IECF Office of Policy & Engagement

The Inland Empire Community Foundation’s Office of Policy & Engagement (OPE) is dedicated to strengthening the region’s policy and advocacy capacity to address regional inequities.

Launched in 2021 with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, OPE collaborates with community-based organizations to uplift their missions and drive meaningful policy change. Through convenings, state advocacy, and alignment of public and private funding opportunities, OPE advances initiatives such as California Jobs First, the Masterplan for Career Education, and IECF’s budget priorities. With a focus on – but not limited to – the Seven Vital Conditions for Health and Well-Being, the office ensures the Inland Empire is positioned as a priority region in statewide discussions. OPE also leverages IECF’s convening power to foster partnerships with legislators, state agencies, and funders, ensuring long-term impact.

Heading into 2025, OPE is expanding its efforts to strengthen regional advocacy, increase partnerships, and elevate the Inland Empire’s voice in policy discussions. With the success of previous Policy & Philanthropy Summits, the office is deepening engagement with state leaders and aligning regional priorities. Through strategic growth and coordination, OPE remains committed to fostering inclusive progress and long-term regional resilience.


See you at the Summit!

Our 2025 Policy & Philanthropy Summit: Common Ground for the Common Good is scheduled for August 6-7, 2025 at the Riverside Convention Center! As we build on the previous year’s work in the Vital Conditions for Health and Well-Being, the two-day gathering brings together leaders from across the Inland Empire to create shared solutions for a thriving region.

This year’s theme—Common Ground for the Common Good—will explore how policy and philanthropy can work hand in hand to strengthen our communities while honoring our diverse perspectives and backgrounds. We’re delighted to welcome Angela Glover Blackwell, Founder in Residence at PolicyLink and national voice for equity in policy, as our keynote speaker. Her leadership and vision will help ground our two-day conversation in justice, belonging, and action.

From housing to health, workforce to civic voice—we’re building momentum through collaboration that starts at the local level and reaches across the region. Join us!

SUMMIT SPEAKERS

 

With thanks to our sponsors:
Policy Link
The James Irvine Foundation
Parkview Legacy Foundation

​2024 Policy & Philanthropy Summit

Thanks so much to everyone who joined us for the 2024 Policy & Philanthropy Summit! Together, we’re building a tremendous sense of community and possibility for the Inland Empire. With nearly double last year’s attendance, we were thrilled to witness your enthusiasm and energy for creating a thriving region.

Conversations with local electeds, community leaders and state partners led to a clearer vision for strategies and implementation around Housing, Education and Belonging. There’s a lot of work to do, but the path ahead is coming into focus. We’re committed to using the Vital Conditions Framework to inform our work going forward, and we invite you to join the movement.

Learn how our region is contributing to community well-being using the Vital Conditions framework. Become a part of the newly formed Inland Empire Vital Conditions Network (IEVCN) and hear firsthand how our colleagues and neighbors are incorporating its objectives to enhance their work, while also gaining insights on how you can apply these innovative strategies to your own efforts.

Join IEVCN

We’d be thrilled to have your voice in the conversation as we demonstrate the Inland Empire’s commitment to creating a thriving community for all—no exceptions! Let us know which issues affecting our region are on your mind and tell us how you think they can best be addressed.

Send us an email

 

 

 

Inland Empire Legislators’ Roundtable

Launched in 2025, the Inland Empire Legislators’ Roundtable builds on the success of the annual Policy and Philanthropy Summit and bridges the worlds of strategic philanthropy and the thirty state and federal District Directors representing our region. Meeting quarterly, these bipartisan convenings foster valuable opportunities for information sharing, relationship-building, and collaboration from district offices.

Through the Inland Empire Legislators’ Round Table, we hope to emphasize the need for a coordinated strategy between philanthropy and government leaders. With the state’s focus on the Inland Empire and its commitment to unlocking the region’s vast economic potential, IECF seeks to capitalize on this momentum, including the upcoming California Jobs First funding opportunities, to accelerate and expand high-impact regional initiatives. These efforts will align around education, workforce development, infrastructure, clean energy, and economic mobility. The Inland Empire Legislators’ Roundtable presents a rare opportunity to work across the aisle, engage our district offices, and develop real solutions that will shape the region’s future.

Inland Empire Delegation

Policy Committee

Jacob Mejia, Committee Chair

Jacob Mejia, Committee Chair

Vice President of Public and External Affairs, Pechanga Development Corporation

Jesse Melgar, MPP

Jesse Melgar, MPP

Senior Advisor for Strategy & Public Affairs, UC Berkeley Possibility Lab; IECF Board Chair

Dora Barilla, DrPH

Dora Barilla, DrPH

President of HC2 Strategies

Paulette Brown-Hinds, PhD

Paulette Brown-Hinds, PhD

Founder, Voice Media Ventures; Publisher, Black Voice News

Sarah Moffat

Sarah Moffat

Managing Partner, ARKEN Strategies

Benjamin Nate

Benjamin Nate

State Manager, Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General

Sean Varner

Sean Varner

Managing Partner, Varner & Brant LLP

Titles shown for identification purposes only.

Graciela Moran

Graciela Moran

Manager, Office of Policy & Engagement

951.529.6269

  • Contact

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Are you ready to plan
your will or trust?
Our free Estate Planning Guide can help:
CLICK HERE
Skip to content