The James Irvine Foundation Leadership Awards recognize leaders whose innovative solutions to critical state challenges improve people’s lives, create opportunity, and contribute to a better California.
Donor Name: James Irvine Foundation
State: California
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Awards and Prizes
Deadline: 03/20/2026
Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
The Awards annually recognize cohorts of four to six leaders whose innovative solutions to critical state challenges improve people’s lives, create opportunity, and contribute to a better California. The goals of the Awards program are to:
- Recognize and support diverse leaders whose work improves people’s lives, creates opportunity, and contributes to a better California
- Advance innovative, effective solutions that merit expansion or replication
- Inform local and statewide policy to expand opportunity for the people of California.
Funding Information
Grants Up to $350,000.
Eligibility Criteria
They recognize leaders whose work improves people’s lives, creates opportunity, and contributes to a better California. Nominations that reflect the diversity of California’s population and regions are especially encouraged. The most competitive nominations describe leaders addressing critical issues with innovative approaches that have been proven effective.
Nominated leaders may:
- Be an individual or a pair of leaders
- Work in any sector (nonprofit, public, or private)
- Work in any field (such as education, health, housing, economic development, or the environment)
- Nominees must be residents of California.
For more information, visit JIF.
