The Inland Empire Community Foundation is excited to announce the Youth Grantmakers Program to encourage philanthropy among youth.
Donor Name: Inland Empire Community Foundation (IECF)
State: California
City: Riverside and San Bernardino
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 04/30/2025
Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000
Grant Duration: 1 Year
Details:
Youth Grantmakers address issues important to them by being rigorously trained in grantmaking. Students ages 15 to18 apply to the Youth Grantmakers through their high school administrative or counseling offices. Through a rigorous 6 month, hands-on curriculum YG students build leadership skills, participate in community service activities, conduct a needs assessment of issues relevant to youth, make site visits to nonprofit organizations, review and analyze grant proposals, and make grant recommendations based on local needs.
In February of 2025, as a collective group representing Riverside, San Bernardino and Coachella decided they wanted to shift the program focus to a more centralized effort. 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 behavioral 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 change
- Support nonprofits/school programs that focus on Career Readiness, College Preparation, Financial Literacy
- Support online therapy platforms, mental health apps, and virtual support networks
- Support intervention and prevention.
Funding Information
Applicants may request amounts in the following range: $1,000 to $5,000. The maximum grant award is $5,000.
Grant Period
The grant period is up to one year. Projects, Programs and/or Activities may start as early as June 1, 2025 and must end no later than May 31, 2026.
Eligibility Criteria
- Nonprofit, 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.
- Agencies that have received Youth Grantmaker funds consecutively for the past two years (2023 and 2024) are not eligible to apply.
For more information, visit IECF.
