Posted on October 7, 2011

Irvine Foundation Announces $8.8 Million in Third-Quarter Grants

The San Francisco-based James Irvine Foundation has announced grants totaling $8.8 million to twenty-four nonprofit organizations working to expand opportunity for the people of California.

Grants will be used to expand the Linked Learning approach to postsecondary education institutions in the state, foster civic engagement in state policy activities, and support arts organizations in the Central Coast region. Through its youth program, for example, the foundation awarded $1.1 million to support two projects designed to increase the California State University system's role in transforming teaching and learning at both the secondary and postsecondary levels, while the California Democracy program awarded $600,000 to the Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE) for civic engagement efforts involving thousands of traditionally underrepresented residents.

As part of the second phase of its Arts Regional Initiative, the foundation awarded grants totaling $3.7 million to thirteen Central Coast arts organizations working to achieve financial sustainability and increase cultural participation in underrepresented communities. Recipients include the Rubicon Theatre ($350,000), the Ojai Music Festival ($325,000), the State Street Ballet ($300,000), the National Steinbeck Center ($300,000), the Monterey Jazz Festival ($300,000), the Monterey Museum of Art ($300,000), the Kuumbwa Jazz Center ($300,000), the Museum of Ventura County ($300,000), the Santa Barbara Symphony Orchestra Association ($275,000), the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music ($275,000), the Santa Barbara Contemporary Arts Forum ($250,000), the San Luis Obispo Art Center ($225,000), and Opera Santa Barbara ($225,000).

"These Central Coast arts organizations are vital anchor institutions within their communities and provide an array of important opportunities for people to engage with the arts," said Josephine Ramirez, director of the foundation's arts program. "These grants represent our continued commitment to them as they explore new ways of achieving financial sustainability and attracting culturally diverse audiences."

For a complete list of grant recipients, visit the Irvine Foundation Web site.