Inland Empire Youth Grantmakers

Funder: The Inland Empire Community Foundation (IECF) Serving Riverside & San Bernardino Counties

The Inland Empire Youth Grantmakers program empowers high school students to address critical issues in their communities, focusing on mental health and education equity. With a hands-on, six-month experience, participants engage in grantmaking, community service, and advocacy. In 2025, the program shifted to prioritize mental health and educational resources, ensuring all youth have access to opportunities for success. By supporting nonprofits that provide essential services, the initiative aims to create lasting social change in Riverside, San Bernardino, and Coachella Valley.

Mission of the Inland Empire Community Foundation
The Inland Empire Community Foundation’s mission is “Where giving grows.”
The Foundation does this by raising, stewarding and distributing charitable assets by providing grants to nonprofit organizations, and working toward a shared vision of a vibrant, generous and just region — with unlimited opportunities. The Foundation focuses on building its endowment to ensure that The Inland Empire Community Foundation is where giving grows.
The Inland Empire Community Foundation maintains the rigorous national standards for excellence for community foundations and is a member of the National Council on Foundations and the League of California Community Foundations.
Through a 6-month, hands-on experience, Youth Grantmakers get trained up in grantmaking, build leadership skills, roll up their sleeves for community service, and dig into what matters most to young people across the region. From researching the issues, visiting nonprofits, analyzing grant proposals, and making funding decisions, they’re in the driver’s seat.
In the past, YG grants have fueled everything from mental health programs to arts projects to educational initiatives. But in 2025, our student teams across Riverside, San Bernardino, and the Coachella Valley made a powerful move: to center all funding around Mental Health and Education Equity.
After conducting a Peer Assessment Survey the Inland Empire Youth Grantmakers has made Mental Health and Education Resources their funding focus area of support for the region.
Mental Health
Youth today face an unprecedented mental health crisis, driven by social pressures, uncertainty about the future, and limited access to support. Prioritizing mental well-being, open conversations, and accessible resources is crucial to ensuring a healthier generation. “Depression, anxiety and behavioural disorders are among the leading causes of illness and disabilities among adolescents. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among those aged 15 to 29 years of age”, according to World Health Organizaiton.
Education Resources
Many high schools lack essential educational resources that could better prepare the students for the real world. Some of these key gaps include: Mental Health Support, Financial Literacy, Career Readiness Programs, and Life Skills Education to name a few.
Youth Mental Health and Education Resources Grantmaking Objectives
Support nonprofits/programs that offer free, or low cost therapy, counseling, and psychiatric care for youth.Support nonprofits/programs that focus on youth mental health trends and advocate for systematic changeSupport nonprofits/school programs that focus on Career Readiness, College Preparation, Financial LiteracySupport online therapy platforms, mental health apps, and virtual support networksSupport intervention and prevention
Program Interest Areas
Grant proposals will be accepted that address issues regarding youth mental health and education resources. Program interest areas may include areas of academic supports and resources, advocacy, as well as indirect and direct services that will help youth handle life’s pressures i.e. personal, academic.
Funding Priorities
The Youth Grantmakers Fund is a responsive grant making opportunity designed to empower the Youth Grantmaker members to review, score and recommend grant proposals that provide meaningful impact in the community. Submission of proposal that include activities that involve youth to address community need through involvement in arts (dance, drama, creative arts, music writing etc.), advocacy programs, educational classes, mentoring /tutoring, outdoor experiences, “real-life” learning experiences, service learning and treatment services are encouraged.

Eligibility

EligibilityNonprofit, public benefit corporations with evidence of tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and not classified as a private foundation. Educational institutions are eligible to apply.Nonprofit agencies that serve youth residing in Riverside, San Bernardino, Coachella Valley.Agencies that operate so that they do not discriminate in the hiring of staff or in providing services on the basis of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin or disability.

Ineligibility

Agencies that have received Youth Grantmaker funds consecutively for the past two years (2023 and 2024) are not eligible to apply.