Non-profit

James Irvine Foundation

Website:

www.irvine.org/

Location:

SAN FRANCISCO, CA

Tax ID:

94-1236937

Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)-PF

Budget (2022):

Revenue: $222,104,580
Expenses: $215,346,999
Assets: $3,245,582,018

Type:

Grantmaking Foundation

Formation:

1937

President and CEO:

Don Howard

Budget (2023):

Revenue: $219,761,840

Expenses: $224,641,319

Total Assets: $3,300,619,484. 6

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The James Irvine Foundation is a California non-profit donor organization with a history of donations to left-of-center labor union activist organizations such as the National Employment Law Project, left-of-center immigration advocates such as the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, and anti-energy organizations such as the Liberty Hill Foundation. 1 2 It has given grants well in excess of $1 million to at least 20 such organizations, and smaller amounts to many others. 2

The Irvine Foundation made nearly $1.9 billion between 1937 and 2015. 3 4

Background

The James Irvine Foundation was created by James Irvine, an agricultural landholder in Orange County, California, in 1937. Irvine’s company, the Irvine Company, saw its landholdings grow in value as southern California experienced suburban growth in the 1940s and 1950s; when James Irvine died in 1947, the Foundation began receiving the full proceeds from his holdings. 5

The James Irvine Foundation has given nearly $1.9 billion in grants since 1937, with a historical giving focus on non-profits in California. Total grants for 2018 equaled $95.9 million. 3

Finances

According to its 2023 990 form, the James Irvine Foundation reported a revenue of $219,761,840, expenses at $224,641,319, and total assets of $3,300,619,484. 6

Grantmaking

In January 2016, the James Irvine Foundation leadership announced the organization would focus its giving on poverty alleviation and increasing the political influence of low-income Americans. 7 Its grants to public policy advocacy organizations often fall into three general categories:

Left-of-Center Recipients

At least 20 left-of-center advocacy organizations have received total grants in excess of $1 million from the Irvine Foundation since 1998.

Leadership

Don Howard is president and CEO of the Irvine Foundation; he is a career strategic consultant to corporate and non-profit clients, having worked for the Bridgespan Group, Booz Allen Hamilton, and Scient Corporation. 12

References

  1. Data compiled by FoundationSearch.com subscription service, a project of Metasoft Systems, Inc., from forms filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Queries conducted April 5, 2019.
  2. “Search Grants.” James Irvine Foundation. Accessed April 5, 2019. https://www.irvine.org/grants
  3. “About.” James Irvine Foundation. Accessed April 5, 2019. https://www.irvine.org/about
  4. “James Irvine Foundation.” Inside Philanthropy, Accessed April 23, 2025. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant/grants-i/james-irvine-foundation
  5. “About Irvine.” The James Irvine Foundation. Accessed July 22, 2019. https://www.irvine.org/about/history.
  6. Return of Private Foundation Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). James Irvine Foundation. 2023. Parts I and II. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/941236937/202413169349102431/full
  7. Daniels, Alex. “Another Big Grant Maker Redirects Its Giving Toward Poverty.” The Chronicle of Philanthropy. January 28, 2016. Accessed April 8, 2019. https://www.philanthropy.com/article/Another-Big-Grant-Maker/235100
  8. “Oil, Gas and Fracking.” Center on Race Poverty & Environment. Accessed April 5, 2019. https://crpe-ej.org/our-work/climate-change-and-energy/oil-gas-fracking/
  9. “History.” Mujeres Unidas y Activas. Accessed April 5, 2019. http://mujeresunidas.net/about/history/
  10. “Our Homes, Our Future: How Rent Control Can Build Stable, Healthy Communities.” PolicyLink. February 2019. Accessed April 5, 2019. https://www.policylink.org/resources-tools/our-homes-our-future
  11. “PRESS RELEASE — CPA & Mobilize the Immigrant Vote Release Polling Results Showing Asian Voters Support Taxing the 1%.” Chinese Progressive Association. April 11, 2012. Accessed April 5, 2019. https://cpasf.org/media-resources/cpa-mobilize-the-immigrant-vote-release-polling-results-showing-asian-voters-support-taxing-the-1/
  12. “Staff: Don Howard.” About Irvine · The James Irvine Foundation. Accessed July 22, 2019. https://www.irvine.org/about/staff/don-howard.
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: November 1, 1939

  • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2022 Dec Form PF $222,104,580 $215,346,999 $3,245,582,018 $165,122,107 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2021 Dec Form PF $499,578,433 $167,571,242 $4,085,262,775 $149,216,941 $0 $0 $0 $0
    2020 Dec Form PF $217,446,676 $151,831,522 $3,607,350,903 $139,669,462 $0 $0 $0 $0
    2019 Dec Form PF $106,811,064 $133,991,166 $2,606,961,983 $130,677,380 $0 $0 $0 $0
    2015 Dec Form PF $137,416,557 $98,701,704 $2,185,767,087 $130,064,332 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2014 Dec Form PF $155,615,863 $111,531,346 $1,611,351,228 $70,679,917 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2013 Dec Form PF $148,321,958 $97,676,430 $1,539,281,841 $55,929,959 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2012 Dec Form PF $107,593,223 $91,806,877 $1,494,886,206 $68,559,577 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2011 Dec Form PF $76,253,229 $83,622,130 $1,469,455,309 $60,955,992 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    James Irvine Foundation

    ONE BUSH STREET SUITE 800
    SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94104-4425