Overview
Since our founding, the Inland Empire Community Foundation has awarded more than $100 million to nonprofit organizations that are doing vital work in health and human services, support to children and families, arts and culture, education – and for civic and environment benefit. In 2019, the Foundation gave more than $15 million in grants, of which nearly $4 million were for scholarships and education.
The grantmaking we do achieves meaningful, measurable results and leverages significant investments from other foundations, donors and government sources.
At IECF we accept competitive grant proposals from nonprofit organizations who serve the residents of Riverside and San Bernardino County during specific grant cycles.
Our Grants Committee reviews all information and makes recommendations to the full Board of Directors, who then make the final decisions on all competitive grants.
Grant Opportunities
Each of the competitive grants available to nonprofit agencies are listed along with a link to an online or downloadable application.
Creative Corps Inland SoCal | Closes May 1, 2023
Creative Corps Inland SoCal is pleased to announce a request for proposals to fund artists and organizations to envision and co-create public projects, messaging campaigns, media, and events that wrestle with environmental, public health, social justice, and civic engagement issues.
The program serves high priority communities, putting artists to work in order to build healthier and more vibrant communities, working on local issues where their contributions traditionally have been excluded. Together, Creative Corps Inland SoCal is designing a program to distribute more than $3.8 million in grants for artists to offer their unique perspectives and talents.
Creative Corps Inland SoCal is a collaboration between the California Arts Council, the Inland Empire Community Foundation, Arts Connection (The Arts Council of San Bernardino County), Riverside Arts Council, and the California Desert Arts Council to facilitate the California Creative Corps for Riverside and San Bernardino Counties.
Opening Date: March 16, 2023
Closing Date: May 1, 2023
Amount Range: Up to $150,000
Field of Interest Funds | Closes April 10, 2023
Opening Date: Monday, March 6, 2023, 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time
Closing Date: Monday, April 10, 2023, 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time
Online Portal Guide
Grant Guidelines
Field of Interest Fund Grant Evaluation Questions
Technical Assistance | Please click here for the online applicant tutorial.
Irene S. Rockwell Fund
The Irene S. Rockwell Fund benefits the residents of the city of Perris.
Start Irene S Rockwell Online Grant Application
Return to Application in Progress
Seraphim Fund
The Seraphim Fund aids women and children, including the economically disadvantaged, victims of domestic abuse, and those suffering from physical or mental illness or substance abuse.
Start Seraphim Online Grant Application
Return to Application in Progress
Fred Stebler & Eva V. Stebler Foundation Fund
The Fred Stebler & Eva V. Stebler Fund provides funds for the treatment and care of indigent children in Riverside County, with a strong emphasis on children with special needs.
Start Fred Stebler & Eva V Stebler Online Grant Application
Return to Application in Progress
James Bernard & Mildred Jordan Tucker Fund
The James Bernard & Mildred Jordan Tucker Fund was established in 1983 to benefit disabled persons who are dependent on the use of a wheelchair for mobility.
Start James Bernard & Mildred Jordan Tucker Online Grant Application
Return to Application in Progress
Idyllwild Community Fund | Closing Date: April 29, 2023
The Idyllwild Community Fund was established in 1996 to benefit the residents of Idyllwild and surrounding communities.
Opening Date: March 15, 2023
Closing Date: April 29, 2023, at 5:00 p.m.
Download Grant Guidelines
Download Online Portal Guide
Online Grant Application
Technical Assistance
Please click here for the online applicant tutorial.
Inland Empire Black Equity Fund | Closed
The IE Black Equity Fund is a partnership between the Black Equity Initiative of the Inland Empire (BEI-IE), IE Funders Alliance and IECF to advance the mission of Black-led organizations in the Inland Empire through core support, program and project support, and capacity building. Driven by the leadership and voice ohttps://blackequity.org/fund/f the members of BEI-IE, grants will be awarded to nonprofits that are focused on systems change and power-building work in these priority areas: civic engagement, criminal justice transformation, housing justice, health equity, education equity, and economic liberation.
Nonprofit organizations in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties that demonstrate learning needs or are currently engaged in this work are encouraged to apply.
Opening Date: October 24, 2022
Closing Date: December 16, 2022
Amount Range: Up to $20,000
2022 Expanded Learning Advancing Education Equity in San Bernardino County | Closed
In late 2021, a judgement against the founders of the A3 Charter School Network, and subsequent efforts by the San Diego District Attorney to recuperate misused funds, created a one-time source of funding for reinvesting in the communities that were most impacted by the A3 Charter School Network scheme. The San Diego Foundation (TSDF) has worked with the receiver over the course of several months to craft a plan to distribute $14 million to the eight counties whose students were negatively impacted by A3 Charter’s illegal activities. San Bernardino County is one of the eight counties whose students were negatively impacted by the A3 Charter’s illegal activities. The Inland Empire Community Foundation has received $2.7 million to strategically and judiciously reinvest back into San Bernardino County communities through grants to nonprofit and education-related organizations serving all public school students of San Bernardino County.
