Imperial Valley Civic Ecosystem FAQ
What are the roles of each partner in IVCEI?
IVCEI brings together a cross-disciplinary team of dedicated partners to support capacity building:
- Implementing Partners: The Institute for Local Government and the Latino Community Foundation carry out the day-to-day technical assistance and support offered to local partners through the BOOST Imperial Valley and Activate Imperial programs.
- Coordination Partners: The Strategic Growth Council and Freedman Consulting foster collaboration among partners, build external relationships, and leverage best practices to ensure the overall success of IVCEI.
- Strategic Advisors: The Governor’s Office and the California Energy Commission bring expertise related to energy, lithium development, and state and local policy and help engage key state and/or philanthropic partners to advance the region’s goals.
How is this initiative funded?
IVCEI is funded through a combination of philanthropic and public dollars, including contributions by the 11th Hour Project and the Strategic Growth Council. To date, LCF has raised 71% of its Y1 goal and is seeking an additional $6.3 million to support Activate Imperial through early 2027. ILG has raised 55% of its current goal for BOOST Imperial Valley and is seeking an additional $500,000 to continue support through early 2027.
What progress has been made so far?
In its first year, BOOST Imperial Valley has:
- Provided 1,300+ hours of technical support.
- Applied for $27 million in funding and secured $3 million in funding.
- Trained over 50 local leaders in community engagement and governance best practices.
- Supported community engagement and strategic planning efforts to strengthen relationships with community members and build the foundation for cities in the region to be prepared for future opportunities, including lithium development.
Meanwhile, Activate Imperial has:
- Provided $1 million in core operating grants for local community-based organizations.
- Funded Asociación de Emprendedores (Entrepreneurs Association) to expand its programming for entrepreneurs and small business development into Imperial Valley – launching in September.
- Funded Accessity to deepen its footprint in Imperial and increase its provision of access to capital to entrepreneurs and small businesses in the region.
- Supported one of our core partner organizations to participate in LCF’s signature 18-month Latino Nonprofit Accelerator, designed to strengthen fundraising, storytelling, and marketing capacity.
What are the core goals for the initiative in the coming year?
With one year under its belt, IVCEI plans to continue offering critical direct support to Imperial Valley partners, with an emphasis on the following three goals:
- Foster meaningful connection and coordination between local government and community-based organizations to strengthen relationships, build trust, and foster proactive collaboration.
- Facilitate coordination between state and philanthropic partners in the Imperial Valley to drive additional investment to the region and support cross-sector alignment.
- Make connections and facilitate best practice exchange between IVCEI and other related initiatives to advance shared priorities and strengthen the civic ecosystem.