Morongo Grants Support Riverside Nonprofits
- On May 13, the Morongo Band of Mission Indians awarded nearly $450,000 to 111 nonprofit groups serving Riverside and San Bernardino counties. - The clearest number was 111: each group received up to $5,000, and Morongo said the program has awarded more than $1.7 million since 2022. - For 2027 funding, nonprofit groups can apply through Morongo’s donations program page, the tribe said.
The Morongo Band of Mission Indians awarded nearly $450,000 on May 13 to 111 nonprofit organizations serving Riverside and San Bernardino counties, expanding a tribal giving program that now spans much of the Inland Empire. The grants were presented at the 5th Annual Morongo Community Outreach Awards Luncheon at Morongo Casino Resort & Spa in Cabazon. Each organization received up to $5,000, according to Morongo and local reports. The tribe said the program supports groups working in education, healthcare, social services, Native American culture, and military and veteran support. ### Which Riverside-area groups were named as recipients? Riverside organizations specifically named by Morongo included Riverside Meals on Wheels, the Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center and OPARC in Riverside. Morongo’s published list of examples also included groups from Moreno Valley, Redlands, Palm Desert, Cathedral City and San Bernardino, underscoring that the awards were spread across the broader Inland region rather than limited to one city. (kesq.com) OPARC, a Riverside nonprofit that serves adults with developmental disabilities, said the money would help support arts programming. Susie Pittman, OPARC’s chief executive, said Morongo’s support gives participants “the chance to create, to express, and to grow,” according to Morongo’s account of the event. (indiangaming.com) ### What will the money pay for in practical terms? Morongo and recipients described the grants as small-dollar awards aimed at specific community services. In Riverside, that included senior meal delivery through Riverside Meals on Wheels, pet adoption and animal-care work through the Mary S. Roberts Pet Adoption Center, and arts classes for adults with developmental disabilities through OPARC. (indiangaming.com) Kim Livreri, founder of The Butterfly Mission of Palm Desert, said her organization’s $5,000 grant would help mothers and children experiencing homelessness in the Coachella Valley. She said the funding would support clothing, counseling and workplace-preparation efforts for mothers in crisis. (indiangaming.com) ### How large is Morongo’s program now? The 2026 awards brought the program’s cumulative giving to more than $1.7 million since its launch in 2022, Morongo said. The tribe said more than 400 nonprofit organizations have received grants through the program over that period. (kesq.com) Over a longer period, Morongo said it has provided more than $20 million over the past decade to local and national nonprofit organizations serving the San Gorgonio Pass and communities across the Inland Empire. That broader total includes philanthropy beyond the annual outreach awards luncheon. (kesq.com) ### How does Morongo decide who can apply? Morongo’s donations page says the Community Outreach Awards Program uses one application and one deadline for organizations serving Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Eligible applicants must fall into one of five categories: Native American culture, social services, education, hospitals and health organizations, or military and military-family support groups. (kesq.com) The same page says nonprofits may receive financial support only once per year and that Morongo does not fund galas, administrative costs, golf tournaments or sports organizations. Applicants must submit documents including proof of 501(c)(3) status, a budget for the program or event, financial statements and a detailed description of how the money will be used. (morongonation.org) ### What did Morongo officials say about this year’s awards? Charles Martin, Morongo’s tribal chairman, said the 2026 recipients “represent the very best of our region” and praised their work serving families and communities across Riverside and San Bernardino counties. His remarks framed the luncheon as part of Morongo’s wider philanthropic effort in the Inland region. (morongonation.org) The tribe said more than 30 of this year’s recipients were based in the Coachella Valley, while others came from Riverside, San Bernardino, Redlands, Palm Springs and Palm Desert. That geographic spread matches Morongo’s stated preference for organizations in and around the Banning and San Gorgonio Pass area while still extending support across the two-county region. (kesq.com) ### What happens next for nonprofits seeking future grants? Morongo’s donations page says applications for 2026 funding are open under the revised Community Outreach Awards process, and Morongo’s May 13 announcement directed groups seeking the next round to the same page for 2027 information. The tribe said the program now operates through a single annual application for eligible nonprofits across Riverside and San Bernardino counties. (kesq.com) (morongonation.org)
