Irvine’s Board of Directors approved $16.9 million in grants at its quarterly meeting this week. Of the 31 grants approved, 10 are in the Arts, five in California Democracy, 14 in Youth, one in Special Initiatives, and one in Special Opportunities. I’d like to highlight some grants that we’re excited about:

Exploring Engagement Fund for Large Organizations – Our Arts program is supporting eight large-budget organizations to explore new ideas for engaging audiences as part of our Exploring Engagement Fund for Large Organizations. This is the second set of grants made under our new Arts program strategy (the first round of Exploring Engagement Fund grants was announced in June). The goal of the new strategy is to promote engagement in the arts for all Californians — the kind that embraces and advances the diverse ways that we experience the arts and that strengthens our ability to thrive together in a dynamic and complex social environment.

Governance Reform – Our California Democracy program is supporting KQED, Valley Public Radio and research firm Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates to support expanded media coverage of state policy and governance issues. These grants will help inform voters about state policy and governance issues and are closely aligned with the California Democracy program’s goal of advancing effective public policy decision making that is reflective of and responsive to all Californians.

Opportunity Links for Youth Initiative – Our Youth program promotes Linked Learning as a new approach to high school education that combines strong academics with real-world experience in a wide range of fields. Seven grants on the October docket will support nonprofits to apply the Linked Learning approach to out-of-school youth through our Opportunity Links for Youth Initiative. Grants made as part of Irvine’s Youth program seek to increase the number of low income youth in California who complete high school on time and attain a postsecondary credential by the age of 25.