Inland Empire Community Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Strengthening the Inland Empire through Philanthropy.
- Income
- $67.7 million
- Spending
- $38.6 million
- Spent on programs
- 95%
- Reserves
- 4.5 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 56%
- Employees
- 33
- Volunteers
- 27
- Highest pay
- $273,330, president & ceo
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.5 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 16% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 43% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 65% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1595% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 37% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2512 of 12 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (2)
- $20.3 million spent. COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP PROJECTSAsian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI) Fund - Launching January 2025Approved by the IECF Board in September 2024, the AANHPI Fund was established to empower the lives and futures of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islanders through philanthropy, education, and leadership development. With an initial fundraising goal of $100,000, Founding Chair convening a leadership and grants committee to launch in January 2025.(See Schedule O for Continuation)Black Equity - Inland Empire FundThis fund advances narrative change and racial equity through partnerships like KVCR's storytelling grant, sponsorship support of the region's annual State of the Black IE convening, and the upcoming Mapping Black California 2.0 report. Its efforts reflect IECF's leadership in amplifying underrepresented voices and building systems for long-term impact.Build Coachella Valley Fund (BCVF)BCVF reflects IECF's convening power in regional collaboration, hosting donor education forums, establishing advisory and grants committees, and investing $161,000 in 14 local organizations. The Fund's work aligns with the Vital Conditions of Meaningful Work and Wealth and Lifelong Learning in 2025/2026.CIELO FundNow a model for inclusive philanthropy, the CIELO Fund has raised $2M+ and granted over $1M in scholarships and community investments. It partners with UC Berkeley as well as other local universities and colleges to advance research, hosts funder briefings and Latino leadership trainings, and builds narrative partnerships with CalMatters and the LA Times. Its Rapid Response Fund demonstrates IECF's capacity to respond to emerging community needs.FRieNDS of Veterans FundThrough collaborations with local supervisors and the Riverside County Department of Veterans Affairs, this fund strengthens regional support systems for veterans. The 2024 State of Veterans Report event and ongoing leadership meetings embody IECF's "No Soldier Left Behind" commitment.Fund for a Creative IE (formerly Arts for the IE)Championing arts as an economic driver, this fund has united local arts councils, launched communications initiatives, and hosted the Creative Corps Inland SoCal Culmination Event. Its feature in Palm Springs Life underscores IECF's leadership in positioning creativity as a pillar of community vitality.Here for Good Fund - Growth & ImpactAs IECF's leadership and capacity-building engine, the Here for Good Fund drives engagement with professional advisors, donors, and board members. It has raised over $200,000 for the Policy and Philanthropy Summit that hosts over 600 community leaders, achieved 100% Board Giving participation, and celebrated the Foundation's largest estate gift of $4.5 million - demonstrating excellence in donor education and stewardship.Journalism & Innovation Hub + Fund (JIHF)Designated an affiliate of Press Forward, JIHF advances local journalism as civic infrastructure. Its public launch, grantmaking focus on locally owned outlets, and $175,000 Press Forward grant highlight IECF's growing influence as a convener of truth, transparency, and innovation in the region.Women's Giving Fund (WGF)The WGF mobilizes women philanthropists to advance gender equity through grantmaking, community engagement, and research. In 2024, it raised $90,000+, granted $15,000, established an endowed fund, and launched a research partnership with UC Riverside to produce a State of Women in the Inland Empire report.Other Community Leadership Efforts: Regional Fire and Forest Capacity Program -The RFFC grant for nearly $2million is for convening Inland Empire partners to understand and discuss regional and organizational capacity needs and project priorities on managing the Inland Empire's forest and other ecosystems, wildfire potential, and wild-urban interface. Learn more at: https://www.iegives.org/funds/rffc/; and IECF Regional Priority Plan RPP - IECFInland Economic Growth and Opportunity Initiative (IEGO)In 2023, the Inland Empire Community Foundation (IECF) continued to lead the Inland Economic Growth and Opportunity Initiative, originally launched by Brookings. This planning process has evolved into a robust regional network focused on creating high-quality jobs and the creation of an inclusive economic development team within IECF. In the spring of 2023, IECF successfully applied for and was awarded the California Jobs First planning grant, emphasizing incorporating community input into the Inland Empire's economic planning process. This initiative engaged over 500 individuals and more than 70 different organizations. Additionally, in the fall of 2023, IECF received the CREATE grant from the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office. This grant provides essential labor market data to all 12 regional community colleges, making IECF the first nonprofit in California history to receive this prestigious designation. California Jobs First (formally called the California Community Economic Resilience Fund (CERF))In 2023, the Inland Empire secured the California Jobs First planning grant, thanks to the collaborative efforts of the Inland Empire Community Foundation (IECF), Inland Economic Growth & Opportunity (IEGO), and the Inland Empire Labor Institute (IELI). This milestone initiated a comprehensive regional planning process, engaging over 500 individuals from various sectors to chart a course for a more prosperous, equitable, and sustainable future. Through extensive research, the plan identified Green Energy and Technology, Advanced Manufacturing, and Cybersecurity/Information Technology as key industries with high job growth potential. The community-driven process, organized through Subregional Tables, Committees, and Equity Councils, ensured diverse voices were heard. As the Inland Empire moves towards a more technological and carbon-neutral future, the plan emphasizes the importance of prioritizing its most valuable asset-its people-to create an inclusive
- $16.4 million spent. GENERAL GRANTMAKING Inland Empire Community Foundation (IECF) invested more than $29 million in grants in 2024. Over $5 million of that was for scholarships and education. General grantmaking alone represented over $15 million in grants in the Inland Empire and beyond. Grants were awarded to a broad spectrum of nonprofits in our two-county region of Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. Our grantmaking are generally in the areas of: (See Schedule O for Continuation)Advocacy ($3,518,404)Arts & Culture ($804,248)Children & Families ($1,353,992)Civic & Environmental Benefit ($2,499,485) Health and Human Services ($15,556,034)Economic Development ($467,540)Scholarship (5,668,493)Other ($26,704)Included in our grantmaking are funds that support particular issues or places. These include the Field of Interest Funds ($624,552) which are restricted to a specific program area or geographic area. For example, funds are currently helping with ADA compliance, supporting programs that serve the cities of Perris and Idyllwild (Rockwell Fund), the High Desert (Willmas Charitable Trust), victims of domestic abuse (Seraphim Fund), senior pet-owners and vet care (Herdina Fund), and the treatment and care of low income children in Riverside County (Stebler Fund). IECF is proud to offer donors a way to invest long term in the issues and places they care about, and sees its geographic funds as crucial investments to strengthen communities in the Inland Empire. Since 2011, IECF has been administering the S. L. Gimbel Foundation Fund, whose mission is to improve community conditions thereby enhancing people's quality of life. Program interest areas include food insecurity, environmental protection and conservation, education, and human dignity. In partnership with the Gimbel Foundation Trustees, IECF awarded over $69 million in the Inland Empire and nationwide.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since June 1997.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.