Inland Empire Community Collaborative helps nonprofits throughout region
For nearly a decade, the Inland Empire Community Collaborative has worked to strengthen nonprofits in San Bernardino County. Over 100 nonprofits have participated in the organization’s year-long capacity building academy, becoming members. Collaborative members receive ongoing technical assistance, coaching and create sustainability plans to better serve the community.
In the last two years, IECC has grown over 200%, helping nonprofits face the challenges and needs created by the coronavirus pandemic. The organization shifted to serving its members online and worked to serve community needs. Working together, nonprofits helped each other get masks, wipes, and other essentials until the county stepped in to help with supplies.
During the pandemic, IECC shifted to assisting those who wanted to help local nonprofits. Known as an organization with strong relationships with other nonprofits, IECC was able to direct funds where they were most needed. IECC soon realized nonprofits were not being accounted for in the early rounds of COVID-19 funding and began advocating for support.
“Nonprofits are vital partners in helping communities come through challenges,” IECC’s Executive Director Susan Gomez said. “The resilience nonprofits have shown during COVID is a huge success story.”
IECC’s next goal was to be the intermediary in building coalitions, providing trusted
Inland Empire Community Collaborative volunteer Kennedy Meadors sits in the middle of 1,500bags packed for distribution at the Navidad en El Barrio food giveaway. She has been volunteering for the event for more than eight years.
spaces to convene and an infrastructure for a two-county children’s cabinet. Eightyseven stakeholders, including funders, nonprofits, businesses, school districts and county entities took on the challenge of making childcare a priority during the pandemic.
Throughout the first year of the pandemic, IECC also continued policy and advocacy work to support the Census. The organization engaged in redistricting discussions and educated nonprofit organizations on the impact these changes could have on their
clients. IECC was able to grant some census funds to communities hardest to count, ensuring they were included. It led to 29,000 families being reached.
IECC’s ability to build coalitions and catalyze partnerships was soon noticed by larger funders.
IECC is now working with communities that have been the most impacted in the last few challenging years, helping them to receive support.
“The best work is happening when we are all working toward what’s best for the community,” Gomez said. “That is where we have seen the most movement.”
The IECC coalition and community volunteers demonstrate the impact they can have by working together annually through their Navidad en El Barrio holiday food drive. Each year, the group assembles over 650 baskets for families in San Bernardino County.
Recently, IECC received a grant from the Community Impact Fund through the Inland Empire Community Foundation. IECC represents nonprofits and communities to ensure they have a seat at the table and a voice in the conversation. The grant supports these efforts.
Gomez noted that many nonprofits are still struggling to return to full capacity and need the support of volunteers to resume their work. Nonprofits who relied on volunteers need the most help. IECC encourages community members to consider supporting nonprofits that are meaningful to them by donating their time, even if they cannot offer financial support.
“Ultimately, we want to be known for creating a legacy of strong nonprofits in the Inland Empire,” Gomez said. “There are many good nonprofits doing good work who are good stewards of their dollars, and they are worthy of the funding because of this.”
Information: 909-693-7642 or https://inlandempirecommunitycollaborative.org/