At the Irvine Foundation, we believe that workers and the organizations that represent them need to have influence in the workplace, their community, and in the political process to achieve economic justice and fulfill the promise of our multiracial democracy. 

This is only possible if communities have power, particularly low-income, people of color, and immigrant communities. So, we are excited to announce a $12 million commitment to the Movement Innovation Collaborative (MIC) to strengthen organizations and their coordination with one another to advance economic and social change for communities and low-income individuals across California. 

Listening to leaders to design solutions 

We heard from leaders that individual organizations alone cannot address the challenges low-income workers face. MIC is an effort led by community organizers that will enable organizations to work together and expand their reach, so millions of California workers can weigh in on the issues that matter to them and build power at work and in their communities.  

This investment presents an opportunity for funders like us to deeply listen to organizations for strategies that prioritize grantees’ needs and recognize their vital role in democracy.  

MIC grew out of an inclusive strategy design process, spearheaded by leaders from diverse constituencies, generations, issues, and regions, including a survey of more than 500 individuals and 200 organizations to inform the approach. It is not unlike the very democratic process we are trying to strengthen. 

The groups that comprise MIC now plan to develop policy, communications and community engagement innovations; create a pipeline of future organizing leaders; address individual and community trauma; and build a network of organizing centers in inland California. 

Building power and advancing our North Star 

MIC’s work will help groups operate at greater scale to support to our North Star goal: a California where low-income workers have the power to advance economically. Practically speaking, this means that workers’ ideas and perspectives are prioritized in economic decisions that impact their lives, families, and communities, because they know their circumstances, challenges, and opportunities best.  

I have the honor of leading our Just Prosperity initiative — a $107 million investment in efforts to reimagine our economy, so that all Californians can influence lasting change in our economic and political systems. A major theme of our initiative is building community power, which I believe is as fundamental to democracy as policy advocacy.  

The California Endowment announced, in May, $85 million for MIC — a game-changing amount that underscores the leadership and commitment to equity by TCE and its recently retired CEO, Dr. Bob Ross. To complement the TCE investment, our grant will focus on California’s Central Valley and Inland Empire, where organizations and communities typically receive less funding.  

We hope that our support can help to fill that gap and give the organizing field the resources it needs to scale and, ultimately, accelerating the impact of all of Irvine’s initiatives by strengthening organizing infrastructure at the local, regional, and statewide levels. 

Photo credit: Joyce Xi