LP profile · Foundation

The James Irvine Foundation

The James Irvine Foundation is a foundation headquartered in United States (North America). Ranked #95 in the 2026 Dealroom Power Law LP Ranking by realised power-law score across its venture commitments.

Type
Foundation
HQ
United States
AUM
$3.8B
VC allocation
3%
Power Law score
51,780
LP rank

Historical Background

  • The James Irvine Foundation was established in 1937 by agricultural pioneer James Irvine.
  • It was initially created to hold the controlling stock in the Irvine Company, which managed his extensive land holdings in what is now Orange County.
  • The foundation's philanthropic activities began in 1938 with its first grant of $1,000.

Source of Capital

  • The foundation's capital originates from an endowment established by its founder, James Irvine.
  • This endowment was initially funded with stock from the Irvine Company. The foundation now operates as a private, independent entity with assets of approximately $3 billion.

Major Events

  • No information available.

Allocation Strategy

  • The foundation's grantmaking is exclusively focused on organizations that directly benefit the people of California, as stipulated by its founding charter.
  • Its current strategic focus is on expanding economic opportunity for low-income workers in California, aiming to support their ability to advance economically.
  • The foundation provides grants to nonprofit organizations that are tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Sources

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