The Inland Empire Community Foundation (IECF) is now accepting applications for the first round of grants from the Cultivating Inland Empire Latino Opportunity Fund, also known as the CIELO Fund, through December 5, 2022. The CIELO Fund intends to support nonprofit organizations and initiatives that are led by – and serve – Latinos in Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
Led and founded by IECF Board Member Jesse Melgar, and a Leadership and Grantmaking Committee comprised of regional community leaders, the CIELO Fund is one of IECF’s eight signature funds launched this year in celebration of the Foundation’s 80th anniversary and has exceeded its goal of raising $80k in its inaugural year. Since its inception, the Fund has received significant support from the Weingart Foundation, Amazon, Inland Empire Health Plan, Bank of America, Edison International, and dozens of other corporate and private donors.
“Thanks to our generous donors and community partners we are excited to open our inaugural call for grant applications for Latino-led and serving organizations in the Inland Empire," said IECF Board Member and CIELO Fund founding Chair Jesse Melgar. “We look forward to making direct investments into local organizations doing impactful work in the realms of economic mobility, education, civic engagement, health equity, and immigration services.”
Latinos are now the majority of the Inland Empire, making up 51.5% of the population. With multiple organizations throughout the region, the new program will assist nonprofits with resources to strengthen operations, create a pipeline of leadership, and implement programs or initiatives that advance the CIELO Fund’s key areas of focus: economic mobility, education, civic engagement, health equity, and immigration services.
The Fund invites nonprofits to apply for grants of up to $15,000. The application deadline is Monday, December 5, 2022.
To view grant guidelines, determine eligibility, and download a grant application, please visit https://www.iegives.org/funds/cielogrant/. Organizations may submit questions by email to cielo@iegives.org.
For help with applying, register for the CIELO Fund Grant Technical Workshop on November 16 at 5:00pm. If you cannot attend, the session will be recorded and uploaded on the website.