Our Approach
The San Joaquin Valley and Riverside and San Bernardino counties are traditionally underserved by philanthropy, are experiencing major demographic shifts and rapid population growth, and have low-income Californians residing in disproportionate numbers.
Over the past 10 years, we have funded projects in these regions to:
Identify organizations with potential or a proven track record in our program areas and invest in them to continue, strengthen, or expand their services and organization
Help these organizations better respond to the changing demographics in their regions
Expand the pool of sustainable financial resources available
Build nonprofit capacity and support the development of regional leaders
Support regional collective impact efforts by funding infrastructure and capacity needs
Grantee Spotlight: New Leadership Network
The New Leadership Network brings together diverse leaders across issues, sectors, and generations to learn, build relationships, and collaborate, for a better future for their region. The Network launched in Fresno in 2013.
Recent Grants
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Brookings InstitutionView website
A 4-month $131,100 grant to support outreach and planning related to an Opportunity Industries project in the inland Southern California region.
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Central Valley Community FoundationView website
A three-year $710,000 grant to support implementation work on the cradle to career continuum, through an entity such as the Fresno Cradle to Career Partnership; a 14-month $250,000 matching grant to strengthen and cultivate donor investment; and a 24-month $250,000 grant for general operating support.
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CSU Fresno FoundationView website
A 24-month $400,000 grant to support the California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley Partnership to improve the region’s economic vitality and enhance the quality of life for residents.
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Food in Need of Distribution, Inc.View website
A three-year $350,000 grant to support FIND Food Bank as the backbone organization of an anti-poverty collective impact collaborative in the Coachella Valley.
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Great Valley Center, Inc.View website
A one-year $50,000 grant to support capacity-building and organizational development efforts of the Great Valley Center - American Leadership Forum.
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Inland Empire Economic Partnership FoundationView website
An 18-month $600,000 grant to support the Launch Initiative Demonstration Project.
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Inland Empire United WayView website
A one-year $21,000 grant to support a collaborative group of regional funders in the Inland Empire, through an entity such as the Funders’ Alliance.
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McLeod Grant Advisors LLCView website
A 42-month $1,232,000 grant to support the replication of the Irvine New Leadership Network in Stanislaus County.
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Reading and BeyondView website
A two-year $850,000 grant to expand the scale and impact of the Fresno Bridge Academy in California.
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Stanislaus Community FoundationView website
A 42-month $300,000 grant to help facilitate the replication and long-term sustainability of the New Leadership Network in Stanislaus County with backbone support and network weaving; and a 24-month $300,000 grant to expand the Stanislaus READS! initiative and facilitate a set of systemic change efforts in Stanislaus County.
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University of the PacificView website
A 24-month $300,000 grant to support the Beyond Our Gates community early literacy initiative.
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Regents of the University of CaliforniaView website
A two-year grant of $500,000 to support the creation and operations of the Center for Social Innovation at UC Riverside’s School of Public Policy.
From the Blog
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Priority Regions Pilot Update
Mar 27, 2018At the Irvine Foundation, we believe California cannot thrive unless the inland regions of the state also thrive. That is why, as part of Irvine’s mission to expand opportunity for the people of California, the Foundation has long prioritized support for leaders and organizations in the San Joaquin Valley and Inland Southern California.
Read the Story
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