Aerial view of Imperial Valley agriculture with mountains in background

The Mission

Advancing the health and wellness of vulnerable populations in Imperial County by building civic infrastructure to make the Imperial Valley a Better Place to Life for All.

Calipatria Latin American Club_3 happy boys with backpacks

The Vision

Healthy and thriving communities that have the infrastructure to drive their own sustainable solutions.

RURAL DEVELOPMENT HUB

 

Imperial Valley Wellness Foundation (IVWF) is a grantmaker and serves as a Rural Development Hub in Imperial County by mobilizing resources into the region. As a grantmaker, IVWF funds in the areas of health and wellness, community engagement and nonprofit capacity building. As a Rural Development Hub, IVWF hosts Learning Exchanges, where individuals and organizations gather to learn, share, and discover ways to work together, building civic infrastructure to make the Imperial Valley A Better Place to Live for All.

A priority is to make sure that the most vulnerable communities and populations are visible to and heard by those making decisions that affect their daily lives. Our work around Civic Engagement will support community members to engage, elevate their voices, and participate in planning to make a reality the changes they want to see. Community Building Hubs will create the space and opportunity for community members to gather and mobilize around the priorities they identify and partner with local nonprofits that can enhance their efforts. These hubs will become their power base as they meet with institutions and government representatives with solutions on how to improve conditions.

Nonprofit Capacity Building is a critical component of the work. With the proper skills, capacity and resources, nonprofits, and community members, will become changemakers and decision-makers ensuring that prosperity and well-being is attainable by all. The Imperial Valley as a whole, needs external support and resources to elevate its voice and visibility and we invite others to create a Rural Funders Network to demonstrate a new way of balancing resources, power and decision making within rural communities.

GRANTMAKER

Imperial Valley Wellness Foundation (IVWF) annually awards one-year, Mission Support grants ranging from $1,000 – $10,000 per recipient. 

We recognize the importance and value of focusing on the quality of life for the residents of the Imperial County and want to support the work that many organizations are doing to address health and wellness, and community engagement in disinvested communities and especially with populations and groups that have been historically excluded from planning and decision-making. In addition, we value the importance of the nonprofits that lead this work and are committed to supporting them in building capacity to carry out their work and mission.

Grant applications will open again in Summer 2025. Visit the Grants page for more information. 

The Latest From Our Social Media

A New Model for PhilanthropyWhat happens when philanthropy invests in communities for the long haul? Alliance Healthcare Foundation's historic capital transfer to IVWF proves that rural communities don’t just need grants—they need ownership over their financial future.PhiLab's latest report highlights how capital transfers like this redefine philanthropy and communities, creating lasting impact beyond traditional funding models.With this investment, we’re not just receiving funds—we’re building the civic infrastructure that Imperial Valley needs to thrive.Read about our story and the future of capital transfer hubs.la/Q03g_mJg0 #CommunityAutonomy #PhilanthropyWithTrust #ImperialValley #LongTermChangePhoto credit: 760 News Media ... See MoreSee Less
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What This Means for Imperial ValleyThis isn’t just another grant—it’s a new way of funding communities.Thanks to Alliance Healthcare Foundation(AHF), IVWF now holds local, unrestricted capital that allows us to support Imperial Valley on our own terms—not based on short-term funding cycles.PhiLab’s latest report highlights our journey as a case study in philanthropy that truly shifts power and resources, proving that rural communities deserve long-term investment and financial autonomy.This funding means we can continue to support health, wellness, and civic infrastructure in ways that are community-led and sustainable for generations.Learn more hubs.la/Q03gpmXR0 PhiLab #CommunityLedChange #RuralDevelopmentHub #SustainableFunding #CapitalTransfer #RuralHealth ... See MoreSee Less
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A Historic Moment for Imperial Valley!Big news! The Imperial Valley Wellness Foundation (IVWF) is honored to be featured in a groundbreaking research report on Capital Transfer in Philanthropy, published by PhiLab at the University of Quebec in Montreal!The report highlights how funders can shift from traditional grantmaking to direct capital transfers, and we are proud to share our story alongside five other case studies.Thanks to Alliance Healthcare Foundation (AHF) for their historic $7.5 million capital transfer, IVWF now has long-term financial stability to serve our community in perpetuity.Read the summary report here philab.uqam.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Fiches-techniques-final-EN_compressed.pdf #imperialvalley #CommunityWealth #philanthropyreimagined #CapitalTransfer ... See MoreSee Less
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