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James Irvine Foundation

Annual Giving
$158.7M
Grant Range
$10K - $8.0M

James Irvine Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $158.7 million (2024)
  • Endowment: $3.3 billion
  • Grant Range: $10,000 - $8,000,000
  • Decision Time: Varies by initiative
  • Geographic Focus: California only
  • Application Method: Invitation only (no unsolicited applications)

Contact Details

Address: 575 Market Street, Suite 3400, San Francisco, CA 94105

Phone: (415) 777-2244

Fax: (415) 777-0869

Email: communications@irvine.org

Website: https://www.irvine.org

Contact Form: https://www.irvine.org/contact/

Overview

Founded in 1937 by James Irvine, The James Irvine Foundation is one of California's largest private foundations with an endowment that has grown from $5.6 million at Irvine's death in 1947 to $3.3 billion by 2024. The Foundation employs approximately 80 staff across offices in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Since its founding, Irvine has made more than $2.8 billion in grants throughout California. The Foundation's singular mission is "a California where all low-income workers have the power to advance economically." Under President and CEO Don Howard's leadership since 2015, the Foundation has significantly expanded its grantmaking from $67 million in 2012 to $158.7 million in 2024, focusing on systemic change to create economic opportunity that is racially inclusive and addresses the declining prospects for upward mobility in California.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Foundation operates through four major multi-year initiatives, along with housing affordability investments and exploratory grantmaking:

Better Careers: Connects Californians to good jobs with family-sustaining wages and advancement opportunities. Focus areas include career paths for high school graduates, dismantling systemic injustices in training and hiring practices, jobs for formerly incarcerated individuals, and registered apprenticeship programs. Recent examples include a three-year $3.25 million grant to strengthen equity-centered registered apprenticeship programs through the LAUNCH Apprenticeship Network and a three-year $1.5 million grant to develop statewide infrastructure for PK-12 educator registered apprenticeships.

Fair Work ($186.5 million commitment in 2023): Advances fairness, dignity, and respect for California workers, prioritizing low-income workers in agriculture, homecare, healthcare, childcare, and other service industries. Recent examples include a three-year $4.1 million grant to National Domestic Workers Alliance to ensure labor protections for domestic and home care workers in California.

Just Prosperity ($107 million four-year initiative launched in 2022): Focuses on advancing policies that reflect the priorities of low-income workers and their families, dismantling traditional barriers to economic stability and structural racism. Recent grants include a three-year $8 million grant to support growth and collaboration among nonprofit leaders working with low-income communities in inland California through the Movement Innovation Collaborative.

Priority Communities ($220 million approved through 2031): Launched in 2020, this initiative focuses on six cities critical to California's future: Fresno, Stockton, Salinas, San Bernardino, Riverside, and Merced (added in December 2024). These cities were selected for their growth, diversity, and role in the state's economy.

Housing Affordability: Investments to sustain and grow the capacity of statewide affordable housing and housing justice organizations. Recent example includes a two-year $7.5 million grant to the San Francisco Foundation for affordable housing initiatives.

Leadership Awards: Separate program that recognizes and supports California leaders creating innovative solutions to critical challenges (managed through irvineawards.org).

Priority Areas

  • Economic advancement for low-income workers
  • Workforce development and career pathways
  • Worker rights and protections
  • Civic engagement and power building for low-income communities
  • Affordable housing and housing justice
  • Racial equity and dismantling structural racism
  • Community organizing and grassroots leadership
  • Policy advocacy reflecting priorities of low-income workers

What They Don't Fund

  • Projects receiving more than 50% of total funding from government resources (per James Irvine's original stipulation that funds "shall be used for such charities that do not enjoy substantial support through taxation")
  • Organizations or initiatives outside California
  • Unsolicited proposals
  • Lobbying activities (Leadership Award funds may not be earmarked for lobbying)
  • Most current and recent Irvine grantees are not eligible for the separate Leadership Awards program

Governance and Leadership

President and CEO: Don Howard (since 2015) - Selected after a thorough national search, Howard has led the Foundation's strategic focus on economic advancement for low-income workers. He emphasizes rebuilding the economy and middle class in a way that's racially inclusive, stating: "the opportunity for folks to do better than their parents has significantly diminished over the years, and I think this is the chance to rebuild the economy and the middle class in a way that's racially inclusive."

Howard has commented on the Foundation's approach: "These leaders are charting new paths to address some of the most critical challenges Californians face. Their innovative approaches not only uplift their communities but also provide a model for tackling similar challenges across the state."

