Don Howard's Blog Posts

We are honored to announce the recipients of the 2019 James Irvine Foundation Leadership Awards - tackling some of California’s toughest issues: homelessness, youth development, health care, and aging.

As we start the new year here at the Irvine Foundation, we have finished our move to a new strategy.

The blog entry I shared is about the scrutiny that philanthropy is receiving – and should – for being disconnected from the people and places they aim to serve. I share my doubts about philanthropy’s effectiveness when, as I see in too many cases, foundations and donors fail to listen to and hear the wisdom, needs, and ideas, of grantees and the people grantees serve.

Yesterday, our board allocated $1 million of new funding to support California-based efforts to reunite and advocate for the families being separated and imprisoned for seeking refuge in the U.S.

The problems philanthropy aims to solve are far bigger than we can address by scaling even the most effective nonprofits. Social sector funders must look to public sector and for-profit partners to scale solutions.

KQED’s Walls and Bridges is a six-part series of community conversations which The James Irvine Foundation is proud to sponsor.

The 2018 Leadership Awards recipients are tackling some of California's critical issues: affordable housing, civic engagement, homelessness, immigration, safe drinking water, and youth development.

Our annual Year in Review highlights the work of our partners and grantees in 2017. Read an excerpt from Don Howard's letter.

Today we’re announcing two new grantmaking initiatives that will advance Better Careers and Fair Work for low-income Californians.

Last week, Irvine’s Board of Directors approved $1 million in grants to support relief and rebuilding efforts for low-income and immigrant families impacted by the devasting Northern California wildfires.