Boards of directors matter. A foundation’s board provides much more than sound governance; they also lend their life experience and expertise to help set direction, guide the work, and ensure that we are learning and adapting to increase the impact of our grantmaking.

The James Irvine Foundation board is especially critical at this juncture in our evolution, as we develop new grantmaking initiatives to advance new goals. In our efforts to expand economic and political opportunity for California families and young adults who are working but struggling with poverty, our board shaped this new direction and, at each step along the way, provided ideas, asked tough and important questions, and brought their expertise to bear.

That’s why I’m so excited to announce the addition of two new Irvine board members who bring a wealth of life experience and expertise to our work: Maria Anguiano and Kafi D. Blumenfield. Maria and Kafi bring new ideas, perspectives, and energy to help sharpen our thinking and increase the impact of our grantmaking.

Maria is the Vice Chancellor for Planning and Budget at UC Riverside. She has dedicated her career to higher education, and her background in education finance will be invaluable as we work to find ways to ensure that California’s education system can meet the economic and educational requirements necessary to give our students the tools to succeed in the years ahead. Like board member Jane Carney, Maria brings a valuable understanding of and a wealth of experience working in Riverside and San Bernardino counties, a region that the Irvine Foundation has a long history with and special commitment to.

Kafi is the Executive Director of Discovery Cube in Los Angeles, which uses science to inspire and educate young people. She previously served as CEO of the Liberty Hill Foundation, one of our country’s most visionary social-change foundations. Kafi has spent her personal and professional life building bridges between people of different social, racial, ethnic, and economic backgrounds. She is a tireless advocate for providing people, particularly from low-income and disadvantaged communities, with the opportunities to provide for their families and to fully participate in our society.

The board and Foundation have already learned much from Maria and Kafi. They are both incisive and thoughtful, and I know that they will help push Irvine in all the right ways. I am thrilled that they have agreed to join our board.

Please learn more about their impressive experiences by reading the bios for Kafi and Maria.