The Foundation employs approximately 80 staff members across San Francisco and Los Angeles offices, including program officers, directors of program development, senior program officers, impact assessment and learning officers, and grants management staff.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The James Irvine Foundation does NOT have a public application process. The Foundation clearly states: "We are not accepting unsolicited inquiries for our initiatives or current grantmaking at this time."

The Foundation uses a proactive, invitation-only grantmaking approach. Organizations should not expect to apply through an open RFP process, with rare exceptions such as the Public Workforce Capacity Fund.

What Organizations Can Do:

Getting on Their Radar

The Foundation identifies potential grantees through its own research and relationship-building rather than through unsolicited applications. Success requires establishing your organization as a recognized leader in California's economic mobility field through:

  • Participation in coalitions with existing Irvine grantees
  • Attendance at relevant convenings in workforce development, worker rights, and economic justice
  • Publication of thought leadership and research in areas aligned with Foundation priorities
  • Achievement of significant policy wins affecting low-income workers in California
  • Demonstration of innovation in addressing economic barriers

The Foundation's program officers actively research and identify organizations doing impactful work aligned with their four major initiatives.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines vary by initiative and are not publicly disclosed. The Foundation's Board of Directors meets quarterly to approve grants. In 2024, board meetings approved grants in March, June, September, and December.

The Foundation uses a spending formula that dampens payout volatility by utilizing the prior three-year average assets to smooth out short-term funding fluctuations.

Success Rates

Specific success rates and application numbers are not publicly available, as the Foundation operates through an invitation-only model rather than open applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable due to invitation-only grantmaking approach. Organizations that have been previously funded may be considered for renewal or additional grants based on the Foundation's strategic priorities and the organization's ongoing work.

Application Success Factors

Since the Foundation operates through invitation-only grantmaking, traditional application success factors differ from standard grantmaking. Based on the Foundation's stated priorities and recent grants, key factors include:

Alignment with Core Mission: The Foundation's singular focus is economic advancement for low-income workers in California. President Don Howard emphasizes rebuilding economic opportunity "in a way that's racially inclusive." Organizations must demonstrate direct impact on helping low-income Californians advance economically.

Focus on Systemic Change: The Foundation invests in initiatives that address structural barriers rather than providing only direct services. Recent grants support infrastructure building, statewide organizing capacity, and policy advocacy. For example, the $8 million Movement Innovation Collaborative grant focuses on "growth and collaboration among nonprofit leaders" rather than individual program delivery.

Geographic Specificity: All grants serve California, with particular interest in inland California communities and the six Priority Communities (Fresno, Stockton, Salinas, San Bernardino, Riverside, and Merced). The Foundation recognizes these areas as "critical to California's future given their growth, diversity, and role in the state's economy."

Multi-Year Impact: The Foundation makes substantial multi-year commitments (typically 2-3 years) ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars. Recent grants show a preference for initiatives that can demonstrate sustained impact over time.

Coalition and Collaborative Approach: Multiple recent grants support collaboratives, networks, and statewide infrastructure (LAUNCH Apprenticeship Network, Movement Innovation Collaborative, California Native Vote Project). The Foundation values organizations that can work across regions and with partners.

Serving Priority Populations: Recent grants specifically mention Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, Native communities, domestic workers, home care workers, educators, and formerly incarcerated individuals—all populations facing significant economic barriers.

Innovation and Leadership: Don Howard states the Foundation seeks "leaders charting new paths to address some of the most critical challenges Californians face" with "innovative approaches" that can "provide a model for tackling similar challenges across the state."

Racial Equity Lens: The Foundation explicitly commits to "advancing racial equity" and dismantling structural racism as part of its Just Prosperity initiative and overall approach.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No unsolicited applications accepted - Focus on building your organization's reputation and visibility in California's economic justice field rather than preparing traditional grant proposals
  • Invitation-only model - The Foundation identifies and invites potential grantees through its own proactive research; establish your organization as a recognized leader in workforce development, worker rights, or economic policy
  • Substantial, multi-year commitments - Recent grants range from $1.5 million to $8 million over 2-3 years; the Foundation makes significant investments rather than small one-time grants
  • California-only focus - All work must serve California residents, with particular interest in inland California and the six Priority Communities
  • Systemic change orientation - The Foundation prioritizes infrastructure building, coalition work, statewide capacity, and policy advocacy over direct service delivery alone
  • Alignment with four initiatives is critical - Ensure your work clearly fits within Better Careers, Fair Work, Just Prosperity, or Priority Communities frameworks
  • Demonstrate innovation and collaboration - The Foundation values organizations that chart new paths, work in partnership, and can serve as models for broader impact across California

References

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