Quick answer: Corporate giving workforce nonprofit Inland Empire partnerships work best when they go beyond a check. Companies with operations in Ontario, Fontana, Chino, Redlands and San Bernardino can lend employees as mentors and mock interviewers, sponsor a training cohort, host interns for work experience, or donate in-kind support. The Ayangbah Foundation, a 501(c)(3) in downtown San Bernardino, offers all of these paths, plus free youth prevention workshops that a company can underwrite.
The Inland Empire Economy Your Company Is Part Of
San Bernardino County's economy is built on logistics, healthcare, retail, education and public services. City financial reports show the scale:
- Ontario: Ontario International Airport, UPS and Workforce Personnel, Inc. each employ 5,000 to 9,999 people, with FedEx, The Home Depot and QVC also in the city's top ten (City of Ontario 2023 report).
- Fontana: Kaiser Permanente (9,677 workers), Fontana Unified, Amazon (3,145) and Target (1,297) are among the largest employers (City of Fontana 2023 report).
- Chino: a Walmart Fulfillment Center, FedEx Ground, Amazon, KeHe Distributors and Hussmann Corporation are among the city's largest employers (Champion Newspapers, 2024).
- Rancho Cucamonga: Inland Empire Health Plan (3,511) and Frito Lay (950) are top private employers (City of Rancho Cucamonga 2023 report).
- Redlands: Esri (2,416), Redlands Community Hospital and an Amazon fulfillment center are top employers (City of Redlands 2025 report).
- Colton: Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (about 3,510), Walmart and Lineage Logistics are major employers.
We list these companies only to describe the region's economy. None is named here as a donor or partner.
Why the Workforce Need Matters to Employers
Many of the people these employers hire live in cities with low degree rates and high poverty. In the City of San Bernardino, 18.6% of residents live in poverty and 13.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree. In Ontario, 22.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree and 78.1% have a high school diploma. In Montclair, poverty is 17.7% (all U.S. Census QuickFacts).
That gap shows up on the job as turnover, missed shifts and slow promotion from entry-level roles. Training in communication, customer service, workplace expectations and Excel helps close it. See our guide on how training can reduce employee turnover.
Corporate Giving Workforce Nonprofit Inland Empire Options
1. Employee volunteering
Your staff can volunteer as:
- Mock interviewers for participants finishing the 40-hour career certificate.
- Mentors for young people in our youth leadership council or Saturday Future Leaders Academy.
- Guest speakers on logistics, healthcare, retail or finance careers, in person or live online.
- Resume reviewers who know what your hiring managers look for.
2. Sponsor a training cohort
Underwrite a cohort of the Career Readiness & Entrepreneurship Employment Training certificate (40 hours, 4 weeks, $1,200 per participant), or seats in Excel and QuickBooks (12 hours, $297 each). A cohort can focus on a neighborhood near your facility, on second-chance job seekers, or on young adults.
3. Host interns and work experience
The Ayangbah Foundation is an approved work-experience worksite for the San Bernardino County Workforce Development Department and has hosted and mentored 10 interns so far. Companies can host participants for work experience placements. For hires, public programs such as on-the-job training reimbursement may be available; read our OJT guide.
4. In-kind support
In-kind gifts make a direct difference: laptops for online learners, lunch for the free Saturday youth workshop, printing, meeting space near your site, or professional services such as marketing or accounting.
5. Fund youth prevention
Fourteen local teenagers have died of fentanyl overdoses since 2021, according to the California Overdose Surveillance Dashboard via Community Forward Redlands. A company can fund free fentanyl awareness and naloxone workshops for ages 12 to 26, or join our prevention coalition.
Training for Your Own Team
Corporate partners can also use our employer services: customized and incumbent worker training in soft skills, customer service, public speaking and Excel; second-chance and reentry talent; and small business capacity building for suppliers through the Government Contracting Academy. See employer solutions.
Why Corporate Giving Workforce Nonprofit Inland Empire Partners Choose Us
- Local and accessible: an ADA-accessible classroom at 255 N. D Street in downtown San Bernardino, plus live online classes on days, evenings and Saturdays.
- Registered and transparent: 501(c)(3), EIN 33-4528503; SAM.gov registered (UEI PCHNA3S8NBV4); fiscal information on our transparency page.
- Experienced leadership: founder Dr. Shirley Ayangbah holds a PhD in International Law and a master's in Economics, and is a professor and economist.
FAQ
How can my company support workforce development in the Inland Empire?
Companies can sponsor a training cohort, lend employees as mentors and mock interviewers, host interns for work experience, or donate in-kind support to a local workforce nonprofit like The Ayangbah Foundation.
What are the biggest employers in the Inland Empire?
City reports list Kaiser Permanente, Ontario International Airport, UPS, Amazon, Inland Empire Health Plan, Loma Linda University and Medical Center, and school districts among the largest employers in San Bernardino County.
Can employees volunteer virtually with an Inland Empire nonprofit?
Yes. Because our classes run live online, employees can serve as guest speakers or mock interviewers from anywhere.
How much does it cost to sponsor a job training participant?
The 40-hour Career Readiness & Entrepreneurship Employment Training certificate costs $1,200 per participant. Excel or QuickBooks seats cost $297 each.
Is The Ayangbah Foundation a registered 501(c)(3)?
Yes. The Ayangbah Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, EIN 33-4528503, based in San Bernardino.
Ways to Partner
Whether you lead corporate giving, CSR, HR or a local site, we can design a partnership that fits your team and your community.
- Fund a program: sponsor a cohort or youth workshops.
- Start a partnership: volunteering, internships or in-kind.
- Give online as a company or as individual employees.
- See our impact and how we report it.
Or call us at (909) 454-7076.
Sources: City of Ontario 2023, City of Fontana 2023, City of Rancho Cucamonga 2023 and City of Redlands 2025 Annual Comprehensive Financial Reports (principal employers, as cited by Wikipedia); Champion Newspapers, "Top employers in Chino Valley" (June 2024); Colton principal employer data; U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts (San Bernardino, Ontario, Montclair; ACS 2020–2024); California Overdose Surveillance Dashboard via Community Forward Redlands.