The mission of The James Irvine Foundation is to expand opportunity for the people of
California to participate in a vibrant, successful, and inclusive society.
James Irvine, a California agricultural pioneer, established the Irvine Foundation in
1937 to benefit the people of California. Over the last 70 years, the Foundation
has met the objectives of its founder by providing over $1 billion in grants
to more than 3,000 nonprofit organizations.
Following a process of strategic planning undertaken during 2002-2003, Irvine board and
staff took a fresh look at the people of California
— who they are, where they live, and what their prospects are. As a
result, the Foundation refined its mission and its grantmaking program,
focusing on the notion of expanding opportunity as the guiding
principle in all of our activities. Whether we expand opportunity by
helping youth navigate critical transitions in their lives, by
fostering creativity and nurturing a rich cultural environment in our
state, or by improving decision-making related to the critical issues
facing California today and into the future, our vision is a state
where full and active participation by all Californians becomes a
reality.
In pursuit of this mission, we are guided by the following goals:
- Advance the educational and economic prospects of low-income Californians to share
in and create California's prosperity.
- Engage a broad cross section of Californians in the civic and cultural life of
their communities and the state.
| - Enhance mutual understanding and communication among diverse racial, ethnic, and
socioeconomic groups.
- Enrich the state's intellectual and creative environment.
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