Opening Date: July 8, 2022
Closing Date: July 30, 2022
Amount Range: $100,000
The S.L. Gimbel Foundation Scholarship Fund | Closed
The S.L. Gimbel Foundation Scholarship Fund provides financial support for low-income students who will enroll or are currently enrolled at the California State University (CSU), San Bernardino (CSUSB), CSU Dominguez Hills (CSUDH), CSU Long Beach (CSULB), and CSU Los Angeles (CSULA). This scholarship is a one-time award. The scholarship awards are outright grant awards. No services will be required as a consequence of receiving the award. Scholarship awards are for tuition, books, education fees, on campus housing and other educational expenses. The intent is to provide scholarships equally to students studying liberal arts and the sciences.
Opening Date: June 28, 2022
Closing Date: July 25, 2022
Amount Range: $10,000
Youth Grantmakers Program | Closed
Coachella Valley Youth Grantmakers Fund
The Coachella Valley Youth Grantmakers Fund was established in 2014 by Inland Empire Community Foundation. High schools students ages 15-18, called Youth Grantmakers, address issues important to them by participating in grantmaking, a formal practice of philanthropy. The Coachella Valley Youth Grantmakers survey their peers, conduct nonprofit site visits, review grant proposals, and make grant recommendations based on local youth needs.
Opening Date: February 2, 2022
Closing Date: March 9, 2022
Amount range: $1,000 – $2,500
Download Grant Guidelines and Application
Riverside Youth Grantmakers Fund
The Riverside Youth Grantmakers Fund was established by Inland Empire Community Foundation in 2009. Riverside high schools students ages 15-18, called Youth Grantmakers, address issues important to them by participating in grantmaking, a formal practice of philanthropy. The Youth Grantmakers survey their peers, conduct site visits, review grant proposals, and make grant recommendations based on local youth needs.
Opening Date: February 2, 2022
Closing Date: March 9, 2022
Amount range: $1,000 – $2,500
Download Grant Guidelines and Application
San Bernardino Youth Grantmakers Fund
The San Bernardino Youth Grantmakers Fund was established in 2014 by Inland Empire Community Foundation. High schools students ages 15-18, called Youth Grantmakers, address issues important to them by participating in grantmaking, a formal practice of philanthropy. The San Bernardino Youth Grantmakers survey their peers, conduct nonprofit site visits, review grant proposals, and make grant recommendations based on local youth needs.
Opening Date: February 2, 2022
Closing Date: March 9, 2022
Amount range: $1,000 – $2,500
Community Impact Fund | Closed
IECF is pleased to announce a request for proposals for the Community Impact Fund to support DEI learning and work in the IE. In the past, IECF has provided capacity building grants through its endowed fund. In March 2020, IECF adopted a focus on racial, gender, and economic equity. This means ensuring our staff and Board reflect the communities we serve and that our grantmaking builds the voice and power of our grantees to transform their communities. It also means listening to and incorporating the lived experiences of people who daily struggle to achieve safety, health, and prosperity in the Inland Empire. In doing this work, IECF will rely on data that shows where disparities exist to drive our grantmaking, programs, and partnerships. IECF is walking this journey with its Board, staff, and stakeholders to better use community philanthropy to create a fairer Inland Empire. IECF stands firmly against racism and all forms of oppression, prioritizing equity, inclusion, and diversity in our community work. In support of this commitment, our 2021 CIF grants will explicitly support groups in the IE to continue on and work towards these values and practices.
Opening Date: December 6, 2021
Closing Date: January 17, 2022
Amount Range: Up to $20,000
Download Grant Guidelines and Application Instructions
Online Grant Application
IE COVID-19 Resilience Fund | Closed
The Inland Empire Community Foundation established the COVID-19 Resilience to support nonprofit organizations on the front lines of COVID 19, to help them help our families and communities, and to support their survival through this crisis.
Opening Date: April 29, 2020
Download Guidelines and Application
Environmental Education Small Grant Program | Closed
IECF serves as the administrator for the Environment Education Small Grant Program and financial support is provided by Southern California Edison International. Proposals are accepted for the continued support and development of new programs or projects focused on environmental and science education in San Bernardino and Riverside Counties.
