As we start the new year, I’m grateful for the progress we achieved together in 2025, despite the wholesale attacks and policy shifts our nonprofits have experienced from Washington, DC. As we head into 2026, ongoing anti-DEI efforts, new verifications for social services loss of medical coverage, and continued declining funding from Washington will challenge us in ways we have not seen in my lifetime. Immigration raids happening across the IE are their own category of disruption and harm, with groups daily providing food and housing, legal aid, and accurate information.
Our successes did not come easily, but this is what philanthropy and civil society are built for – when society and government lurch, and families struggle, we stay the course and keep resources moving to reduce harm and expand the chance people have of leading a calm and safe life. We cannot replace good government or strong agencies that deliver services, but we are excellent in a pinch.
Even with all the changes, we made some of our most meaningful investments yet in 2025. We worked to expand educational fairness and equity with new grants to twelve nonprofits; we grew our Signature Funds that build more equity across all populations in the IE; and we provided Rapid Response funding that nonprofits could use right away to manage funding losses. I am heartened by the extraordinary partnerships and commitments our fundholders and donors are making because they too want to see families and students thrive.
Our work remains focused on opportunity, stability, and long-term community strength, guided by the straight forward conditions that every person needs to thrive: Humane Housing, Lifelong Learning, Meaningful Work and Wealth, Reliable Transportation, Basic Needs for Health and safety, a Thriving Natural World, and most important – Belonging and Civic Muscle. We partner with donors, nonprofits, businesses, and government – to establish these conditions for all people and all places in the IE, no exceptions. Whatever disruptions we experience, we have to believe that we have built organizations and institutions that can move forward a vision of thriving for everyone, and for every child growing up in the IE today and tomorrow.
I’m also grateful to welcome our new board members this month and appreciate their commitment to the IE and to our shared work ahead. Thank you for your partnership, trust, and belief in this region and in IECF.
Stay generous, because our nonprofits, holding together our most vulnerable people, need you to be. Enjoy our 2025 recap video, and in 2026, may our hearts stay open, along with our eyes and ears!
Michelle Decker, President & CEO, Inland Empire Community Foundation
