The James Irvine Foundation

Too Old to Keep Working, Not Enough Money to Stop As the senior workforce grows, more older Americans are staying in physically demanding jobs, often risking their health.

Older Americans are having to continue working, often without enough retirement savings to step away.

By 2030, more than 1 in 5 U.S. residents will be 65+, underscoring the growing need to advance worker protections and programs for older Americans.

@capitalandmain.bsky.social: bit.ly/4gT3RuI

Seeds of Change in Fresno: Funders Witness CEMI at Work - Smart Growth California West Fresno knows what it means to be overlooked. When Valley Children’s Hospital relocated to another community 25 years ago, it left a void in… Read More »

At the Sweet Potato Project, students turn sweet potatoes into marketable products while sampling college life at Fresno State. They also receive mentoring, stipends, and health services to support their journey.

Projects like this are exactly what CEMI was created to strengthen: bit.ly/3VKt157

ICYMI: The latest issue of @johnsoncenter.bsky.social’s The Foundation Review features an article by Irvine and our partners at Engage R+D: scholarworks.gvsu.edu/tfr/vol17/is...

It highlights how to engage grantees early in strategy development and build reciprocal grantee-funder relationships.

This summer, Irvine’s #BetterCareers initiative supported a group of grantees and key registered apprenticeship organizations in LA to join a delegation of SoCal leaders traveling to Zurich for the CEMETS Summer Institute.

What did they learn? Check out the top takeaways below.

The Inland Empire is one of the fastest-growing regions in CA and a vital hub for the nation’s logistics industry, but climate hazards put workers at risk.

A new policy brief from the IE Labor and Community Center highlights the need for proactive worker protections: ielcc.ucr.edu/worker-clima...

Statement on the Fundamental Freedom of Speech “Acts of political violence — from the recent murder of Charlie Kirk to the murder of Speaker Emeritus Melissa Hortman of Minnesota — have…

The Irvine Foundation strongly condemns all acts of political violence. This is a moment for leadership that drives unity rather than division.

We join #UniteInAdvance in standing against efforts to weaponize political violence to mischaracterize charitable organizations: bit.ly/3VS653N

Low-Wage Workers Rarely Get to Control Their Time. Stable and Flexible Scheduling Gives Them the Autonomy They Need to Learn, Care, and Rest. Every Labor Day, millions of workers get up and go to work to perform the essential functions of the American economy. But without stable and flexible schedu…

Stable and flexible scheduling is a win-win: workers can have better work-life balance and financial stability, while employers see increased productivity and retention.

How can employers and policymakers support stable scheduling? Read about it in @urbaninstitute.bsky.social: bit.ly/3HQityc

YouTube video by Legal Aid at Work [ENGLISH] Pregnant and Parenting Employees’ Workplace Rights to Paid Leave and Accommodations in CA

Pregnant or parenting at work? You might be wondering:
👶 When can I take paid leave?
🍼 What accommodations can I ask for?
⚖️ Am I protected from retaliation?

We’ve got you covered. Watch and share our short explainer video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2c4T9SHyGoA&t=1s&ab_channel=LegalAidatWork

The James Irvine Foundation Board of Directors elects Maria Anguiano as Chair - The James Irvine Foundation

We're happy to announce that Maria Anguiano has been elected as the next Chair of The James Irvine Foundation Board of Directors!

Get to know Maria more in this blog post from our current board Chair, Tim Rios: bit.ly/3IeO4JR

Empowering Nonprofits to Tell Their Stories: Celebrating National Nonprofit Day with Adobe | Adobe Blog This National Nonprofit Day, Adobe is proud to celebrate the inspiring impact of nonprofits around the world who are working tirelessly to create lasting change.

We’re happy to share that @digitalnest.bsky.social, a grantee of Irvine, recently teamed up with @adobe.com to launch new training videos for nonprofits.

The videos were co-created by 10 young interns from Digital NEST, who worked closely with Adobe product experts: blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2...

Great to connect with The @irvinefdn.bsky.social Better Careers team at @caworkforceassociation ’s Meeting of the Minds.

