Brenna Butler Garcia and Teresa Matsui elected to Irvine Board of Directors December 13, 2021 I’m excited to announce the appointment of two new board members to The James Irvine Foundation Board of Directors: Brenna Butler Garcia of Stockton and Teresa Matsui of Salinas will begin their terms in January 2022. Brenna is the Vice President of Community Relations for A.G. Spanos Companies, and Teresa is the President and Chief … Continue reading Brenna Butler Garcia and Teresa Matsui elected to Irvine Board of Directors
A once-in-a-generation opportunity for inclusive, equitable economic development November 16, 2021 Each week it becomes clearer that we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to change how our economy works — specifically by making it more equitable while making it more resilient. This opportunity was on full display last week at the California Economic Summit, hosted by California Forward. I joined hundreds of attendees in person, which on … Continue reading A once-in-a-generation opportunity for inclusive, equitable economic development
Irvine Board of Directors Approves $24.5 Million in Grants on September 23, 2021 September 28, 2021 SAN FRANCISCO (September 28, 2021) — The James Irvine Foundation Board of Directors approved 22 grants totaling $24.5 million last week. The grants primarily support the Foundation’s three initiatives focused on working Californians (Better Careers, Fair Work, and Priority Communities). The full list of board-approved grants includes: Initiatives Better Careers Chaffey College Foundation A two-year … Continue reading Irvine Board of Directors Approves $24.5 Million in Grants on September 23, 2021
Worker power must fuel America’s economic future September 2, 2021 We were grateful to share the below perspective in Capitol Weekly as we enter the Labor Day weekend in a pivotal year for work and workers: For many, Labor Day means a day off work and one last summer BBQ. But without a strong labor movement, our country wouldn’t have weekends at all, let alone … Continue reading Worker power must fuel America’s economic future
Reflections on Irvine’s racial equity work June 30, 2021 A year ago, Irvine stated that racism is a persistent obstacle to our vision of a California where low-income workers have the power to advance economically. In the summer of 2020, we announced our racial equity commitment in response to the death of George Floyd and ensuing racial reckoning. We recognized that if Irvine were … Continue reading Reflections on Irvine’s racial equity work
Irvine Board of Directors Approves $19 Million in Grants on June 16, 2021 June 21, 2021 SAN FRANCISCO (June 21, 2021) — The James Irvine Foundation Board of Directors approved 16 grants totaling $19,020,000 last week. The grants primarily support the Foundation’s three initiatives focused on working Californians (Better Careers, Fair Work, and Priority Communities). The full list of board-approved grants includes: Initiatives Better Careers AlliedUP Cooperative Inc. A two-year grant … Continue reading Irvine Board of Directors Approves $19 Million in Grants on June 16, 2021
Confronting AAPI hate together April 16, 2021 This week represents another agonizing moment in our country’s history of racialized violence. Our nation witnessed the latest consequence of upholding White supremacy: the police killing of Daunte Wright in Minnesota and resulting protests, the weeks-long trial of Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd mere miles away, and the one-month anniversary of eight … Continue reading Confronting AAPI hate together
Irvine’s 2021 Portfolio Review — reflecting on the past as we plan for the future April 8, 2021 2020 was a year like no other — tragic and traumatic on so many levels. The health and economic crisis of COVID-19 was compounded by increased acts of racism, hate, and division. We face critical choices for how we move ahead, and I am hopeful this is a turning point for a better future. The … Continue reading Irvine’s 2021 Portfolio Review — reflecting on the past as we plan for the future
2020 Grantee Perception Report: Listening and responding to our grantees April 1, 2021 Listening to those we serve is core to who we are at Irvine. We strive to ensure that our strategy and work reflect the voices of our grantees, partners, and working Californians who are paid low wages. In August 2020, we partnered with the Center for Effective Philanthropy to conduct our fourth Grantee Perception Report … Continue reading 2020 Grantee Perception Report: Listening and responding to our grantees
A Better Careers deep dive: What we learned in the initiative’s first three years March 29, 2021 In January 2018, Irvine launched our seven-year, $110.8 million Better Careers initiative – one of three multiyear initiatives designed to help us reach our vision of a California where all low-income workers have the power to advance economically. Better Careers supports efforts to prepare Californians with low incomes for middle-skill jobs that provide family-sustaining wages … Continue reading A Better Careers deep dive: What we learned in the initiative’s first three years