Posted on October 12, 2012

Irvine Foundation Announces $16.9 Million in Grants

The James Irvine Foundation has announced thirty-one grants totaling $16.9 million to nonprofit organizations working to promote civic engagement and expand opportunities for the people of California.

Ten grants were awarded through the foundation's arts program, including the first round of awards from the Exploring Engagement Fund for Large Organizations to promote various ways of experiencing the arts and help diverse populations thrive together in a dynamic and complex social environment.

In addition, the foundation awarded five grants through its California Democracy program in support of government reform in the state. Grant recipients include public radio station KQED, Valley Public Radio, and research firm Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates, all of which are working to expand media coverage of state policy and governance issues.

Lastly, the foundation awarded fourteen grants through its youth program, which seeks to increase the number of low-income youth in California who complete high school on time and attain a postsecondary credential by age 25. Seven of those grants were awarded through the Opportunity Links for Youth Initiative to promote Linked Learning — an approach to high school education that combines rigorous academic instruction with a demanding technical curriculum and field-based learning — in out-of-school programs.