The James Irvine Foundation
The James Irvine Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in San Francisco, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $3.4B in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 654 grants totaling $154.1M. Net investment income was $325.6M.
Key facts about The James Irvine Foundation
- EIN
- 94-1236937
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $154,135,132
- Grants made (2024)
- 654
- Average grant
- $235,681
- Median grant
- $10,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 29% first-time grantees (157 of 535, 2024)
- Total assets
- $3,386,135,557
- Primary geography
- California (89% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated April 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who The James Irvine Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The James Irvine Foundation's 654 itemized 2024 grants were California (89%) and New York (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (131 grants), San Francisco, CA (110 grants), Oakland, CA (62 grants) and Berkeley, CA (20 grants). 28% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "For support of California activities" (72 grants), "To support Better Careers in California" (48 grants) and "To support Just Prosperity in California" (40 grants).
Is The James Irvine Foundation open to new grantees?
29%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 157 of 535 grantees (29%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $136K; repeat grants $351K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $11K repeat.
- 58% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−1%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 114% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with The James Irvine Foundation
- How to evaluate The James Irvine Foundation as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
- Draft an LOI to The James Irvine Foundation with AI
AI grant writing that drafts from your organization’s own materials, in your voice.
- Track this opportunity in a free grant tracker
A free Google Sheets or Excel template for deadlines, award terms, and reports due.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.4B
+2.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$154.1M
-11.4% YoY
Grant Count
654
-4.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$236K
-7.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The James Irvine Foundation reported a distributable amount of $158.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
About The James Irvine Foundation
Based on IRS filings
The James Irvine Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in San Francisco, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $3.4B in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 654 grants totaling $154.1M. Net investment income was $325.6M.
Focus Areas
Ready to take the next step with The James Irvine Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 654 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,386,135,557 | $3,300,619,484 | $3,245,582,018 |
| Revenue | $350,154,179 | $219,761,840 | $222,104,580 |
| Expenses | $196,024,014 | $224,641,319 | $215,346,999 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $180,202,824 | $203,756,889 | $215,239,563 |
| Net Investment Income | $325,612,797 | $171,566,189 | $92,553,834 |
| Distributable Amount | $158,351,994 | $157,203,212 | $172,922,880 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
3,082 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Tides Center ($16,571,750 across 5 grants), San Francisco Foundation ($8,550,000 across 2 grants), Inland Empire Community Foundation ($8,044,959 across 4 grants).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Tides Center Los Angeles, CA | To support Fair Work in California | $11,150,000 |
| Inland Empire Community Foundation Riverside, CA | To support Priority Communities in California | $8,000,000 |
| San Francisco Foundation San Francisco, CA | To support Housing Affordability in CA | $7,550,000 |
| Foundation for California Community Colleges Sacramento, CA | To support Better Careers in California | $4,400,000 |
| Movement Innovation Collaborative Oakland, CA | To support Research and Development in CA | $4,000,000 |
| National Domestic Workers Alliance Inc New York, NY | To support Fair Work in California | $3,600,000 |
| Community Foundation for Monterey County Monterey, CA | To support Priority Communities in California | $3,350,000 |
| Tides Center Los Angeles, CA | To support Better Careers in California | $3,050,000 |
| Regents of the University of California Berkeley, CA | To support Priority Communities in California | $2,750,000 |
| Borealis Philanthropy Minneapolis, MN | To support Research and Development in CA | $2,500,000 |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The James Irvine Foundation?
The James Irvine Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in San Francisco, CA. It holds $3.4B in total assets as of 2024.
How large is The James Irvine Foundation?
As of 2024, The James Irvine Foundation holds $3.4B in total assets with $350.2M in annual revenue. It awarded 654 grants totaling $154.1M in 2024.
Where does The James Irvine Foundation operate?
The James Irvine Foundation has awarded grants in Arkansas, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
What size grants does The James Irvine Foundation award?
In 2024, The James Irvine Foundation awarded 654 grants totaling $154.1M — an average of about $236K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The James Irvine Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The James Irvine Foundation reported a distributable amount of $158.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The James Irvine Foundation's EIN?
The James Irvine Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-1236937. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The James Irvine Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Mountain View, CA
Assets
$12.3B
Grants
3,576
Total Given
$3.2B
The California Endowment
Los Angeles, CA
Assets
$4.5B
Grants
1,125
Total Given
$215.9M
The California Wellness Foundation
Los Angeles, CA
Assets
$1.0B
Grants
681
Total Given
$48.8M
Tides Foundation
San Francisco, CA
Assets
$534.5M
Grants
2,110
Total Given
$382.1M
California Community Foundation
Los Angeles, CA
Assets
$2.2B
Grants
2,025
Total Given
$272.6M
East Bay Community Foundation
Oakland, CA
Assets
$531.1M
Grants
794
Total Given
$114.6M
The Ford Foundation
New York, NY
Assets
$17.5B
Grants
4,007
Total Given
$844.7M
The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation
Menlo Park, CA
Assets
$14.2B
Grants
2,001
Total Given
$625.0M
Sempra Foundation
San Diego, CA
Assets
$11.5M
Grants
1,501
Total Given
$1.8M
Marin Community Foundation
Novato, CA
Assets
$1.1B
Grants
1,383
Total Given
$176.2M
Conrad N Hilton Foundation
Westlake Village, CA
Assets
$7.4B
Grants
1,339
Total Given
$287.7M
Chamberlin Education Foundation
Richmond, CA
Assets
$80.6M
Grants
1,302
Total Given
$3.0M
More Funders in California
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.