When we talk about community leadership, we’re talking about people who step forward because they’ve seen what needs to change—and they’re willing to help build the bridge to get us there.
Ben Nate is one of those leaders.
Ben is the inaugural chair of IECF’s newly formed Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Fund, and a member of our Board of Directors. He’s also a public servant, a husband, father and grandfather, and a proud Inland Empire resident. Through his role as chair of the AANHPI Fund, Ben brings a clear sense of purpose: to ensure AANHPI communities in the Inland Empire are seen, supported, and included in the future we are building.
The Fund’s strategy is grounded in regional data compiled by AAPI Data and other partners, highlighting disparities in income, education, housing, and access to services among AANHPI populations in the Inland Empire.
A Lifetime Rooted in the Inland Empire
Ben’s roots in the region run deep. Born in Los Angeles and raised in Loma Linda, he’s been part of the Inland Empire story since his teenage years. He went to college in Riverside, got his master’s in public health from Loma Linda University, then followed it up with law degree from Whittier College School of Law. Ben and his wife eventually settled in Corona to raise their family. “The Inland Empire is home,” he says proudly. His story mirrors that of many AANHPI families in the region: building a life here, staying close to community, and quietly working to make the Inland Empire into a better place for the next generation.
Ben with his family at the Miss Philippines USA event. His daughter is the reigning Miss Young Phillippines USA Grand Ambassador 2024.
A Commitment to Public Service
Ben has spent his career in public service. Today, he serves as State Manager at the California Department of Justice, helping to shape policies and administer programs that respond to the needs of historically marginalized communities—including those hit hardest by the pandemic and by rising hate incidents.
It was through this work that Ben saw a troubling gap: while AANHPI communities across the Inland Empire were growing—and contributing in powerful ways—there were too few organizations focused specifically on serving them.
“When it came time to administer grants related to anti-Asian hate during the pandemic,” Ben shared, “we realized we didn’t have enough local nonprofits in place. That told me something important: our region needs to expand its capacity to serve the needs of this community. And we need to do it in a way that reflects who we are and what our families need.”
Building Capacity, Centering Community
As he looked for ways to strengthen local capacity and uplift culturally responsive nonprofits, Ben was drawn to IECF’s approach—centering equity, partnership, and community voice.
“I always thought of IECF as a funder, but when I started looking closer, I realized they were really about relationships,” Ben says. “They weren’t just giving money—they were trying to build something lasting with the community.”
That alignment led to deeper engagement: first as a collaborator in grantmaking efforts, then as a board member, and now as the inaugural chair of the AANHPI Fund.
The Inland Empire is home to a richly diverse and fast-growing AANHPI population. Over the last decade, the community has expanded by nearly 40%. Yet many residents still face significant barriers—access to culturally competent healthcare, legal services, and economic opportunity among them.
New Data Highlights Urgent Needs
In April 2025, new research from AAPI Data, as reported in “One In Ten: The State of AANHPIs in the Inland Empire,” revealed just how quickly AANHPI communities are growing in the Inland Empire. One in ten residents now identifies as AANHPI, with Asian American populations increasing by over 200% in Riverside County and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander populations nearly tripling since 2000. These trends highlight a critical need for culturally responsive services and equitable investment. Guided by this data, the AANHPI Fund will focus its grantmaking on the community’s most pressing needs—from healthcare and education to economic mobility and nonprofit capacity.
Shari Chun, AANHPI Fund committee member, says, “We’re grateful to our incredible partners at AAPI Data and the California APIA Commission for helping to shine a vital light on what’s really happening in our communities—the progress we’ve made, the gaps that remain, and the opportunities in front of us. It gives weight to what many of us have known through lived experience. The AANHPI Fund was created to meet those needs head-on and to support organizations that are already doing the work with heart and local knowledge.”
Celia Cudiamat, IECF’s Chief Program Officer, adds, “I’m incredibly proud to see the launch of the AANHPI Fund—it’s the first of its kind both at IECF and in the region. We know that good grantmaking starts with listening, so having solid data behind this work makes all the difference. It helps us focus resources where they’re most needed and strengthens the case for more investment in communities that have too often been overlooked. At its heart, this is about belonging—about making sure AANHPI residents feel seen, valued, and supported in the places they call home. This is what strategic, thoughtful, community-led philanthropy looks like.”
Removing Barriers and Building Opportunity
Ben points out some of the stumbling blocks that prevent access to resources. For example, first-generation families often encounter language challenges when navigating public systems. “Sometimes our kids are doing translation at seven, eight years old. Your family’s well-being is at risk, and you’re explaining, ‘Mom, this redetermination letter says you have to show your taxes.’”
Students with high academic potential may have received full scholarships to top-tier schools, but can’t attend because their families are unable to afford the room and board, or even a plane ticket or books. And small business owners, many of whom are the backbone of their communities, often find themselves one setback away from financial hardship.
“Our community is hardworking,” Ben says. “We just want to give them a little bit of resources to help them. In our community, we say a rising tide lifts all boats.”
A Future Built on Pride and Purpose
That’s why the AANHPI Fund exists. With Ben’s leadership, it’s designed to direct philanthropic resources to where they’re needed most: food security, housing stability, mental health services, youth opportunity, and capacity-building for local organizations doing the work on the ground. Ben is also keenly aware of the cultural challenges that can prevent people from asking for help. He recalls an important lesson from the Filipino community:
“In the Filipino community, it’s called hiya. It’s like a shame—asking for help. ‘I don’t want to put shame to my family’s name. I can do this on my own.’ That mindset can be a barrier, especially when facing medical bills or sudden job loss.”
Ben is leading this effort with a passion for the region. He talks about his childhood in the Inland Empire with real warmth: meeting lifelong friends, learning to drive, falling in love with his future wife in high school, and building a life that’s rooted in giving back. Ben likes to say that service is in his DNA. It comes from his parents, from his church, from a lifetime of seeing what happens when people show up for one another. He’s quick to lift up the Leadership and Grant Committee guiding this fund forward, and he’s clear-eyed about what it will take to make real progress.
“I want this to be something our kids are proud of,” he said. “That we stood up for each other, invested in our own communities, and made something that lasts.”
Join Us for the Launch!
We’re grateful to Ben and the Leadership and Grant Committee members who are leading this important work. The AANHPI Fund is just getting started—and your support can make a meaningful difference right now.
Join us for the official AANHPI Fund launch on Sunday, May 18, 2025, from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM at La Sierra University’s Troesh Conference Center. It’s an opportunity to come together as a community, hear from leaders like Ben Nate, and learn about the data and stories guiding this work. We’ll talk about how the fund came to be, where it’s going, and how each of us can support a stronger, more inclusive Inland Empire.
Your presence and partnership matter. We’d love to see you there! RSVP here.
Meet the Founding AANHPI Fund Leadership and Grant Committee:
Shari Chun, RN – Registered Nurse, Riverside Medical Clinic; CEO, Riverside Heartsavers
Theresa Han Savage – Attorney, Jackson Lewis
Feras Khatib – Chairman, Bird-in-Hand Holdings and Investments
Joe Lucero – Deputy Director, Strategic Philanthropy, Common Counsel Foundation
Tarlochan Rangi – Business Owner; PAC Chair
Chris Talamaivao – Coach/Community Leader
Helen Tran – Community Leader
Deborah Wong – Professor, UCR (Retired); Community Leader
Titles listed for identification purposes only.
Stay up to date on all the good we’re doing through the power of philanthropy. Subscribe to our monthly eNewsletter, Philanthropy Matters.
