Growing Inland Achievement Awarded $1,035,000 Grant from ECMC Foundation

Growing Inland Achievement (GIA) has received a $1,035,000 grant from the ECMC Foundation to help colleges and universities in the region improve equitable access to and success in postsecondary education, particularly for Black, Latinx, and Indigenous students, and students from low-income backgrounds.

The funding will boost efforts to close equity gaps and make a college education more accessible and achievable for students in the Inland Empire. GIA will work with local colleges and universities to review current systems and processes and identify areas for improvement.

This award from the ECMC Foundation complements GIA’s ongoing work as one of six Transformation Intermediaries selected by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to work on achieving postsecondary transformation at scale.

“This grant will support our ongoing efforts to close equity gaps in higher education and ensure that race, ethnicity, and income are not predictors of postsecondary success,” said Ashish Vaidya, President and CEO of Growing Inland Achievement. “We are grateful to the ECMC Foundation for their generous support, which will allow us to engage experts who can help our regional colleges and universities make meaningful, lasting changes.”

The ECMC Foundation grant will help GIA support schools in improving systems, policies, and processes that positively impact students. The funding will be used to bring in regional and national experts to provide training, coaching, and ongoing support as colleges and universities make these changes. The goal is to create student-centered systems focusing on long-term improvements rather than short-term fixes.

GIA works closely with local college leaders to identify barriers that contribute to inequities and gaps in student outcomes. This process involves assessing current practices and evaluating strategic plans to provide targeted support in key areas such as academic advising, digital learning, strategic finance, and institutional research. These efforts aim to create an environment where students, especially those from underserved communities, can succeed. As a regional K-16 collaborative, GIA supports these efforts and addresses the unique needs of institutions in the Inland Empire.

“ECMC Foundation is pleased to partner with Growing Inland Achievement in its mission to improve educational and economic outcomes in the Inland Empire,” said Jacob Fraire, President of the ECMC Foundation. By supporting this initiative, we are investing in the potential of education systems to advance equitable policies and practices to better serve students.”

About Growing Inland Achievement

Growing Inland Achievement (GIA) serves the Inland Empire region of Southern California—the 12th largest metropolitan area in the U.S., including over 4.7 million residents and over one million students. GIA supports a network of education, government, nonprofit, and business partners working together to achieve a shared vision of educational and economic success. GIA’s vision is that by 2035, San Bernardino and Riverside Counties will be known for their educated workforce, thriving communities, and vibrant economy that creates prosperity for all.

About ECMC Foundation

ECMC Foundation is a national foundation whose North Star goal is to eliminate equity gaps in postsecondary completion by 2040 so that underserved learners have greater opportunities for social and economic mobility. The Foundation’s mission is to improve higher education for career success among underserved populations through evidence-based innovation. ECMC Foundation makes strategic grants and program-related investments to support both nonprofit and for-profit ventures, guided by a strategic framework that aims to advance systemic change by removing barriers to postsecondary completion, building the capacity of organizations, institutions and systems, and transforming the postsecondary ecosystem. Learn more about ECMC Foundation by visiting www.ecmcfoundation.org and our parent company, ECMC Group, by visiting www.ecmcgroup.org.”