Students Overview
The Inland Empire Community Foundation’s founder, Charles E. Brouse, believed that the best way to give back to the community was through scholarships for hard-working students who wanted to attend college. Because of the endowment he established years ago students from the region are still receiving support for their education.
Today, scholarships remain a large focus of our grants, averaging one million dollars a year to every public college and university in the two-county region, as well as colleges and universities across the nation. These awards recognize student achievements and offer hope for those seeking to better themselves through education.
Depending on the donor’s vision, IECF awards a wide variety of scholarships, including general and field-specific scholarships for areas of study like civil engineering, nursing, special education, veterinary sciences, and more.
Supporting Higher Education Attainment
Graduate Success
Education, both two-year and four-year, changes the earning power of families and supports diverse leadership in our communities. When we focus on equity for the almost 1 million K-12 students in the Inland Empire, we understand that more students need assistance and support to achieve a higher education degree. In 2017, IECF collaborated with the College Futures Foundation to address low graduation rates in the Inland Empire. The result was the Graduate Success program – a strategy and fund designed to increase students’ potential to access, thrive, and succeed in higher education.
Partners
Currently, IECF is partnering with local organizations to provide needs-based scholarships and college guidance services to ensure our program is making an impact.
Our network of partner organizations are: BLU Educational Foundation, Promise Scholars, Making Hope Happen Foundation, OneFuture and Upward Bound (California State University, San Bernardino).
To expand our scholarship giving in the IE, Graduate Success needs continued, year-round support. Consider a gift to the Graduate Success Fund to help more students achieve their college dreams.
Scholarship Opportunities
Most scholarships from the Inland Empire Community Foundation are awarded directly through the colleges and universities in our two-county area. Students who are interested in applying should check with their school counselor or financial aid office for information and applications.
However, students are able to apply directly to IECF for the following scholarships. Application deadlines vary and span from January to June. Please check back in early 2022 for updates on specific deadlines.
Riverside/San Bernardino Area:
S. L. Gimbel Scholarship | 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), and CSU Long Beach (CSULB).
Undergraduate low income students, accepted to attend CSUSB, CSUDH, and CSULB and current undergraduate students of CSUSB, CSUDH, and CSULB from all backgrounds regardless of age, race, religion, gender, sexual preference or national origin are eligible to apply. First generation, college-going students, and/or traditionally underrepresented students in higher education, non traditional students such as single parents, older students, married students, foster youth and undocumented students who meet the requirements below are eligible to apply.
Opening Date: June 2022
Closing Date: June 30, 2022
Amount: Maximum of $10,000
Scholarship Information Application
Elizabeth C. and Jack B. Clarke, Sr. Endowed Scholarship Fund | Closed
The Elizabeth C. and Jack B. Clarke, Sr. Scholarship Fund, honors the late councilman and his wife for their service to the Riverside community. Mr. Clarke was the first African-American member of the Riverside City Council. The Ruth Schroff Scholarship Fund provides college scholarships for outstanding African-American or Hispanic/Latino students residing in Riverside or San Bernardino.
Opening Date: February 1, 2022
Closing Date: May 11, 2022
Amount: $1,000
The Beverly J. Soderling Scholarship Fund | Closed
Established in 2014 through a bequest from Beverly J. Soderling to honor excellence in mathematics for graduating seniors at Banning High School.
Opening Date: February 1, 2022
Closing Date: May 11, 2022
Amount: $1,000
Ruth Schroff Scholarship Fund | Closed
The Ruth Schroff Scholarship Fund provides scholarships for outstanding African-American or Hispanic/Latino students residing in Riverside or San Bernardino Counties.
Opening Date: February 1, 2022
Closing Date: May 11, 2022
Amount: $1,000
The Dr. Barnett Grier and Eleanor Jean Grier Scholarship Fund | Closed
The Dr. Barnett Grier and Eleanor Jean Grier Scholarship Fund is the legacy to their efforts to ensure equality in education, housing, employment, and opportunity for underrepresented and disadvantaged citizens in Riverside.
Opening Date: February 1, 2022
Closing Date: May 11, 2022
Amount: $1,000
Reggie Keith Edmond II Scholarship | Closed
The Reginald Keith Edmond II Scholarship Fund provides college financial assistance to outstanding student athletes graduating from a high school within the Riverside Unified School District and Alvord Unified School District.
Opening Date: February 1, 2022
Closing Date: May 10, 2022
Amount: $1,000
The Riverside Construction Company/Harmon-Lounsbury Scholarship | Closed
Provides college financial assistance to outstanding graduating seniors from Riverside who are pursuing a college education in engineering, particularly in the area of construction or civil engineering. Also, first-year engineering students from Cal Poly Pomona, San Luis Obispo, CSU Long Beach, and Cal Baptist University are eligible for scholarships.
Opening Date: February 1, 2022
Closing Date: April 29, 2022
Amount Range: $1,000
Download Guidelines and Application for High School Students
Download Guidelines and Application for 1st Year College Students
The Marvin Edward Leggett Jr. Endowed Fund | Closed
This fund provides scholarships to students graduating from Norte Vista High School and La Sierra High School in the Alvord Unified School District.
