Fall 2011

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Fall 2011

Parents attending a training program at Fresno’s Reading and Beyond, one of 11 nonprofits participating in the Families Improving Education Initiative. (Photo: Carl Costas)

California Democracy

Regional Initiative Empowers Parents To Develop Civic Engagement Skills

Through an Irvine-supported initiative, parents in low-income communities in the Central Valley and Inland Empire are finding that schools are a portal to democratic participation. Read more

Josephine Ramirez, Arts Program Director

Q&A

Expanding Engagement in the Arts: A Conversation with Josephine Ramirez

Beginning next year, Irvine is shifting its grantmaking in the arts to focus on promoting arts engagement for all Californians. Program Director Josephine Ramirez discusses the changes. Read more

Arts

Report: How Arts Groups are Creating Opportunities for Active Participation

People are engaging in the arts in increasingly active and expressive ways. A new report by WolfBrown examines this trend and how arts organizations are enabling greater involvement. Read more

From the President

Philanthropy’s Creative Tension

Jim Canales, President and CEO

Our decision to refocus Irvine’s grantmaking strategy in the arts illustrates an important tension in philanthropy between the importance of taking the long view and the need to adapt to rapidly changing times. Read more

Use It

Apply for an Arts Grant

We are accepting applications for our new Exploring Engagement Fund, which supports California arts organizations to prototype new approaches to arts engagement. Initial applications are due December 16.

Apply for Leadership Seminars

The Annenberg Foundation is accepting applications for its 2012 Alchemy Leadership Seminars, a free yet powerful training for leaders of Los Angeles-based nonprofit organizations. Deadline for applications is November 11.

Irvine News

New Fund to Address Critical Issues in San Joaquin Valley

With a $3 million grant from Irvine, the Fresno Regional Foundation is establishing a new fund to build local philanthropic giving and address the most critical issues facing the San Joaquin Valley. With additional support from local donors, the foundation seeks to establish an endowment that will provide $1 million in grants each year to support nonprofits working in the valley.

Report Reveals Promise of California Partnership Academies

A new study found that students at California Partnership Academies outperform students at other California high schools across a range of measures – including graduation rates and meeting University of California and California State University admission requirements – even though at least half of all CPA students are considered “at-risk” when they enter.

Report Examines Early College Programs with Career Focus

Taking college level courses in high school has been shown to have benefits for struggling students as well as top performers. A new report by researchers at Columbia University’s Teachers College analyzes eight California programs that are integrating the “dual enrollment” approach with a complementary career-focused strategy designed to improve outcomes for a broader range of students.

Irvine Awards $8.8 Million in Grants for People of California

In October, Irvine’s Board of Directors approved 24 grants in support of organizations that are expanding opportunity for the people of California. Included were $3.7 million in grants to 13 leading arts organizations on the Central Coast as part of the Foundation’s Arts Regional Initiative.