Irvine Board of Directors approves $22.6 million in grants on March 19, 2021 March 23, 2021 SAN FRANCISCO (March 22, 2021) – The James Irvine Foundation Board of Directors approved 14 grants totaling $22,635,000 last week. The grants primarily support for the Foundation’s three initiatives focused on working Californians (Fair Work, Better Careers, and Priority Communities). Board-approved grants include: Initiatives Better Careers Chaffey College Foundation A two-year grant of $1.3 million … Continue reading Irvine Board of Directors approves $22.6 million in grants on March 19, 2021
Future of Work Commission highlights paths to a more equitable economy March 10, 2021 Californians and the nation are eager to emerge from the health and economic crises caused by COVID-19, and there is growing consensus that the jobs and economy we create must be more equitable and secure than what we had before the pandemic. To Irvine, that means improving job quality and access to employment, strengthening worker … Continue reading Future of Work Commission highlights paths to a more equitable economy
Exciting Leadership Awards updates March 2, 2021 We are excited to announce a few updates about The James Irvine Foundation Leadership Awards, our annual program to recognize leaders whose innovative solutions to critical state challenges improve people’s lives, create opportunity, and contribute to a better California. Nominations opening soon Last year, we made the difficult decision to cancel the 2021 Awards cycle … Continue reading Exciting Leadership Awards updates
Priority Communities: Taking stock of 2020, looking forward February 17, 2021 The James Irvine Foundation is committed to helping under-resourced regions of California so that all low-income workers have the power to advance economically. Last April, we were excited to launch the first phase of our Priority Communities initiative in Fresno, Salinas, Riverside, San Bernardino, with expansion expected in Stockton as part of phase two. We … Continue reading Priority Communities: Taking stock of 2020, looking forward
Leadership when it matters most – meet Kafi Blumenfield, our Board Chair February 10, 2021 These tough times are testing us all in unexcepted ways, especially because of the compounding, fast-changing nature of the crises we confront. At the Irvine Foundation, we have been blessed to have Kafi Blumenfield as Chair of our Board of Directors. Her counsel and advice, rooted in her years of grassroots, philanthropic, and civic leadership, … Continue reading Leadership when it matters most – meet Kafi Blumenfield, our Board Chair
Boosting California’s recovery through equitable apprenticeship January 27, 2021 In 2018, Governor Newsom set a goal of reaching 500,000 apprenticeships by 2029, to connect more Californians to well-paying jobs in an economy that needs diverse talent and new expertise to thrive. In response, apprenticeship champions from industry and education expanded existing programs and launched new ones in communities across the state. In 2020, a … Continue reading Boosting California’s recovery through equitable apprenticeship
Violence and leaders who incite it have no place in our democracy January 8, 2021 We at the Irvine Foundation were shocked and disgusted by the violent attempt this week to disrupt our democracy at the nation’s Capitol. Our democracy embraces vigorous debate and disagreement, but violence or the threat of violence has no place in our discourse or our decision making. Our democracy – and the promise of the American … Continue reading Violence and leaders who incite it have no place in our democracy
A year of great challenge and gratitude December 22, 2020 We end this unbelievably challenging year with great concern for our state – but also with gratitude for the tremendous resilience and tenacity of our grantees and partners serving Californians hit hard by COVID-19. That resilience and tenacity are being strained to the limit, as the scale of the pandemic’s economic fallout becomes increasingly clear. … Continue reading A year of great challenge and gratitude
Irvine Board of directors approves $5.8 million in grants on December 15, 2020 December 17, 2020 SAN FRANCISCO (December 17, 2020) – The James Irvine Foundation Board of Directors approved nine grants totaling $5.8 million this week. The grants include support for the Foundation’s three initiatives (Fair Work, Better Careers, and Priority Communities), including two grants focused on providing support for low-income, undocumented Salinas residents and families who have been affected … Continue reading Irvine Board of directors approves $5.8 million in grants on December 15, 2020
Good intentions are not enough: Evaluation must be useful to philanthropy, especially during a pandemic December 17, 2020 The coronavirus pandemic has laid bare many of the issues philanthropy seeks to solve: gross inequities, system breakdowns, and inadequate solutions to problems that affect people’s lives and the environment every day. While these issues aren’t new, especially to those directly affected, they are gaining greater attention. Philanthropy’s current focus is, rightfully, on how best … Continue reading Good intentions are not enough: Evaluation must be useful to philanthropy, especially during a pandemic