California’s future depends on having leaders who can bring diverse communities together and take responsibility for solving difficult problems. Irvine recognizes that leaders at all levels, in all sectors and of all ages and backgrounds are needed to create a vibrant, successful and inclusive society.

Accordingly, we support strategies that help to build leadership within our program areas, as well as more broadly throughout the state. We seek to build and cultivate the next generation of leaders for California, and also to sustain and nurture the effective and capable leaders of today.

Two strategies guide our grantmaking in this area:

• Recognizing Leadership — We seek to support effective individual leaders and leadership organizations by drawing attention to their accomplishments and by providing direct financial support. For example, The James Irvine Foundation Leadership Awards recognize individual leaders who are advancing innovative and effective solutions to significant issues for the state's future.


• Building Leadership — We seek to enhance the abilities of emerging and established nonprofit and community leaders to provide effective, collaborative and innovative leadership.

For example, our Fund for Leadership Advancement seeks to enhance the leadership abilities of executive directors of select grantees. The Fund offers tailored support including executive coaching, visits to peer institutions, attendance at executive seminars, or focused technical assistance for board development or organizational restructuring.

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