back — not by lack of mission, but lack of capital. The Inland Empire Nonprofit Loan Fund was created to change that. This $5 million fund offers flexible, affordable loans to help organizations manage cash flow, strengthen operations, and grow their impact across the Inland Empire — with a focus on communities that have historically had the least access to opportunity. Built in partnership with the City of Riverside, San Bernardino County, and the Nonprofit Finance Fund, it reflects IECF’s belief that the right investment at the right moment can help a good organization become a great one.
Inland Empire Down Payment Assistance Program
The Inland Empire Community Foundation (IECF) and Neighborhood Partnership Housing Services, Inc. (NPHS) launched the Inland Empire Down Payment Assistance Program (IEDPA) to make homeownership more accessible for low- and moderate-income families across Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
Made possible by a $1 million investment from U.S. Bank, the program provided up to $40,000 in down payment assistance to qualifying first-time homebuyers — delivered as a deferred, zero-percent loan over 30 years, allowing families to focus on building equity rather than managing payments.
IECF partnered with NPHS to implement and manage the program, pairing financial assistance with pre-purchase counseling, community outreach, and local partnerships. Together, the initiative helped close the region’s widening wealth gap and opened a door to generational financial security for families who had long been priced out of homeownership.
IEGO – Inland Economic Growth Opportunity
IEGO is a collaborative organization dedicated to fostering economic growth, driving innovation, and promoting opportunity across Southern California’s Inland Empire. Spanning the combined metropolitan area of Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, a region home to 4.5 million people, IEGO brings together community-based organizations, businesses, educational institutions, and government agencies to tackle the region’s most pressing economic challenges. A proud partner of the Inland Empire Community Foundation, IEGO is committed to putting the Inland Empire on the path to a more prosperous and equitable future.