On Friday, May 24, nearly 30 nonprofit leaders from across San Bernardino County met in person for the first time, even though they had been meeting online for weeks.  

These individuals comprise the first cohort of the IEHP Foundation’s Collaborative Capacity Building Grant, which strengthens community-based organizations’ (CBOs) business operations and infrastructure. 

Thirty CBO leaders participated in a 10-course business management training program led by our partner, Caravanserai Project, which generously provided training services in-kind through various previously secured funding sources. The classes included success planning, board development, evaluation and monitoring, financial management and more.

At the end of the program, IEHP Foundation hosted a graduation ceremony not only to celebrate the work of the organizations and their leaders but also to give the cohort an opportunity to meet one another and continue to foster collaboration.

Cindy Bostick, Executive Director of Today’s Woman Foundation, was thankful for the grant and the opportunity for many nonprofits from under-resourced areas like the High Desert to participate in the program. 

“The program offered by IEHP Foundation and Caravanserai Project was world-class, and I’ve already taken so much of what I’ve learned and implemented it,” said Bostick.  

The Collaborative Capacity Building Grant is a unique opportunity for nonprofits with an annual budget of less than $500,000. These organizations are often established due to a community need and invest all their available funds directly into their programming.  

Cornelious Page established the Community Health Action Network (CHAN) to educate his community on making healthier choices and to advocate for access to nutritious food and other wellness opportunities. 

“‘I’ve been so busy being out in the community, working and engaging with them, I didn’t have the time or know-how to build up the business part,” said Page. “I had the heart, and thanks to this program, I now have the knowledge, which has fueled a desire to learn more.”  

At the ceremony, IEHP Foundation and Caravanserai Project Board Member and long-time High Desert community leader Regina Weatherspoon-Bell shared that the grant and capacity training idea came directly from community leaders like Page and Bostick.  

“This grant was a response to community leader feedback. You shared; we listened and acted,” said Weatherspoon-Bell to the graduates. “We want you to know we see you, hear you and value all of the incredible work you do each and every day.” 

In addition to the training, IEHP Foundation awarded each organization a $5,000 grant to build up infrastructure, such as professional services, software, equipment and other general operating and nonprogrammatic expenses. 

The first cohort was so successful that IEHP Foundation and Caravanserai Project partnered again to offer the Collaborative Capacity Building Grant in Riverside County, which is currently underway with the following 30 nonprofits:  

•  Advancing Steps    
• Aquamotion Ability Foundation
• Barn Door Radio  
• California Association for Community Engagement and Wellness Services  
• CCS Education and Wellness Center  
• Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern California  
• Cultural Media Archive  
• Danza Azteca Citlaltonac  
• Family Promise of Riverside  
• GANAS  
• Girls on the Run Riverside County  
• Ives Torres Foundation  
• Jacob’s House  
• Lamps of Light Project  
• Legacy Bridges Foundation, Inc  
• Magdalena’s Daughters  
• Mrs. B’s Table  
• Out of the Ashes Organization  
• PVFAA, Inc.  
• Renewing Hope Strategies  
• Riverside Medical Clinic Charitable Foundation  
• Riverside Section – National Council of Negro Women, Inc.  
• Riverside Unified School District Foundation  
• Safe Haven Resilience, Inc  
• Sick N’ Tired Recovery home  
• Soulful Soil Farms  
• The Seed Program  
• We Are One United  
• Women Add Value Inc.  
• Zenergyme Schools Foundation, Inc.  

Through this program, we hope these CBOs in San Bernardino and Riverside Counties will be better equipped to expand their reach, services and resources to help inspire and ignite the health of the Inland Empire.