San Joaquin Community Foundation and Edge Collaborative Partner in Grant Award of $7.55 Million for Inclusive Economy Initiative in Stockton

 Stockton, CA – Today, the San Joaquin Community Foundation (SJCF) and Edge Collaborative announced they received a $7.55 million grant from The James Irvine Foundation, which will serve as an investment in Stockton’s community development ecosystem to advance inclusive, regional economic and workforce development efforts. 

The two-year grant will support the partnership of these two organizations to invest in and collaborate with a broad coalition of stakeholders – across community-based organizations, educational institutions, and private industry. Through this new investment, SJCF and Edge Collaborative aim to see the emergence of high-potential inclusive community and workforce development projects and public-private partnerships. These efforts are in service of a vision for an inclusive economy rooted in racial equity and climate resilience. Collectively, this investment will seek to strengthen the region’s competitiveness for future public and private investment. 

In addition, this grant will grow SJCF’s organizational capacity to support inclusive economic development efforts across the region, provide the local nonprofit sector access to working capital, and mobilize additional resources to address the county’s most pressing needs. “The San Joaquin Community Foundation is deeply grateful to The James Irvine Foundation for this historic philanthropic investment into the Stockton community,” said Moses Zapien, CEO of the San Joaquin Community Foundation. “We are proud to work alongside Edge Collaborative and numerous other organizations to advance a more just transition to a regional economy that provides greater opportunity for all.” 

Edge Collaborative will deepen its investment across three pillars: workforce development, community wealth, and climate. This funding will catalyze community-driven priorities to move from concept towards project implementation. “Edge’s civic incubation model enables new voices and ideas to imagine the future of economic opportunity in our communities. This is critical at a moment when public funding streams are opening new avenues for infrastructure and job creation,” said Ann Rogan, Founder/CEO of Edge Collaborative. 

“This critical investment will enable our historically marginalized communities to create equitable solutions that will help to heal our communities and thrive. Over decades, marginalized communities in our region have been passed over for much needed resources” stated Dillon Delvo, executive director of Little Manila Rising, a community-based organization. 

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About The San Joaquin Community Foundation 

The San Joaquin Community Foundation (SJCF) works with donors to advance cross‐sector partnerships, mobilize resources, and build a culture of generosity in San Joaquin County. SJCF is committed to building a healthy and prosperous community where all can thrive by promoting equity and supporting community connectivity. SJCF is one of the largest place‐based philanthropies in San Joaquin County, stewarding more than $30 million in philanthropic assets. In 2022, CFOSJ granted out more than $2.7 million, most of it supporting local nonprofits to support a range of community needs. For more information about SJCF, visit www.sanjoaquincf.org. 

About Edge Collaborative 

Edge Collaborative is a civic incubator – partnering with public, private, and nonprofit organizations to tackle systemic economic challenges in Stockton. With a focus on three key areas – jobs and workforce, climate, and community wealth – Edge seeds and supports partner‐led initiatives with a range of tools. These tools include access to capital, talent, policy support, and coalition‐building. Edge Collaborative is committed to building a more resilient and inclusive economy in Stockton and the wider region, by putting community needs and racial equity at the center. For more information on Edge Collaborative, visit edgecollaborative.org.