The James Irvine Foundation has announced sixteen grants totaling $19 million in support of three initiatives focused on working Californians. 

Through its Better Careers initiative, the foundation awarded $2.5 million over two years to Year Up to boost impact, innovate new models, and create an equitable future for young adults; $750,000 over two years to AlliedUP Cooperative to provide low-wage, allied health workers with union scale wages, benefits, and upskilling; and $1.5 million over three years to Jobs for the Future in support of design, prototyping, and education expansion efforts as well as workforce development innovations. Grants awarded through the foundation's Fair Work initiative include more than $1 million over two years to Center on Policy Initiatives in support of a Black worker center in San Diego and $900,000 over two years to Congregations Organized for Prophetic Engagement for a similar center in the Inland Empire. 

Grants awards through the foundation's Priority Communities initiative include $3 million over two years to the Community Foundation for Monterey County in support of the Salinas Inclusive Economic Development Initiative and $2.5 million over two years to the Fresno Metro Black Chamber of Commerce Foundation to establish a program focused on the technical and capital needs of small BIPOC- and women-owned businesses in the construction industry.

Additional funding includes a $1.5 million grant to the Tides Foundation to respond to future crises and regrant funding to organizations addressing needs of migrants at the southern California border.

(Photo Credit: Jobs for the Future)