June 15, 2006

The James Irvine Foundation Announces
$16.6 Million in New Grants

New Grants Include Launch of Artistic Innovation Fund, Voter Education, and Improving Instruction in Core Subjects

San Francisco — The Board of Directors of The James Irvine Foundation recently approved 31 new grants totaling $16.6 million in support of Irvine’s mission of expanding opportunity for the people of California to participate in a vibrant, successful, and inclusive society. (For a complete list of approved grants, click here.)

Artistic Innovation Fund

The goal of the new Artistic Innovation Fund is to increase the ability of premier arts institutions to innovate in artistic programming, in their interaction with the public, and in their organizational management. This first round of seven grants in this fund includes $900,000 to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art to create a multimedia museum experience that extends the visitor’s experience beyond the museum walls and $700,000 to the La Jolla Playhouse to develop a production and audience development model for new theater work.

Mobilizing Californians

Irvine’s Mobilizing Californians priority seeks to encourage voting and involvement in public decision-making among populations who traditionally have been less engaged in public affairs. Grants approved in this area include $1.3 million to Pacific Institute for Community Organization to conduct nonpartisan voter education and mobilization activities directed to low-propensity voters in the Central Valley, Inland Empire, and Los Angeles and Orange counties.

Improving Instruction and Support Services

A core strategy of Irvine’s Youth Program is to improve instruction and student support services in high schools and community colleges, focusing on core mathematics and language arts courses. Grants approved in this area include $700,000 to the Center for Applied Linguistics to pilot a model for improved subject-area instruction for English Language Learners in the Central Valley and $750,000 to the Commonwealth Corporation to expand the Diploma Plus model in California, including the development of a performance-based academic measures system for alternative high schools.

About The James Irvine Foundation

The James Irvine Foundation is a private, nonprofit grantmaking foundation dedicated to expanding opportunity for the people of California to participate in a vibrant, inclusive, and successful society. The Foundation’s grantmaking is organized around three program areas: Arts, Youth, and California Perspectives, which focuses on improving decision-making on the significant issues that are shaping California’s future. Since 1937 the Foundation has provided more than $900 million in grants to nonprofit organizations throughout California. With current assets of more than $1.7 billion, the Foundation expects to make grants of $69 million in 2006 for the people of California.

For more information about the Irvine Foundation, please visit our Web site at www.irvine.org or call 415.777.2244.