In partnership with Growing Inland Achievement (GIA), the CSUSB Philanthropic Foundation secured two 24-month grants, totaling $1.1 million, from College Futures Foundation and The James Irvine Foundation. The combined grants will be used to increase bachelor’s degree attainment rates among students who are historically underserved and underrepresented in higher education in the Inland Empire. More specifically, the grants will support the GIA initiative to increase staff capacity, develop and implement a strategic plan to create collaborative practices across education, and fundraise to sustain GIA’s role as a cross-sector alliance dedicated to increasing bachelor’s degree completion in the region. “We are thrilled to receive this $1.1 million grant from College Futures Foundation and The James Irvine Foundation,” said Kimberly Shiner, associate vice president of CSUSB’s Office of University Development. “These two foundations have been committed partners to the success of student achievement in our region.” College Futures Foundation approved a grant of $800,000 and The James Irvine Foundation gifted $300,000 to support the GIA initiative, which was implemented to improve the long-term economic outlook of the Inland Empire by increasing the number of students with baccalaureate degrees who are prepared to enter the workforce.  The GIA Governing Board, comprised of bi-county influential leaders, including CSUSB President Tomás D. Morales, envisions that by 2035, Riverside and San Bernardino counties will be widely recognized for a well-educated workforce, thriving communities and vibrant economy. “The Growing Inland Achievement initiative is not only a critical collective impact collaborative to CSUSB students,” said Shiner, “but more importantly, to the entire region of the Inland Empire to increase the attainment of baccalaureate degrees and long-term economic impact of the region’s future in the 21st century.”