California Association of Nonprofits

For several years, the California Association of Nonprofits operated without a strong CEO. Not surprisingly, it underperformed, providing scarce value to its members or the nonprofit sector as a whole. In 2010, the Hewlett Foundation made a grant to fund the search for a new CEO, and the organization brought in a strong leader, Jan Masaoka, early this year. This grant would offer her the financial flexibility to turn the organization around. If she is successful, California’s nonprofits will again have a champion for their interests?and an advocate to push them to be more effective.

The California Association of Nonprofits has for years been the largest organization advocating for the interests of nonprofits in California. Unfortunately, the organization has been under-performing for several years, mostly due to a lack of a strong, stable CEO. In fact, CAN has operated without a CEO for some time now. This grant will support the transition to new leadership--both a search process and enough funding for the CEO to begin with confidence.