Growing Inland Achievement

Category: Grants

  • Grant Opportunities for Community Partners

    Grant Opportunities for Community Partners

    The California Department of Education (CDE) recently released a request for applications for their College and Career Access Pathways (CCAP) grant and Middle College Early College (MCEC) grant.

    This funding promises to expand equitable dual enrollment statewide, in keeping with the original intent of CCAP legislation to increase postsecondary attainment among students from groups underrepresented in higher education or who might not consider themselves as college-going. Applicants receiving priority consideration have student populations with higher than average rates of suspension/expulsion or dropping out; higher than average percentages of homeless, foster or justice-involved youth; or a lower than average A-G completion rate.

    School districts, county offices of education, and charter schools are eligible to apply. The maximum award amount for MCEC grants is $250,000, and the maximum for CCAP grants is $100,000 per high school site. Districts can apply for multiple high schools, but would need to submit separate CCAP grant applications for each site. For both grant programs, applicants need to supply evidence of an existing or planned partnership with a postsecondary institution for the creation of a dual enrollment program.

    For more information, read Career Ladders Project’s synopsis here.

    Applications are due by March 30, 2023.

    Takeoff: Institutional Innovations for College Men of Color, a project funded by ECMC Foundation and led by the USC Race and Equity Center, invites community colleges nationwide to submit proposals for one of twelve funding and support opportunities. 

    Through this partnership, the USC Race and Equity Center will subgrant and provide technical support to colleges leading innovations that advance postsecondary outcomes for men of color.

    Each participating college will receive $75,000 to fund their existing or aspiring efforts to support men of color over the course of two academic years.

    To read the full RFP, including eligibility requirements, selection criteria and application instructions to learn more, visit https://www.collegetakeoff.org/.

    This project is made possible by the support from ECMC Foundation and is a part of their broader $20 million commitment to transform the higher education experiences for Black, Latinx, Southeast Asian and Native American men. ECMC Foundation’s Men of Color Initiative aims to increase degree attainment.

    Applications are due by April 10, 2023 by 11:59 PM PST.

  • GIA among six organizations receiving $100M to accelerate institutional transformation and close equity gaps for students

    GIA among six organizations receiving $100M to accelerate institutional transformation and close equity gaps for students

    On Sept. 15, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced that Growing Inland Achievement (GIA) would be one of six intermediary organizations in the nation to lead transformation efforts at more than 250 U.S. colleges and universities in the next five years. This collective postsecondary transformation effort is the first of its kind at this scale in American higher education. Approximately $9.5M of the Foundation’s total $100M investment will flow directly to the Inland Empire to support student success efforts at Riverside County and San Bernardino County higher education institutions.

    GIA was selected based on demonstrated strengths in areas central to supporting institutional transformation and resulting in equitable student outcomes for Black, Latinx and Indigenous students and students from low-income backgrounds. “This is wonderful news for Growing Inland Achievement to be recognized by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation,” said Dr. Tomas D. Morales, president of California State University, San Bernardino, and GIA board member. “It affirms the work that GIA and the regional K-16 network are doing to support all students in our region, especially our underrepresented populations.”

    All colleges and universities in the Inland Empire will be invited to participate in the transformation effort. “To succeed in this work, we must meet colleges and universities where they are in their student success journeys and dig deep into root causes contributing to inequities for historically marginalized populations,” says Dr. Carlos Ayala, President & CEO of GIA. “The support from the Gates Foundation is significant and empowers our regional educational network to accelerate and advance student success strategies that align with our shared vision of eliminating race and socioeconomic status as predictors of educational success.”

    In the Inland Empire region, including San Bernardino and Riverside counties, 100% of the 18 public and private, 2-yr, and 4-yr degree-granting institutions are Hispanic­ serving institutions (HSls). Three of the 18 are Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions (AANAPISls). The total postsecondary student population served is 231,023, with a median Pell eligibility of 53%, ranging between 29% and 67%.

    College and university leaders are expressing a desire to transform to become more student-ready institutions. A recent survey found that nearly three-quarters (71%) of institutional presidents say their institutions must fundamentally change their business models or other operations. And they are seeking support to inform and guide that change.

    GIA’s approach will be collaborative and meet institutions where they are in their student success journeys. “We will work with campuses to develop customized supports catered uniquely to each institution,” said Ann Marie Sakrekoff, COO of GIA. “We also hope institutions will take advantage of the opportunity to work in cohorts to share promising practices and learn together.”

    For questions or additional information, please contact:

    Jake Poore

    Director of Communication, GIA

    jake@gia.echofactory.dev

  • GIA Special Announcement on Sept. 14

    GIA Special Announcement on Sept. 14

    One of GIA’s major supporters is making a significant investment in the Inland Empire region.

    This meeting took place on Sept. 14. Watch the meeting recording here – https://youtu.be/vLOb65FfKds

  • $18 million awarded to Inland Empire K-16 Collaborative

    $18 million awarded to Inland Empire K-16 Collaborative

    UC Riverside, the Lead Education Agency for the Inland Empire K-16 Education Collaborative, recently announced that the Inland Empire region will receive $18 million to address equity gaps and improve education-to-career pipelines.

    “The Regional K-16 collaborative program, administered by the Department of General Services, Office of Public School Construction, and Foundation for California Community Colleges, is intended to build on or create collaboration among the University of California system, the California State University system, community colleges, K-12 school districts, and workforce partners so that students have clear career pathways that begin in elementary school,” according to to the UCR announcement. “Once the grant funds are received, a steering committee of regional partners will ensure funds are equitably disbursed across San Bernardino and Riverside counties, including in remote areas.”

    “We want to thank all of the Inland Empire partners who have been working diligently on the application since early this year,” said Dr. Carlos Ayala, President & CEO of Growing Inland Achievement. “This grant aligns directly with our shared vision to increase equitable educational attainment in the region and will accelerate network efforts to improve education-to-career pipelines for our students.”

    GIA maintains a webpage with Inland Empire K-16 Collaborative Grant information and updates, available at: https://gia.echofactory.dev/k-16-education-collaborative/

    For additional information, please contact Ann Marie Sakrekoff at annmarie@gia.echofactory.dev.

  • Bank of America Renews their Commitment to Supporting Inland Empire Adult Learners

    Bank of America Renews their Commitment to Supporting Inland Empire Adult Learners

    GIA is pleased to announce a $50,000 grant from the Bank of America Foundation to support adults in the Inland Empire returning to school and obtaining a degree or credential. The Bank of America Foundation first partnered with GIA on this work in 2018 when they supported the formation of the Returning Adult Action Network Team (ANT). 

    “We know that twenty-five percent of adults in the IE have some college but no degree. An additional 26.9% have no postsecondary education,” said Ann Marie Sakrekoff, COO at GIA. “As these adults seek to support their families while living costs continue to increase, many realize the opportunity for education to open doors to career advancement and greater earnings. We are extremely grateful for our continued partnership with Bank of America to help create opportunities for our adult population.”

    GIA and the Returning Adult ANT have identified resources and developed plans to support the unique needs of adult students. Bank of America grant funds will be utilized for outreach campaigns to adults with the intent to enroll in postsecondary education and one-on-one coaching to provide financial, logistical, social, and emotional support for adults starting or continuing their education.

    If you are interested in partnering with GIA on these efforts please contact Ida Hermosillo, Director of Network Engagement, at ida@gia.echofactory.dev.