@irvinefdn.bsky.social and Haden Springer and Kriztina Palone

#nonprofit #workforce #training

CCWP is a group of worker centers, worker advocates, labor policy experts, and labor unions dedicated to ensuring that every worker in California has the power to come together and improve their work conditions and the lives of their families. They believe that all working people must have a voice in order for California to succeed in creating a society that works for everyone. The coalition was formed during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, their victories for workers have included securing millions in state funding for worker rights outreach and engagement, and leading the advocacy efforts that led to passage of the Equal Pay & Anti-Retaliation Act in 2023.

Closing off our #LaborDay content series is the California Coalition for Worker Power (CCWP), a grantee of our #FairWork initiative!

CCWP ensures that every worker in California has the power to come together and improve their work conditions and their communities. Learn more: bit.ly/4mqgrUj

Power California believes we can make California stronger if everyone has a say in the decisions that impact our lives. They’re working to achieve this vision through building the leadership and capacity of local youth to lead civic engagement activities; using art and storytelling to shift the public toward embracing outcomes that benefit everyone; and holding leaders accountable for issues impacting young people, such as the housing crisis and economic instability. With an expertise in engaging young people of color and their families, the organization has pre-registered and registered more than 100,000 young voters and engaged in more than 609,000 voter conversations in the last several elections. More than 7,000 youth of color have also successfully participated in Power California’s training programs and workshops.

We’re continuing our #LaborDay content series by highlighting Power California, a grantee-partner of Irvine's #JustProsperity initiative!

Power California believes we can make California stronger if everyone has a say in the decisions that impact our lives. Learn more: bit.ly/3JdGKyf

CAUSE aims to create a community where everyone can contribute to and benefit from a sustainable economy that is just, prosperous, and environmentally healthy. They lead activities and campaigns to engage workers paid low wages in civic and community affairs. This includes regularly providing space for farmworkers to talk about issues affecting them and their families, as well as supporting workers in speaking at public hearings. Through the California Worker Outreach Program (CWOP), CAUSE ran two 10-week promotor programs in 2024, reaching nearly 4,000 workers and training 900 participants. They also worked with statewide partners to make CWOP permanent, securing millions in state funding.

This #LaborDay, we’re highlighting Central Coast United Alliance for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE), a grantee of our #FairWork initiative!

CAUSE aims to create a community where everyone can contribute to and benefit from a sustainable economy that is just & environmentally healthy: bit.ly/3HGHTy9

LAANE works to build an economy rooted in good jobs, thriving communities, and a healthy environment for all. They bring together community and labor power to advance policies that improve the lives of Los Angeles and Long Beach families. Their recent policy wins include securing the highest minimum wage in the country for hotel and hospitality workers in Long Beach, alongside their labor and nonprofit partners. They also helped expand the Fair Work Week ordinance, which aims to provide more predictable work schedules, to cover 5,000 additional workers.

This #LaborDay, we're highlighting some of the organizations Irvine is proud to support.

First up: Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy (LAANE), a grantee of our #FairWork initiative, working to build an economy rooted in good jobs, thriving communities, and a healthy environment: bit.ly/3Hw7860

The latest issue of @johnsoncenter.bsky.social’s The Foundation Review features an article by Irvine and our partners at Engage R+D: bit.ly/3JETU7N 

It explores how grantees can be engaged early in strategy & evaluation design, and how to build reciprocal relationships.

A worker carrying irrigation pipes in a CA Imperial Valley field in intense sun.

"Ian" is an irrigator in CAs Imperial Valley. "On Friday, I was distributing irrigation pipes and it was incredibly hot. Temps were 116° and I had to drink a lot of water to avoid dehydration. It's hard to work during this time of year because the heat is so high." #WeFeedYou #Calor

Fair Care A guide for employers of domestic workers that explains how to be a fair employer.

Are you a domestic employer who's interested in creating a fair working environment in your home?

Check out Fair Care, a comic book style booklet from Hand in Hand that explains how to create a fair work environment through providing fair pay, paid time off, and clear communication: bit.ly/3HPDmJw

California tribes launch electrician pre-apprenticeship program Four Northern California tribes have teamed up to launch a paid, tribally co-designed pre-apprenticeship for aspiring Native electricians. The program builds workforce skills and energy resilience acr...

