The Cultivating Inland Empire Latino Opportunity (CIELO) Fund has launched a region-strengthening collaboration made possible with generous support from The James Irvine Foundation and the Latino Community Foundation.
The James Irvine Foundation, an early and longtime champion and funder to the CIELO Fund, is investing $150,000 as part of this partnership. And the Latino Community Foundation, a deeply rooted partner in the region, is adding $20,000 to the CIELO Fund's work, which the fund will match, bringing the total nonpartisan civic engagement investment this summer to nearly $200,000. The grantmaking aims to build civic power and generate greater impact across Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
This impact and further advancing locally
driven, nonpartisan civic engagement initiatives across the region is important, say the funds' leader, Jesse Melgar. The result will directly support nonprofit organizations working to increase nonpartisan civic participation, civic information, strengthen community leadership and ensure Inland Empire residents have a greater, perhaps louder, voice in shaping the important decisions that affect their communities.
"The Inland Empire is home to one of the largest and fastest-growing Latino populations in California, yet too often our communities remain underrepresented in civic life and public decision-making," said Melgar, founder of the CIELO Fund and board chair of IECF.
"This partnership with The James Irvine Foundation and the Latino Community Foundation is an investment in local leadership and lasting civic infrastructure," he said. "Together, we're helping ensure that Inland Empire residents not only have a seat at the table but the opportunity to help decide the future of our region."
"The Inland Empire is one of the fastest growing and most diverse regions in California, and its residents deserve access to clear, nonpartisan information," said Don Howard, president and CEO of The James Irvine Foundation. "We're proud to partner with the Latino Community Foundation and the CIELO Fund to put resources directly into the hands of community organizations, both new and established, that know how to reach people where they are. When residents have good, trustworthy information, they have more power to shape the future of their own communities."
LCF CEO Julián Castro said that when Latinos can fully participate in democracy, the outcome is "a stronger future for everyone.
"As a funder in the region since 2020, we're proud today to deepen our investment in the Inland Empire, building the next generation of leaders, organizers and changemakers," he said. "This partnership with the CIELO Fund and the Inland Empire Community Foundation will help build a future where civic power is in the hands of the people."
The unique partnership illuminates a shared commitment to strengthening civic health and investing in the long-term leadership of local Latino communities. To that end, funding will help support nonpartisan voter information guides on KVCR's website, a community forum focused on the education around the ballot measures, community outreach, nonpartisan civic education, leadership development and capacity-building efforts that enable local organizations to engage residents year-round.
"We're grateful to Irvine and LCF for their investments," said Michelle Decker, president and CEO of IECF. "The organizations leading this work understand their communities, have earned trust and know how to connect residents to the issues that matter most to them. This funding will help strengthen civic participation across the Inland Empire and support local leadership that reflects the people and communities it serves."
The efforts mark yet another milestone for the CIELO Fund. Since its launch in 2022, the fund has supported more than 150 local nonprofits. By employing strategic grantmaking, research, scholarships and narrative change initiatives, the CIELO Fund has invested more than $2.5 million directly into Riverside and San Bernardino county-based organizations with a goal of helping make the region thrive.
Irvine has continued to focus on the region through its Priority Communities initiative, making millions of investments in the region for years.
Meanwhile, LCF has grown into one of the nation's leading Latino philanthropies, continuously investing in organizations that build civic and economic power in California and beyond. The partnership represents a shared vision — that lasting change begins with strong local leadership and sustained community investment.
Coming up
The CIELO Fund invites supporters to attend its annual brunch in celebration of scholars and grantees. The 2026 event will be held Oct. 3 at the RCOE Conference Center at 4280 Brockton Drive in Riverside. Tickets are $50 per person. Learn more and RSVP at iegives.org/cielofund.
Inland Empire Community Foundation works to strengthen Inland Southern California through philanthropy. Now celebrating its 85th anniversary, the Foundation serves both Riverside and San Bernardino counties with a mission to create a region where everyone thrives — no exceptions. Visit iegives.org or email giving@iegives.org for more information on how you can create a fund to support the causes you care about.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: CIELO Fund partnerships help local civic engagement investments
