The James Irvine Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The James Irvine Foundation gives priority to California, and its work centres on quality jobs and careers, workers' rights and protections, and economic power and policy, so fit is narrow and specific.
- It states plainly that it does not accept unsolicited requests for its initiatives or current grantmaking, so a small nonprofit should not send a cold application; grants are made through its initiatives to selected core grantees.
- If a relationship does develop, keep expectations modest: half of its grants are $10,000 or less, with a median grant of $10,000, though some grants run much higher.
- The foundation looks relationship-led rather than open-competition, since 81% of its grant dollars went to organisations it had already funded in the previous two years, so being brought in as a new core grantee is likely to take time and an existing connection to its initiative work.
- Given the invitation-only approach, the most useful step for most small charities is to watch for alignment with its stated themes rather than to prepare a formal proposal.
Overview
The James Irvine Foundation is a US private foundation based in San Francisco, CA.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The James Irvine Foundation focuses its grantmaking on a California where low-income workers can advance economically. Its Better Careers initiative seeks to prepare and connect low-income workers and jobseekers to quality jobs, improve workforce services, and remove barriers that disproportionately affect women and people of colour. Fair Work backs leaders, partnerships and innovations that connect workers to information and services, reduce wage theft, protect access to rights and benefits, and promote civic engagement. Through Just Prosperity, the foundation makes grants to organisations working with workers and their families to build power, create solutions and change policies that affect their lives. Its initiatives use multiyear, flexible investments in selected core grantees, alongside complementary research, strategic communications, innovation and advocacy to pursue lasting statewide change.
Themes
- Quality jobs and careers
- Workers' rights and protections
- Economic power and policy
Geographic Focus
Priority: California.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited inquiries for its initiatives or current grantmaking. Its grants are made through initiatives with selected core grantees; no public submission steps are described.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 81% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 1,916 grants to organisations were $10,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- The foundation learns from community leaders and effective organisations to understand the need for and potential impact of different approaches when exploring an initiative.
- Its initiatives make multiyear, flexible investments in a select number of core grantees.
- The foundation works with grantees and others to monitor progress and adjust investments for the greatest impact.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: <1%
- The largest single recipient received 7% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 81% of grant dollars went to organisations The James Irvine Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 34% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 654 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $10,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Tides Center · To support Fair Work in California$11,150,0002024 tax year
- Inland Empire Community Foundation · To support Priority Communities in California$8,000,0002024 tax year
- San Francisco Foundation · To support Housing Affordability in CA$7,550,0002024 tax year
- Foundation for California Community Colleges · To support Better Careers in California$4,400,0002024 tax year
- Movement Innovation Collaborative · To support Research and Development in CA$4,000,0002024 tax year
- National Domestic Workers Alliance · To support Fair Work in California$3,600,0002024 tax year
- Community Foundation for Monterey County · To support Priority Communities in California$3,350,0002024 tax year
- Tides Center · To support Better Careers in California$3,050,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Ultiminio Rios — Chair
- Sara Recktenwald — Director
- Marc Morris — Director
- Eliseo V Medina — Director
- Teresa Matsui Schneider — Director
- Goodwin Liu — Director
- John B Frank — Vice Chair
- Sheri Dunn Berry — Director
- Michael Chui — Director
- Brenna Butler Garcia — Director
- Paulette Brown-Hinds — Director
- Kafi D Blumenfield — Director
- Maria Anguiano — Director
- Danielle Edmonds Taylor — Assistant Corporate Secretary
- Casey Budesilich — Corporate Secretary / COO
- Timothy Recker — Treasurer & CIO
- Donald J Howard — President / CEO / Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $215,346,999 | $189,617,733 | $3,245,582,018 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $224,641,319 | $174,060,247 | $3,300,619,484 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $196,024,014 | $154,135,132 | $3,386,135,557 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to The James Irvine Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (415) 777-2244
- San Francisco, CA
- irvine.org
Applying to The James Irvine Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (415) 777-2244
- San Francisco, CA
- irvine.org