Youth Grantmakers
Since 2008, Youth Grantmakers (YG) has created opportunities for young people across the Inland Empire to explore philanthropy, build leadership skills, and direct funding toward issues they care about. Students learn how to assess community needs, evaluate grant proposals, and support local nonprofits doing essential work.
In Spring 2025, students from Riverside, San Bernardino, and Palm Springs came together as part of a newly refreshed format—Youth Grantmakers: The Remix. Each week, they met to learn, listen, and lead. With guidance from IECF staff and local partners, the cohort awarded over $70,000 in grants to organizations addressing youth mental health and education equity. These priorities were chosen by the students after thoughtful discussion and firsthand learning about the challenges facing their peers.
For 2026, our forward-thinking student teams across the Inland Empire have agreed to center all funding around Academic Stress, Mental Health, Financial Education, Youth Community, Minority Support (LGBTQ, Immigration), and AI (Artificial Intelligence): How to use it as a benefit and not a replacement.
Youth Grantmaker’s 2026 grant opportunities open on February 23, 2026 with a closing date of April 30, 2026. Grant awards will range up to $5,000.
2025 Grantees
Coachella Valley Grantees
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Desert
Green Room Theatre Company Coachella Valley
Guide Dogs of the Desert
YMCA or Orange County
Riverside Grantees
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Inland Empire
Friends of Leaps & Bounds Pediatric Therapy, Inc.
Girls on the Run Inland Empire
Good Youth Jobs
Inland Empire Immigrant Youth Collective
Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center
Mental State Foundation
Power Speaks Louder
Soulful Soil Farms
San Bernardino Grantees
Akoma Unity Center
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Inland Empire
The LaunchPad Collective, Inc.
MALO Motivating Action Leadership Opportunity
Cohorts
Want to Change Your Community? Start Here.
Youth ages 15–21 who live in Riverside, San Bernardino, or Coachella Valley are invited to step into leadership and make a real difference. As a Youth Grantmaker, you’ll learn about philanthropy, identify community needs, design a request for funding, and make grant decisions that directly support local organizations. Along the way, you’ll build leadership skills and connect with peers who care about strengthening the Inland Empire.
Watch this page for announcements about new cohorts or follow us on Instagram (@youthgrantmakers_ie) to stay connected. For questions about the program, contact Program Manager Denisha Shackelford at dshackelford@iegives.org.
Youth Grantmakers brings young people into conversations that matter and gives them tools to take action. We’re proud to walk with Inland Empire youth as they become our region’s future leaders.
Our donors make this work possible!
Your generous support fuels this transformative program. During their academic year training, students survey other students to understand what is important to them, learn about local nonprofits serving youth, undertake service projects, analyze grant applications, debate critical needs, and prioritize worthwhile requests. By investing in Youth Grantmakers, you’re making a long-term difference in the future of our communities. You’re empowering young people to become the civic leaders of tomorrow, equipped with the knowledge, skills, and passion to create lasting change.
Download the PDF to learn more.
Empower the next generation of changemakers.
IECF manages YG programs in Riverside, San Bernardino and the Coachella Valley.
“Youth Grantmakers impacted my life tremendously! I have been a part of many different committees however, I’ve never been a part of such a mature group of youth. I felt like an executive (lol). I learned more about not only the philanthropy world but how to operate in a world with all the different personalities you may come across. Youth Grantmakers was definitely one of the best experiences I’ve had and I’m excited to come back next year.” -Treneta Wilkes
Denisha Shackelford
Senior Scholarship Manager
