The Leadership Awards tell a story of California’s promise and progress through the people shaping its future. Since 2006, 138 leaders from every corner of the state have spearheaded innovative solutions to California’s biggest challenges, improving the lives of people in their communities and beyond.
The Leadership Awards tell a story of California’s promise and progress through the people shaping its future. Since 2006, 138 leaders from every corner of the state have spearheaded innovative solutions to California’s biggest challenges, improving the lives of people in their communities and beyond.
2006-
2010
SF Gate: Irvine Foundation Bestows Its First Leadership Awards
July 29, 2006
Capital Press: River Partners Saves Habitat, Helps Partners
October 5, 2007
Yvonne Chan, 2007 Recipient
“The Award showed trust in us and allowed me to expand on the core work.”
Recipient Update
President Obama appointed 2008 Leadership Award recipient Diane Takvorian to the Joint Public Advisory Committee for the Commission for Environmental Cooperation
May 13, 2010
Vida en el Valle: Literacy Program Executive Wins Award
2009
Alumni Stories
What it Meant to Recipients
In their own words, past recipients share what the Award meant to them — and how it helped move their work, and California, forward.
”I was blown away when we won the Award."
Each year adds a new chapter showing what’s possible when we support effective leadership…
2011-
2015
SF Gate: 2 honored for helping homeless recuperate
February 28, 2014
Marin Independent Journal: Tiburon woman wins leadership award
February 13, 2015
2016-
2020
Vida en el Valle: Dora Westerlund earns prestigious James Irvine Award by foundation
February 15, 2017
The Sentinel: Community Water Center Leaders get award
March 7, 2018
Recipient Update
Governor Gavin Newsom announced the appointment of Dr. Nadine Burke Harris as California’s first-ever surgeon general.
January 25, 2019
Yammilette Rodriguez, 2019 Recipient
“We're even more prepared for that leap now, and the Award helped us by elevating the work and giving us more of a presence.”
Recipient Update
Governor Gavin Newsom announced the appointment of Mark Gold as deputy secretary for oceans and coastal policy and director of the Ocean Protection Council at the California Natural Resources Agency.
June 21, 2019
The Sacramento Bee: APEN’s Miya Yoshitani to receive California leadership award
February 18, 2020
From every corner of California, innovators and community leaders are writing the state’s story through creative, collaborative action…
Alumni Stories
Eunice Lin Nichols, 2019 Recipient
“Today, CoGenerate is building new, co-generational infrastructure across multiple sectors — ‘where we live, learn, work for change, and gather,’” Nichols explains. “The organization is focusing on youth and civic organizations, higher education, faith communities, and workplaces — everywhere generations want to work together for the greater good but can’t find opportunities or don’t know how to get started.”
2021-
2026
ABC News: The Source LGBTQ+ Center in Visalia Awarded $350K Grant
March 9, 2024
Recipient Update
Governor Newsom Appoints Manjusha Kulkarni to the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs.
January 19, 2026
Recipient Update
Homeboy Industries founder Father Gregory Boyle receives Presidential Medal of Freedom
May 3, 2024
Each year adds a new chapter to the story, 20 years in the making. And the next chapter is underway.
Meet the 2026 Recipients
Selected from hundreds of nominations, these leaders are driving positive change across youth mentorship and mental health, civic engagement, higher education research, housing, and support for the frontline homelessness workforce.