James E. Canales

Jim Canales "is President and Chief Executive Officer of The James Irvine Foundation, a private foundation dedicated to expanding opportunity for the people of California. Prior to his appointment as President in May 2003, Jim served as Vice President and Corporate Secretary at the Foundation from 1999–2003, providing oversight for Irvine's grantmaking programs and communications and evaluation functions. Canales' service at the Foundation began in 1993 and has included roles as Special Assistant to the President, Program Officer, and Chief Administrative Officer/Corporate Secretary.

"A graduate of Stanford University, with an undergraduate degree in English and graduate degree in education, Canales is active on the boards of various nonprofit organizations. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees of Stanford University and the Monterey Bay Aquarium and on the Board of Directors of The College Access Foundation of California, a newly-created private foundation dedicated to assisting California students to attend college.

"Canales’ previous board memberships include: KQED Public Broadcasting, where he served on the board from 1999–2005, including two years as Chair in 2003 and 2004; the Stanford Alumni Association, where he served on the board from 1997–2005, including two years as Chair from 2003–2005; and service on the board at BoardSource in Washington, D.C. Canales is also a former Chair and board member for Larkin Street Youth Services in San Francisco.

"His professional affiliations include current service on Independent Sector’s Building Value Together Steering Committee and membership on the Management Committee for Southern California Grantmakers in Los Angeles. He is a cofounder and past Board Chair for Grantmakers for Effective Organizations (GEO), a philanthropic affinity group concerned with maximizing philanthropy's impact by advancing the effectiveness of grantmakers and their grantees."