The MECCA IE Fund
The Mobilizing and Edifying for Collective Community Advancement (MECCA) IE Fund (formerly the IE Black Equity Fund) at IECF was created in 2020 with the mission and goal of advancing racial equity and supporting long-term investments in Black-led organizations in Riverside and San Bernardino counties. One of the first of its kind, the Fund set a goal to raise $5 million for Black-led organizations in the Inland Empire, and in three years, has exceeded its goal. Leading the effort is the Black Equity Initiative of the Inland Empire (BEI-IE), which, along with the MECCA-IE Advisory Committee, has raised more than $6 million to sustain this effort over the past three years. Several foundations, companies, universities, organizations, and individuals have supported the MECCA IE Fund directly. View photos from the Fund’s third-anniversary event in November 2023 here.
With unprecedented response, a collaborative of local stakeholders – statewide, regional and local funders as well as private donors and corporate philanthropy — are working in partnership with leaders of the Black Equity Initiative to advance their priority issues.
Funds will be used to advance the mission of Black-led and empowering organizations in the Inland Empire through core support, program and project support, and capacity building, all driven by the leadership and voice of the members of the Black Equity Initiative.
Research
To better understand the issues affecting the Inland Empire’s Black community which comprises 7.3% of the region’s population, and identify where funding might carry the most impact, the MECCA IE Fund partnered with Mapping Black California to publish the “Black Equity Fund Report.”
Why Support the MECCA IE Fund?
- Support Black-led and serving nonprofit organizations doing impactful work throughout the Inland Empire
- Learn and support a better understanding of the issues impacting the Black community in the region through original research
- Combine your gift with others to enhance impact
- Network with other Blacks who are philanthropically-minded and living their passion
Grantmaking
At its core, the MECCA IE Fund was launched to invest in Black-led and Black serving organizations and strengthen Black nonprofit infrastructure in Riverside and San Bernardino counties. To advance this goal, the Fund made two rounds of grant awards to 71 Black-led and serving organizations throughout the region totaling $1.767 million in funding.
The funding gave organizations, whether at the beginning of this work or scaling up existing equity programs, the opportunity to grow their capacity to advance racial equity in the Inland region. Technical assistance grants were also given to organizations seeking support with grant writing.
2023 Grantees:
African American Health Coalition
Akoma Unity Center
Black Voice Foundation
Brothers of the Desert
Community Health Action Network
I Am Love Movement
Millionaire Minds Kids
Morretta Community Development Foundation
Palm Springs Black History Committee
San Bernardino Fatherhood
SCORE; Sickle Cell Disease Foundation
Hamilton Essentials Foundation
With Open Arms
Curls, Coils, Crowns
Youth Action Project
Magdalena’s Daughters
IE Rebound
Youth Mentoring Action Network
IE Rebound
African American Concerned Churches
Time for Change
IE Black Worker Center
Community NOW
The Empowerment Center
Nehemiah Charitable Fund
CEEM
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority
Starting Over, Inc.
Clay Counseling
Sigma Beta Xi
Victor Valley Family Resource Center
Hazel’s Hands Inc
Women Achieving Success (Dba Families Achieving Success)
The LOVE Program
Game Changers: Beyond the Classroom
- Whitfield Legacy Foundation
Opulent Boss Beauties
Evelyn E. Perkins (EEP) Foundation
Never Stop Grinding Impact
Growing Outreach Growing Opportunities
African Soul International
Little Seeds Matter
FORCES
Emerging Beauty, Inc.
Refocus-On-U
Sankofa Birthworkers Collective of the Inland Empire
The Black Collective
Children’s Resources, Inc.
First Community Capital, Inc.
Advancing Steps
Love Notes Alliance
Inland Empire Resource Center
Game Changers (formerly known as Institute to Develop Equity, Advocacy and Leadership (iDEAL)
Oxfords and amies
Lamps of Light Project
Allie’s Allys
Feed My Flock Ministries
Leslys cpr
Great Encouragement Movement
Express Workforce Foundation
Empowering Success Now
The FIATM GROUP INC.
Natlie A. Cole-Reagins (NACR) Foundation
THE CAN MAN
St. Timothy Community Church
Building Resilient Communities
Diversity Uplifts, Inc.
The Heart Matters Foster Family Agency
S & L Foster Family Agency
Blueprints and Pathways
Inland Valley Alumnae Chapter – Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
To learn more about the MECCA IE Fund, download the PDF.
Narrative Change
To strengthen Black-led organizations and foster positive change across the region, a MECCA IE Fund grant supports Black Perspectives IE, a weekly segment on KVCR Public Media. Host Maya Gwynn leads discussions that drive narrative change by showcasing positive contributions and diverse stories within the Inland Empire’s Black community. The show features conversations with inspiring individuals and organizations dedicated to advancing racial equity in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties.