The Karuk, Yurok, Hoopa Valley, and Blue Lake Rancheria tribes recently launched a new pre-apprenticeship program with support from our #BetterCareers initiative! It addresses two needs at once: career pathways for tribal members and essential technical expertise for tribal utilities: bit.ly/45TaTvE

Farmworkers keep dying from heat illness, 20 years after California vowed to protect them Agricultural workers are toiling in the state's worst heat wave this year, amid questions about the state's commitment to ensure their safety.

Two decades after California enacted landmark heat safety law, farmworkers still suffer from preventable heat-related illnesses—and, in some cases, die.

As the state faces increasingly frequents and intense heat waves, effective enforcement are more critical than ever. @latimes.com: bit.ly/413Lywr

SCALE Fresno’s goal: Boost small biz ownership by 30% In May, a group of over 20 community and business-serving partners officially launched Scale Fresno, a regional initiative aimed at increasing small business ownership in Fresno County by 30% by the e...

We’re excited to share that Scale Fresno recently launched!

Scale Fresno’s goal is to help launch nearly 7,000 new businesses in the county by 2030 by offering capital access, technical assistance, and outreach to entrepreneurs from underserved communities.

Learn more: irvine.ly/41GNxa3

California’s Energy Workforce: Needs and Opportunities The Golden State is a major energy producer and consumer; it has also been a leader in the shift toward renewable energy. The state’s changing energy needs have implications for the skilled workers in...

#California has long been a leader in the shift toward renewable energy, and the state’s evolving energy needs have implications for the workers in the sector—creating new opportunities while also narrowing others. Want to learn more? Join @ppicnotes.bsky.social on 8/14: www.ppic.org/event/califo...

Peer Learning Strategy Series: Investing in Disability Justice and Inclusion in Workforce Development. Aug 13 | 3-4 PM EST.

Interested in learning about how Irvine and the Kessler Foundation are advancing disability justice and inclusion in workforce development?

Join the Workforce Matters Funders Network's webinar on August 13 at 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT: irvine.ly/4moT2mp

This webinar is open to funders only.

Joby expands in Marina, opens doors for local workers Joby is ramping up its production at its Marina facility by helping people with no experience in the industry get the training they need to launch a career.

We’re happy to hear that Joby Aviation and Monterey Bay DART continue to open doors for local workers!

Through the manufacturing #apprenticeship program, 90% of the participants have secured jobs with Joby.

www.ksbw.com/article/joby...

State of Workers report addresses EV transition Today at the State of Workers in the Inland Empire report release,  UC Riverside investigators presented recent statistics on labor market demographics, wages, cost of living, and worker training need...

New reports from UC Riverside explore labor market demographics, wages, cost of living, and workforce training needs to help adapt to changing conditions and emerging technologies like electric vehicles: irvine.ly/4lMhnBM

Don Howard on Empowering Low-Income Workers After Disasters Mission Matters Business Podcast with Adam Torres · Episode

Our CEO, Don Howard, recently appeared on the Mission Matters Business podcast, where he spoke with Adam Torres about the often-overlooked impact of the LA wildfires on low-income workers.

Listen to the full episode at: irvine.ly/4o2QvPV

In the Face-Off Against AI, Funders Need to Have Workers’ Backs As artificial intelligence transforms the workplace, philanthropy must act before employees are locked out of the conversation.

AI boosts productivity, but it's causing job displacement and threatening worker agency. That's why funders must center workers in shaping the AI-driven future.

More in this ‪‪Chronicle of Philanthropy piece by our CEO, Don Howard & @omidyarnetwork.bsky.social's Michael Kubzansky: irvine.ly/4nPLb21

Join @calmatters.org on July 30 to explore how #AI is transforming work, the ethical and legal challenges posed by neural technologies, and the urgent need for policy solutions to protect worker rights in an increasingly automated world.

Register now at: irvine.ly/4kBcWc8

We’re proud to announce the second group of awardees of The Courage Project, which includes Irvine grantee-partner PICO California!

From faith leaders to veterans to business owners, these new honorees show how kindness, conviction, and care strengthen our communities every day: irvine.ly/4kjz2zu

We’re proud to announce the second group of awardees of The Courage Project, which includes Irvine grantee-partner PICO California!

From faith leaders to veterans to business owners, these new honorees show how kindness, conviction, and care strengthen our communities every day: irvine.ly/4kjz2zu