Overview: Abigail Proff has been appointed as the new Chief Impact Officer (CIO) of the Inland Empire Community Foundation (IECF), replacing Celia Cudiamat who retired after 21 years of service. Proff brings over ten years of experience in leading large-scale community investment strategies and has a background in public health, equity, and systems change. As CIO, she will be responsible for delivering the Foundation’s long-term community impact strategy, leading grantmaking, scholarship and grant administration, and public/private funding initiatives. She will also ensure that community voices shape the development and implementation of the Foundation’s strategies.
Nyla Glover
This June, the Inland Empire Community Foundation (IECF) named Abigail Proff, MPH, as its next Chief Impact Officer (CIO). Proff steps into this key leadership role as longtime CIO Celia Cudiamat retires after 21 years of dedicated service.
“Celia excelled in keeping our nonprofit partners at the center of our grantmaking, and we will continue that tradition with Abigail. We are deeply grateful for Celia’s years of leadership and service, and for the lasting legacy she leaves, grounded in trust, equity, and a steadfast commitment to the people of the Inland Empire,” said Michelle Decker, President and CEO of IECF. “Over the coming months, I’m excited to connect Abigail to our community. She brings experience in housing, homelessness, and public health, but the magic happens when she is connected to our fundholders and nonprofits.”
Proff brings over ten years of experience leading large-scale community investment strategies at the intersection of public health, equity, and systems change. She holds a BS in Biological Sciences and a BA in Spanish from UC Irvine. In addition, her research has been published and presented at the American Public Health Association’s annual conference.
A USC-trained public health professional with a master’s degree in Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Proff began her career managing grants across behavioral health, housing, and HIV prevention before rising to senior leadership roles in some of Southern California’s most complex funding environments.
“I am also excited to be part of strengthening the future of the Inland Empire, a place where my son, my nieces, and my nephews—together with individuals and families across the region—can grow, thrive, and find opportunity in the communities they call home.”
ABigail Proff
Her most recent role as Director of Funding, Procurement and Allocations at the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, is where she oversaw an $800 million community investment portfolio spanning local, state, and federal sources. In her time there, she directed the full grantmaking lifecycle for more than 100 community-based providers, designed equitable allocation frameworks, and served as a primary liaison to LA County leadership and governing bodies.
“What excites me most about joining IECF is that it’s deeply rooted in the community it serves. I’m inspired by the strength of its partnerships and the range of its grantmaking across the region, and look forward to the opportunity to contribute to meaningful systems change,” said Proff.
As CIO, Proff will be responsible for delivering the Foundation’s long-term community impact strategy, leading grantmaking, scholarship and grant administration, and public/private funding initiatives. In this role, she will also ensure that community voices—especially from those most affected by racial, gender, and economic inequities—shape the development and implementation of the Foundation’s strategies. She also lead efforts to strengthen regional networks and coalitions to improve the Inland Empire’s ability to garner resources and act collectively for change.
“Leveraging my experience in both the nonprofit and government sectors, I hope to help connect community voices with the resources and solutions that can create lasting impact,” said Proff.