Five nonprofit organizations were recognized during a special ceremony at the Irvine City Hall Council Chambers on July 13 as recipients of grants through the Irvine Business Support Nonprofit Grants Program. Funded by the City of Irvine and administered by the Greater Irvine Chamber, the program advances the City's economic development goals by investing in organizations that deliver training, technical assistance, workforce development, innovation programs, and other business resources that benefit Irvine businesses and residents.
Through the program, chambers of commerce, business associations, and eligible nonprofit organizations serving the business community were invited to apply for grants of up to $10,000 to provide no-cost programs and services that strengthen Irvine's entrepreneurial and business ecosystem.
The 2026 grant recipients are:
- SCORE Orange County
- Asian Business Association of Orange County
- UC Irvine Foundation
- Orange County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
- Tech Coast Venture Network
The Greater Irvine Chamber President & CEO Dave Coffaro and Vice President of Strategic Partnerships Sandra Crouch joined City of Irvine Mayor Larry Agran, Vice Mayor James Mai, and Councilmembers Melinda Liu, William Go, and Betty Martinez Franco in recognizing the organizations selected to receive funding through the program.
“Irvine is a Fortune 500 small business community where global enterprises and entrepreneurs grow side by side,” saidGreater Irvine Chamber President & CEO Dave Coffaro. “This program reflects our shared commitment with the City to build on the business-supportive environment in Irvine. By empowering trusted community partners—chambers and business associations—to deliver direct, targeted support, we are strengthening the ecosystem that drives innovation, workforce development, and long-term economic vitality.”
To ensure a transparent and objective selection process, the Greater Irvine Chamber convened an independent Grant Oversight Committee comprised of Chamber board members and community leaders. Using a City Manager-approved evaluation rubric, the committee reviewed eligible applications and recommended funding awards for City approval prior to grant disbursement.
For more information about the Irvine Business Support Nonprofit Grants Program, contact the Greater Irvine Chamber grants team at finance@irvinechamber.com.
