Irvine #JustProsperity grantees Prosper California and Parent Voices California, for example, are working to make child care and public benefits more accessible for California workers and their families. (2/8)

Merced County’s three new job centers will officially open on August 13! To celebrate the launch, Prospero is hosting two hiring events. The new facilities, which received funding from our #BetterCareers initiative, will offer job and social services, along with offices for CBOs and nonprofits.

As our CEO, Don Howard, says in the video below, we see our role as being a source of funding that helps organizations and community leaders better serve their communities. Follow along to learn more about how nonprofits and foundations work together to make a difference in California! (7/7)

Interested in hearing about how #California can prepare its future workforce? Join @zocalopublicsquare.bsky.social tomorrow from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in Riverside or online: irvine.ly/4fmxMwx

Are you an employer interested in understanding the value of #apprenticeships and how they can help meet California’s workforce demands? Check out this new report from the Bay Area Council and the Northern California Apprenticeship Network: https://irvine.ly/4wJKuuZ

Want to learn how Fresno leaders are transforming the region for the better? Join @zocalopublicsquare.bsky.social this Thursday at Arte Américas in Fresno, or watch the livestream on YouTube: bit.ly/3QjxJrf

Interested in connecting with leaders from across sectors who are shaping our world’s future? Register now for the Social Innovation Summit 2026 in Atlanta: bit.ly/4eUStji Don’t miss our CEO, Don Howard, as he joins the Economic Empowerment & Building Financial Resilience breakout session! #SIS26

At Irvine, we believe every Californian deserves family-sustaining wages, fairness, and influence in the policies that shape their lives. This #InternationalWorkersDay, we’re celebrating all the workers fighting for a better future for all—while showing up every day to keep our communities running.

Are you operating—or interested in operating—registered #apprenticeships? Check out San Diego & Imperial Counties Regional Consortium’s field guide to learn about apprenticeships and explore whether an apprenticeship aligns with your workforce needs: bit.ly/4eTFzlp #NationalApprenticeshipWeek

Our partners put registered apprenticeship models into action every day, ensuring Californians living on low incomes can access and succeed in sustainable, debt-free pathways to quality careers, family-sustaining wages, benefits, and opportunities to contribute to their local communities. (2/2)

This #NationalApprenticeshipWeek, we want to take a moment to celebrate our critical grantee partners across #California who are expanding and strengthening Registered Apprenticeship throughout the state, especially in these trying times. (1/2)

How are Fresno leaders leveraging population growth, reformed labor union laws, the promise of California High-Speed Rail, and arts & culture to transform the region? Join Zócalo on June 11 to hear from regional leaders seeking solutions for a changing Central Valley: bit.ly/3QjxJrf

Interested in learning about early educator #apprenticeships? Join ECEPTS on April 28 and 29 to learn how to support the next generation of educators and help sustain early educator apprenticeships. 4/28 webinar: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi... 4/29 webinar: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

On the flip side, AI can improve skill-building approaches and allow workers to focus on strategic tasks. But to get these benefits, workers and the organizations advocating with them must have a seat at the table. That’s why we're supporting organizations that put workers first: bit.ly/4shvRgH 2/2

Too many Californians are forced to juggle multiple jobs, take on gig work, stretch credit cards, and rely on family & friends to get by. Last summer, @ppicnotes.bsky.social spoke with low- and middle-income workers about life in today's economy. Key takeaways below. Read on: bit.ly/3N3G6ps

Do you know a leader or leadership pair in California who’s solving issues in your community? Nominate them now at: bit.ly/40Exvww Have questions? Check out the informational webinar at: bit.ly/4s38OWB

Curious about how learning and evaluation leaders in philanthropy are strengthening how they measure and learn about systems change? Check out this blog post by Irvine’s Kim Ammann Howard and Jennifer Ho, and Engage R+D’s Clare Nolan: bit.ly/4cEA4WP

We're thrilled to share the newest slate of The Courage Project awardees! From walking for peace to stepping up to feed our neighbors and answering the call for help in the face of disaster, these awardees show what it means to show up for your community. Learn more: thecourageproject.org

Nonprofits want to invest in their people, but they can’t do it alone. How can funders support nonprofit workers? Nonprofit Finance Fund highlights funding practices and strategies funders can implement to strengthen the #nonprofit workforce, and in turn, the communities they serve: bit.ly/40ea1y8

Do you know a leader or leadership pair advancing transformative solutions to critical issues facing #California? Nominate them now for the 2027 #IrvineAwards: bit.ly/40Exvww Each award recipient’s organizations receive $350,000 and support in sharing their solutions with policymakers.

“The Californians Powering America” exhibit spotlights immigrants' often-overlooked contributions through powerful visual stories. On view at the San Fernando Library & La Cañada Flintridge Library through March 31. Free & open to the public. @capitalandmain.bsky.social: bit.ly/4rtfsFo

Curious how foundations and nonprofits are thinking about using AI? Join us on March 4 in San Francisco to learn about the Center for Effective Philanthropy's AI With Purpose report and insights from funders navigating AI in the field. Register now at: bit.ly/4rbF3Sx

We are excited to announce the recipients of the 2026 Irvine Foundation Leadership Awards, whose work is driving positive change in youth mentorship and mental health, civic engagement, higher education research, housing, and homelessness. Learn more about them here: bit.ly/4rWaqRF

Interested in reading about what we’ve learned through our investments in housing affordability? Check out the Advancing Housing Affordability in California playbook at bit.ly/4r9xFrA and read about Irvine’s Housing Affordability project at bit.ly/4tr1t4m

We’re happy to see how much progress the Linked Learning Alliance has made across California! Their work shows what’s possible when districts, educators, students & partners come together to prepare young people for college and high-opportunity careers: d985fra41m798.cloudfront.net/resources/20...

Are you a mid-to-senior leader at a California state department or agency who oversees civic engagement, participatory policymaking, and community outreach? Apply now to the State of Engagement Fellowship to bridge the gap between government and community for policy impact: bit.ly/4qdoxRb

As the year comes to an end, we hope this holiday season brings you peace, joy, and time to recharge with your loved ones!

We are happy to share that Susan Masten and Vivian Velasco Paz have been elected to The James Irvine Foundation Board of Directors! Learn more about them here: bit.ly/4pPX8Wc

We’re thrilled to share the newest awardees for The Courage Project! This cohort channeled their resilience and compassion for others into acts of solidarity – meeting need with action, and isolation with empathy. Learn about them at: thecourageproject.org

Congratulations to Charles Fields, Irvine’s executive vice president of programs, for being appointed to the Board of Trustees of Blue Shield of California Foundation! Read more: bit.ly/4opCwDy