Published by Grantmakers in Health, Views from the Field, March 14, 2025
By Roque Barros, Jr., Executive Director, Imperial Valley Wellness Foundation

Building a New Foundation

When people hear about our work in Imperial Valley, they often exclaim, “How exciting to build a new foundation!” But I gently redirect them: We’re not building another institution— the last thing our communities need is another organization competing for resources. Instead, we’re building civic infrastructure to create the framework for lasting, community-led change.

This is about so much more than handing out grants. At the Imperial Valley Wellness Foundation (IVWF), we embrace a fundamentally different approach to community development, rooted in the belief that lasting change can only come from within the communities themselves. Our mission is not to impose solutions but to empower communities with the tools, resources, and connections needed to drive their own transformation.

Rather than creating a traditional philanthropic model that might prioritize short-term fixes, IVWF focuses on fostering civic infrastructure. This approach equips communities to attract, invest, and manage the resources they need to thrive. By prioritizing collaboration over competition, we’re building a foundation for sustainable progress. Read full story here.