Opening Date: February 7, 2022
Closing Date: April 9, 2022
Amount Range: Up to $4,000
Pavement Recycling, Inc. Scholarship Fund | Closed
The purpose of the Scholarship Fund is to provide college financial assistance to outstanding graduating seniors who are pursuing a college education and are residents of the City of Riverside and neighboring communities.
Opening Date: February 1, 2022
Closing Date: April 6, 2022
Amount: Varies
The Rosemarie Cionni-Mary Pastore Educational Trust Scholarship Fund | Closed
The scholarship fund provides college financial assistance to an outstanding graduating female senior from Elsinore High School who is pursuing a college education at an accredited community college, state college, Catholic college, or university.
Opening Date: February 1, 2022
Closing Date: March 31, 2022
Amount: $3,000
David and Mary Hjorth Family Endowment Fund | Closed
The Dave & Mary Hjorth Family Endowment Fund Scholarship offers one-time scholarships awarded to four students, who are graduating seniors of Upland High School and will be attending an accredited four-year college or university.
Opening Date: January 31, 2022
Closing Date: March 25, 2022
Amount: $5,000
Download Application
Download Scholarship Criteria
Qualifications To Be Submitted With Application
Letter of Recommendation
Community Service Verification
Dr. Horace Jackson Legacy Scholarship | Closed
Established in 2021 to award scholarships to a John W. North High graduating student who demonstrates the same kind of commitment to education and inclusivity as Dr. Horace Jackson, principal of North High in Riverside, California, from 1970-1976.
Dr. Jackson was recognized as a courageous, compassionate, and innovative leader during a turbulent time nationally. As principal on North’s multi-ethnic campus, Jackson established a unified culture of mutual respect and inclusion that lives on today. He was known to be ever-present on campus, seeking ways to bring students together. He influenced countless lives by showing confidence in his students and his staff. That legacy continues with the goal of equipping all North High graduates with the moral principle that every person is valued.
Opening Date: January 18, 2022
Closing Date: March 11, 2022
Amount: $1,500
Coachella Valley Area:
The James Buchner Memorial Scholarship Fund | Closed
The James Buchner Memorial Scholarship Fund is established as an endowed scholarship by Dora Buchner to honor the memory of James Buchner in perpetuity. The fund provides college financial assistance in the form of scholarships to Hispanic students who are US residents, and are seniors at Cathedral High School in Coachella Valley who demonstrate motivation, perseverance, and a sincere desire to gain an education.
Opening Date: February 2022
Closing Date: March 31, 2022
Amount: $1,000
Bruce and Regen Dennis Scholarship | Closed
The Fund provides financial assistance in the form of scholarships to graduating high school students residing in the Coachella Valley who are low income, Latino/Hispanic who demonstrate motivation, perseverance, and a sincere desire to gain an education.
Opening Date: February 1, 2022
Closing Date: April 29, 2022
Amount: $1,000
Desert Outreach Foundation Scholarship | Closed
The Fund provides financial assistance in the form of scholarships to students residing in the Coachella Valley who are seeking an undergraduate/graduate degree either within or outside of the Valley.
Opening Date: February 1, 2022
Closing Date: April 6, 2022
Amount Range: $1,000 – $2,000
The Safe Schools Desert Cities Scholarship Fund - Burton/May Pride Award | Deadline: January 31, 2023
Burton/May Pride Award Scholarship Information and Criteria The Safe Schools Scholarship Fund – Burton/May Pride Award recognizes outstanding lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning or intersex (LGBTQI) youth who, through their participation, dedication and initiative, have helped foster a positive self-image among other LGBTQI youth. This scholarship award will enable students to pursue further education and training at Universities, Colleges, Community Colleges and Trade Schools.
Opening Date: October, 2022
Closing Date: January 31, 2023
Amount Range: $500-$1500
Download Guidelines and Application
Download Scholarship Award Reference Form
The Castro/Falk Scholarship Fund of the Coachella Valley | Closed
The Fund provides financial assistance in the form of scholarships to students who are U.S. citizens, and residents, or former residents, of Coachella Valley who demonstrate motivation, perseverance and a sincere desire to gain an education, be it high school, vocational school, community college, undergraduate or graduate college or university.
Download Microsoft Word Application
Download Fillable Adobe PDF Application
Forms
Scholarship Recipient Information Sheet | Students
Donor Advised Fund Scholarship Recommendation Form | Donors Only
Competitive Scholarship Recommendation Form | Scholarship Committees Only
Designated College and Universities Forms
Report #1 | Scholarship Recipients
Report #2 | End-of-Year Scholars Follow-Up
Counselors and Advisors
Thank you for your interest in our Scholarship Program.
Students can often miss out on available resources when planning for college, but counselors and advisors can be the difference in changing that. To help fill this need, we encourage you to share other college guidance services and resources offered through these area organizations: Ontario-Montclair Promise Scholars, Blu Educational Foundation, RIMS AVID, Making Hope Happen Foundation, One Future Coachella Valley and Upward Bound (CSUSB).
For more information about our scholarship opportunities, below are some tools to help you get started. Thank you for sharing these scholarship opportunities within your school and helping our IE students succeed.
Resources
Application
FAQs
Student Stories