Application Deadline: March 23, 2020
Environmental Education Small Grant Application
Community Impact Fund
The Community Impact Fund is comprised of unrestricted contributions that allow the Foundation to make grants to eligible nonprofits and strengthen organizational capacity, effectiveness, and sustainability to meet the most critical needs in our communities.
This simple giving vehicle enables donors with broad charitable interests to pool their gifts with other donated funds to focus on high-priority needs identified by the Grants Review Committee and Board of Directors.
2019 Community Impact Grantees
Arts Connection
Bear Valley Community Healthcare District Foundation
Calicinto Ranch, Inc.
California Partnership
Canine Support Teams, Inc.
Child Advocates of San Bernardino County
Cove Communities Senior Association
Desert Blind Association, Inc.
Dezart Performs
The Empowerment Center
Growing Inland Achievement
HIV + Aging Research Project
The LGBT Sanctuary Palm Springs, Inc
Making Hope Happen Foundation
My Learning Studio Outreach
Rebuilding Together Mountain Communities
Samaritan Counseling Center
United States Adaptive Recreation Center
United Way of the Desert
Young Idyllwild, Inc
Youth Mentoring Action Network
Grantee Toolkit
Congratulations on your award!
IECF is proud to support your important work in the community. We encourage you share news of your grant award and its impact over time via digital, social, and print media.
To help you get started, we’ve provided the following guidelines on the best ways to promote your grant project.

Agency Endowment Funds
Nonprofit organizations may establish an Agency Fund at the Inland Empire Community Foundation that earn interest through pooled investments and offer a reliable source of financial support for the organization.
Agency Endowment
An endowment fund gives organizations the opportunity to create a fund that generates investment income, year after year, which can be drawn down in set annual payments to the organization or reinvested in the fund to grow over time.
The permanence of an endowment fund is both appealing and reassuring to donors and nonprofit boards of directors who seek the enduring value of a dedicated source of income for the organization.
A portion of the earned income can be drawn down in set annual payments or reinvested in the fund to grow over time, according to the organization’s needs, so help nonprofits build funds for a project or future operational needs.
Agency Endowment Funds
AFVW Foundation “In Need” Endowment Fund
AFVW Foundation Fund
Assistance League of San Bernardino Fund
Animal Samaritans Restricted Reserve Fund
Guhl Medical Scholarship Fund
Life Care Fund
Lewis Medical Scholarship Fund
Margaret B. Branchflower Endowment Fund
Baldy View ROP Endowment Fund
Crafton Hills College Foundation Fund
California Scottish Rite Foundation Fund
Dollars For Scholars Scholarship Fund
Neuro Vitality Foundation Fund
HIV/Housing/Homeless Fund
Red Ribbon Fund
Peggy Fouke Wortz Friends of the Family Fund to Benefit Family Services Association of Western Riverside County
Friends of My Family Fund
Fox Cultural Arts Fund
Lehmer Endowment Trust Fund
Guide Dogs of the Desert Securing Our Future
The High Desert Community Foundation Endowment Funds
Hemet Education Foundation Endowment Fund
Hemet Hospice Volunteers, Inc. Fund
Hemet Library Foundation Fund
Inland Futures Foundation of San Bernardino Community College District Fund
Idyllwild Help Center Burgess Fund
Idyllwild Pines Endowment Fund
JFS Legacy Fund
Jurupa Mountains Discovery Center Compensation Fund
Jurupa Mountains Discovery Center Maintenance Fund
Junior League of Riverside Agency Endowment
Kiwanis Club of Riverside Endowment Fund
Riverside Land Conservancy Fund
Riverside Public Library Foundation Fund
March Field Museum Fund
The Mizell Senior Center Endowment Fund
Mighty Oaks Legacy Endowment Fund
Mt. San Jacinto College Foundation Funds
Ontario-Montclair Promise Scholars Fund
Perris Valley Heritage Fund
Regional Access Project Foundation Fund
Redlands Bowl Performing Arts Fund
Riverside Education Enrichment Fund
Riverside Museum Associates Heritage House Fund
Riverside Museum Associates/Rible Education Fund
Riverside Museum Associates/General Support Fund
Operation Safe House Endowment Fund
San Bernardino Symphony Association Fund
San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital Foundation Fund
Santa Rosa Plateau Foundation – Ellis Fund
Santa Rosa Plateau Foundation Endowment Fund
Santa Rosa Plateau Foundation Unrestricted Endowment Fund
Temple Beth El Legacy Fund
The Joslyn Center Fund
Upland Community Foundation Endowment Fund
The Unforgettables Foundation Endowment
Victoria Avenue Forever

Celia Cudiamat
Senior Vice President, Grants and Community Impact
951.241.7777
extension 114