IECF Office of Policy & Engagement

The Inland Empire Community Foundation’s Office of Policy & Engagement (OPE) is dedicated to strengthening the region’s policy and advocacy capacity to address regional inequities.

Launched in 2021 with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, OPE collaborates with community-based organizations to uplift their missions and drive meaningful policy change. Through convenings, state advocacy, and alignment of public and private funding opportunities, OPE advances initiatives such as California Jobs First, the Masterplan for Career Education, and IECF’s budget priorities. With a focus on – but not limited to – the Seven Vital Conditions for Health and Well-Being, the office ensures the Inland Empire is positioned as a priority region in statewide discussions. OPE also leverages IECF’s convening power to foster partnerships with legislators, state agencies, and funders, ensuring long-term impact.

Heading into 2025, OPE is expanding its efforts to strengthen regional advocacy, increase partnerships, and elevate the Inland Empire’s voice in policy discussions. With the success of previous Policy & Philanthropy Summits, the office is deepening engagement with state leaders and aligning regional priorities. Through strategic growth and coordination, OPE remains committed to fostering inclusive progress and long-term regional resilience.

At our annual Policy & Philanthropy Summits, conversations with local electeds, community leaders and state partners lead to a clearer vision for strategies and implementation around creating a region where everyone can thrive. There’s a lot of work to do, but the path ahead is coming into focus. We’re committed to using the Vital Conditions Framework to inform our work going forward, and we invite you to join the movement.

Learn how our region is contributing to community well-being using the Vital Conditions framework. Become a part of the recently formed Inland Empire Vital Conditions Network (IEVCN) and hear firsthand how our colleagues and neighbors are incorporating its objectives to enhance their work, while also gaining insights on how you can apply these innovative strategies to your own efforts.

Join IEVCN

We’d be thrilled to have your voice in the conversation as we demonstrate the Inland Empire’s commitment to creating a thriving community for all—no exceptions! Let us know which issues affecting our region are on your mind and tell us how you think they can best be addressed.

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Inland Empire Legislators’ Roundtable

Launched in 2025, the Inland Empire Legislators’ Roundtable builds on the success of the annual Policy and Philanthropy Summit and bridges the worlds of strategic philanthropy and the thirty state and federal District Directors representing our region. Meeting quarterly, these bipartisan convenings foster valuable opportunities for information sharing, relationship-building, and collaboration from district offices.

Through the Inland Empire Legislators’ Round Table, we hope to emphasize the need for a coordinated strategy between philanthropy and government leaders. With the state’s focus on the Inland Empire and its commitment to unlocking the region’s vast economic potential, IECF seeks to capitalize on this momentum, including the upcoming California Jobs First funding opportunities, to accelerate and expand high-impact regional initiatives. These efforts will align around education, workforce development, infrastructure, clean energy, and economic mobility. The Inland Empire Legislators’ Roundtable presents a rare opportunity to work across the aisle, engage our district offices, and develop real solutions that will shape the region’s future.