Don Howard, CEO of the James Irvine Foundation, sheds light on the foundation's unwavering commitment to fostering economic mobility among low-income workers in California. With a rich history dating back to 1937, the foundation has been a pivotal force, directing over $2.6 billion in grants to various organizations across California. In 2023 alone, $180 million was allocated to support initiatives aimed at creating a more inclusive and equitable society.
The foundation's mission is crystal clear: ensuring that every low-income worker in California has the power to advance economically. This goal is pursued through a multifaceted approach that includes improving access to quality jobs, enhancing workers' influence within the economy, fostering community-driven economic planning, and strengthening the safety net for those unable to advance economically.
The foundation's strategy is not just about grantmaking but also about catalyzing broader systemic change. This includes initiatives like Jobs First, a state program designed to engage communities in planning their economic futures in a way that is inclusive, equitable, and climate-resilient.
Despite the challenges, Howard remains optimistic about California's future, viewing the state's diversity and innovation as key assets in rebuilding a more inclusive middle class. He acknowledges the issues of infrastructure, climate change, and inequality but sees these as opportunities for systemic transformation. Through strategic philanthropy, community engagement, and a deep commitment to economic justice, the James Irvine Foundation is leading the way in creating a brighter future for California's low-income workers.
Thank you for downloading this episode of the Do One Better Podcast. Visit our Knowledge Hub at Lidji.org for information on 250+ case studies and interviews with remarkable leaders in philanthropy, sustainability and social entrepreneurship.
Let’s ensure education policymakers rely on evidence! Dr Randa Grob-Zakhary is Founder and CEO of Education.org and is making big, positive waves as a start-up foundation
Let’s talk collaborative philanthropy! Anna Hakobyan (Chief Impact Officer at CIFF), Deepali Khanna (MD for Asia at the Rockefeller Foundation) and Anurag Banerjee (Co-Founder & CEO of Quilt.AI)
Celebrating our 150th Episode! Tania Bryer of CNBC fame interviews Alberto Lidji to explore insights from The Do One Better Podcast’s 150 episodes. A candid look at podcasting, philanthropy and more
Ari Simon, Pinterest’s Head of Social Impact and Philanthropy, joins Alberto Lidji to discuss their work supporting emotional wellbeing and mental health -- leveraging scale with half a billion users!
Nicola Galombik, Executive Director of Yellowwoods Holdings (owners of Nando’s restaurants, Hollard insurance, Spier wines and many others), joins Alberto Lidji to discuss achieving ESG impact
Prof Jennifer Davidson, Executive Director of Strathclyde University’s Institute for Inspiring Children’s Futures discusses how to translate research on children’s rights so policymakers understand it
Beth Breeze, Director of the Centre for Philanthropy at the University of Kent, joins Alberto Lidji to discuss her latest book “In Defence of Philanthropy” — we explore the arguments and opportunities
Naghma Mulla, CEO of the EdelGive Foundation, talks about philanthropy in India and their new GROW Fund — supporting 100 NGOs in India and backed by the likes of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Matt Hyde, CEO of the Scouts UK, and volunteer Andrew Bollington join Alberto Lidji to discuss ‘the Squirrels’ — a new Early Years provision for 4 and 5 year olds
Simon Sommer, Co-CEO of the Jacobs Foundation, and Sharath Jeevan, Founder of Intrinsic Labs, join Alberto Lidji to explore motivation in the world of foundations
Let’s get “out-of-school girls” back into school! Safeena Husain, Founder of Educate Girls, talks about their work in 20,000 villages in India and launching the first development impact bond (DIB)
Let‘s recycle everything! Tom Szaky, Founder and CEO of TerraCycle, on managing waste to minimise climate impact.
Let’s harness the power of global diplomacy and interfaith dialogue to tackle climate change! UK Ambassador to the Vatican, Chris Trott, joins Alberto Lidji during COP26
Let’s decarbonise one million hotel rooms! Keith Barr, CEO of InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), joins Alberto Lidji to discuss how they’re improving and innovating to become more sustainable
Let’s transform food systems! COP26 Special. President of WWF Int’l & CEO of GIST, Pavan Sukhdev, and Executive Director of the Global Alliance for the Future of Food, Ruth Richardson, call for action
Dr Sanford “Sandy” Greenberg shares his philanthropic ambition to end blindness. Sandy is blind, highly accomplished and talks with passion about adversity, hope and driving medical breakthroughs
Charmaine Griffiths, CEO of the British Heart Foundation, joins Alberto Lidji to talk about the challenges posed by the pandemic, the immense value of partnerships and why a sense of urgency matters
Caroline Anstey, President & CEO of Pact, explores how the NGO sector is accounting for its own carbon emissions and argues the sector isn’t always practising what it preaches
Shami Nissan, Head of Responsible Investment at Actis, joins Alberto Lidji to discuss ESG investing from a practitioner’s perspective — exploring key questions and highlighting the latest trends
Philanthropists Laurence Lien, Kathlyn Tan and Dominic Scriven are all collaborating on the launch of Asia Philanthropy Circle’s new Climate Collective, which is launching now!
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Commercial Edge: Unleash the Power of People
The emPOWERed Half Hour
Advocacy Scoop Podcast
Social Dallas Podcast
Change Church Podcast
Six Degrees with Kevin Bacon
Nonprofits Are Messy: Lessons in Leadership | Fundraising | Board Development | Communications