Welcoming Abigail Proff, MPH, as IECF’s New Chief Impact Officer
This June, IECF marked a bittersweet milestone as Celia Cudiamat announced her retirement after 21 remarkable years of service as our Chief Impact Officer. Under Celia’s dedicated guidance, IECF’s grantmaking grew from $2 million in 2004 to over $29 million,...
Grantee Spotlight: Safe Schools Desert Cities broadens opportunities for LGBTQI+ youth
LGBTQI+ youth are experiencing an empowering boost, thanks to Safe Schools Desert Cities. The long-time non-profit organization has been assisting LGBTQI+ youth and their allies through unique opportunities for personal growth, education, guidance, advocacy, and...
Grantee Spotlight: IECF grant broadens opportunities for African-American students
The Garret Livingston Graham (GLG) Science, Education, and Community Services Association is on a mission to promote, expand, and support increased completion of college preparatory courses among African-American students. A recent grant from Inland Empire Community...
Grantee Spotlight: CIELO Fund invests ‘in people who are already doing the work’ in the Inland Empire
The Cultivating Inland Empire Latino Opportunity (CIELO) Fund at the IECF recently announced more than $310,000 in grant awards for its 2026 funding cycle. It’s yet another milestone for the Foundation and the fund, whose financial support will buoy the efforts of...
Grantee Spotlight: NFL running back Alexander Mattison’s Inland Empire-based nonprofit targets mental health support
Alexander Mattison knows how to go the distance. The NFL running back from San Bernardino has been making strides in football for some time, but when it came to finding inventive ways to give back to the community, he scored big time. As the founder of IAMGIFTED...
Grantee Spotlight: Foundation grant strengthens Casa Blanca nonprofit’s varied resources
Casa Blanca Home of Neighborly Service has long been on a mission to empower the community by officering a variety of services ranging from education and guidance to training and free resource. But a recent grant from Inland Empire Community Foundation has provided an...
Grantee Spotlight: Foundation grant expands Tools for Tomorrow’s reach in the arts
A recent grant from the FitzDell Gifting Fund via Inland Empire Community Foundation has helped one non-profit organization expand students’ skills by getting children out of the classroom and into the community to experience the arts. “We're excited we can put some...
Grantee Spotlight: Community Foundation grant strengthens impact of The Joslyn Center
Nonprofit organizations in Coachella Valley benefit greatly from grants and donations to ensure they can maintain their operating expenses, which, in the mid-2020s, can be costly. A recent grant from the Dr. Abram I. and Sylvia S. Chasens Endowment Fund via Inland...
Good news keeps coming: Retirement plans and charitable giving
You’ve no doubt noticed that Qualified Charitable Distributions (“QCDs”) continue to gain traction as one of the most practical and effective charitable planning tools for clients over age 70 ½. By allowing eligible clients to transfer funds directly from an IRA to a...
Split-interest charitable gifts: Need-to-know FAQs
As charitable planning conversations become more sophisticated, many advisors are revisiting so-called “split-interest gifts” to help clients balance philanthropic goals with income needs. Two of the most common strategies—a charitable gift annuity (CGA) and a...
