YG Spring Cohort 2025
When we trust young people with real responsibility and give them the tools to lead, they rise to the moment with heart, thoughtfulness, and vision. IECF’s Youth Grantmakers program has been a powerful entry point into philanthropy for young people across the Inland Empire since 2008. This year, we brought new energy to that tradition with Youth Grantmakers: The Remix—a refreshed format with a renewed sense of purpose.
Led by Denisha Shackelford, IECF’s Senior Scholarship Manager, the program welcomed high school students from Riverside, San Bernardino, and Palm Springs. These students gathered weekly on Sundays to explore how community needs are identified, how funding decisions are made, and how nonprofit partners deliver services and solutions throughout the region. They learned to evaluate grant proposals through an equity lens, ask critical questions, and make thoughtful decisions.
“Our youth are not only the future of philanthropy—they are the present,” Denisha said. “When we provide meaningful opportunities for them to lead, we invest in stronger, more just communities.”
The Spring 2025 cohort awarded $70,000 in grants, marking the largest cycle of funding in the program’s history. Students directed support to local organizations focused on youth mental health and education equity, two priorities they selected after deep discussion and research.
Girls on the Run Riverside
Meet the 2025 Grantees
Riverside
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Inland Empire
- Friends of Leaps & Bounds Pediatric Therapy, Inc.
- Girls on the Run (DBA 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
Coachella Valley
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Desert
- Green Room Theatre Company Coachella Valley
- Guide Dogs of the Desert
- YMCA or Orange County
San Bernardino
- Akoma Unity Center
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Inland Empire
- The LaunchPad Collective, Inc.
- MALO Motivating Action Leadership Opportunity
Dr. Torie Weiston-Serdan and Denisha Shackelford
“Honestly, being in the Youth Grantmakers program was such a cool experience,” said Afaf Hussein, a participant in the 2025 Spring cohort. “At first, I thought the grantmaking process was going to be supercomplicated or overwhelming, but it ended up being way easier than I expected, mostly because a lot of us had the same thoughts and values, so making decisions together wasn’t as hard as I thought it’d be. I would definitely encourage my friends to apply. It’s not only a chance to make a real impact, but you also meet great people and learn so much without it feeling like school or anything boring like that.”
In addition to their weekly sessions, students also took part in IECF’s Education Equity Summit, presented in partnership with Youth Mentoring Action Network (YMAN) and Congregations Organized for Prophetic Engagement (COPE). The event, led by IECF’s Education Equity Officer Dr. Torie Weiston-Serdan, gave youth a platform to share their perspectives on education in the Inland Empire and challenge systems to respond with action.
“After listening to the youth panel portion at the Education Equity Summit, it’s clear that as students, we want our teachers and mentors—those who lead in our schools and districts—not to just speak about change, but to act on it.” said Jeremiah Stovall, Youth Grantmaker participant.
The experience left a lasting impression on students who stepped into leadership roles while deepening their understanding of the nonprofit sector and the impact of grantmaking.
“I joined Youth Grantmakers because I am passionate about empowering the Inland Empire, where I was born and raised, and I believe philanthropy and policy are transformative tools to do so,” said Joseph Or, a recent high school graduate and member of the Spring 2025 cohort, set to attend Yale this fall.
Recruitment for the Fall cohort of Youth Grantmakers begins in August. High school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors interested in applying will find more information on our website. School counselors are also encouraged to recommend students with a passion for service and community.
We’re grateful to our generous donors like Amazon, whose significant contribution helped make this year’s program a reality. Youth Grantmakers continues to demonstrate the power of trusting young people to lead, and the impact that’s unlocked when we give them the tools and space to do it well.
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