Thank you to all who nominated California leaders for the 2027 James Irvine Foundation Leadership Awards. Your submissions continue to showcase the dedication, creativity, and impact of individuals and pairs advancing breakthrough solutions to critical challenges facing California. We are honored to learn about the many leaders across the state whose work is creating new opportunities and strengthening California’s future.
This year, 378 nominees accepted their nomination, a clear sign of the innovative leadership transforming communities across California. From this highly competitive pool, the Selection Committee has named 12 finalists whose nominations most closely aligned with our selection criteria. As of August 7, all nominators and nominees have been notified of the status of their submissions. If you submitted a nomination and have not received an update, please check your email (nominators) or Submittable account (nominees).
We are grateful to all who contributed nominations, whether by sharing your own story or lifting up the work of others. The Leadership Awards Selection Committee values these firsthand perspectives, which provide important context and highlight the real-world impact of each nominee.
Over the next two months, staff, consultants, and an expert in each finalist’s field of work will meet with finalists individually to further understand their work and its impact on California. In early November, the Selection Committee will select four to six award recipients to be announced in February at the 2027 James Irvine Foundation Leadership Awards. Additional information about the process can be found on the nominations and FAQ pages of our website.
We encourage nominators and nominees to stay engaged in future years, whether that means sharing updated information about 2027 nominees or introducing us to new leaders making an impact. Many Leadership Award recipients were nominated multiple times before being selected, and we welcome every opportunity to learn about inspiring leaders as their work continues to grow.
Thank you once again for helping us recognize and celebrate California’s outstanding leaders.