City officials say the program is part of Hemet’s ongoing commitment to partnering with organizations that deliver essential services in areas such as housing, youth development, public safety, mental health, and community engagement.

Building on Past Success

Over the years, Hemet’s Community Grant Funding has provided resources to a variety of nonprofits, from food distribution networks and youth mentorship programs to local cultural organizations. These grants often serve as a lifeline for small, community-based groups that lack access to larger state or federal funding.

“This program gives our nonprofits the boost they need to continue serving our most vulnerable residents,” said a city spokesperson. “Whether it’s providing meals, safe after-school programs, or access to mental health resources, the impact of these grants can be felt across Hemet.”

A Critical Time for Nonprofits

The announcement comes at a time when many nonprofits are facing increased demand for services due to rising housing costs, economic challenges, and growing community needs. Leaders say that even modest grants can help sustain programs that make daily life better for Hemet families.

Raynesha Belvins, CEO of a local nonprofit focused on family services, noted that small city grants can have an outsized effect:

“One grant might cover a year of mentoring sessions for local teens, or allow us to hire part-time staff who connect families to housing and healthcare resources. These dollars stretch a long way in communities like ours.”

Application Process

Nonprofits interested in applying can find full details and eligibility requirements on the city’s website, hemetca.gov. Applications must be submitted by the posted deadline, after which city staff and councilmembers will review submissions and determine award recipients.

Priority will be given to organizations that demonstrate measurable outcomes, strong community partnerships, and a clear plan for using the funds to benefit Hemet residents.

Investing in the Future

City leaders emphasize that the program is not just about funding projects, but about building long-term partnerships between government and the nonprofit sector.

“By supporting organizations that are already doing meaningful work, we multiply our impact,” said the spokesperson. “These grants are an investment in Hemet’s future.”

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Since its launch in 2022, the CIELO Fund’s total investment through research, grantmaking, narrative change initiatives and scholarship programs sits at $1.4 million. That accounts for nearly 100 grant awards to organizations in Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

“As families across Riverside and San Bernardino continue to face rising costs for essentials like housing, food, childcare, eldercare and education, the CIELO Fund’s grantmaking this year is intentionally focused on supporting organizations that are directly addressing these pressing community needs,” said Jesse Melgar, founder and chair of the CIELO Fund and board chair of IECF.

“Our commitment remains unchanged,” he said. “It’s to build a future where equity and opportunity are not the exception, but the expectation for everyone who calls our region home.”

In an effort to better understand the challenges facing the region, including its Latino residents, the CIELO Fund has commissioned several reports from leading California universities. Last year, the fund partnered with the UC Berkeley Possibility Lab and Institute of Governmental Studies to run a poll on the community’s ability to access essentials.

The results were illuminating, showing that nearly 80% of Latino voters report difficulty finding affordable housing, while some 70% expressed difficulty finding healthy, affordable food. Meanwhile, 65% and 63% reported difficulty finding affordable eldercare and child care, respectively.

Finding good jobs figured prominently, coming in at 61%.

Overall, the findings guided the Leadership and Grantmaking Committees grant decisions this year.

Michelle Decker, IECF president and CEO, said the organization is incredibly proud of the impact the CIELO Fund has achieved in such a short time.

“Through thoughtful grantmaking and deep partnerships, the fund is helping to uplift and empower Latino-led and Latino-serving organizations across our region,” she said. “We look forward to building on this momentum and continuing to support our communities that need us most.”

The 2025 grantmaking included unique media partnerships to elevate positive regional narratives through original and effective programming, including continued support to KVCR’s IE Latino Voices segment, which it helped co-design and launch in 2023. It also supports an innovative partnership with the Los Angeles Times’ Latino vertical, DeLos, to support special coverage of the Inland Empire.

Additionally, this year, the CIELO Fund is partnering with the UCLA Latino Policy & Politics Institute to commission a data profile on the Latino community’s experiences with vital conditions, which will be released later during Latino Heritage Month.

About Families Inc., The Garcia Center for the Arts, Imperial Valley Equity & Justice Coalition, Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice, My Baby My Way Foundation, San Bernardino Community Service Inc., TODEC Legal Center, Undocumented Student Services Center, CSUSB, Veterans Success Center and We Are One United were among the 40 grantees awarded.

Also noteworthy: For the first time ever, the committee will support two organizations in neighboring Imperial County as part of a rapid response fund to organizations doing frontline work.

After launching in 2022 as a Signature Fund celebrating the IECF’s 80th anniversary, the CIELO Fund has remained steadfast in its mission is to “uplift and invest in organizations, initiatives and ideas that are led by — and serve — Latinos in the Inland Empire.”

The CIELO Fund Leadership and Grantmaking Committee comprises a dedicated group of community leaders from the Inland Empire, including Liliana Andriani, Angel Jewelers; Tomás D. Morales, CSU San Bernardino; Diana Z. Rodriguez, San Bernardino Community College District; Sergio Bohon, Wells Fargo Advisors; Silvia Paz, Alianza Coachella Valley; Elizabeth Romero, UC Riverside; Neftali Galarza, Office of the Riverside County Superintendent of Schools; Marco Robles, Latino Leader; Helen Iris Torres, Hispanas Organized for Political Equality; Luz Gallegos, TODEC Legal Center; Angel Rodriguez, San Bernardino Community College District; and Marisa Valdez Yeager, CSU San Bernardino.

Learn more about the CIELO Fund at iegives.org/funds/cielofund.

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