CEO, California Association of Nonprofits
Jan Masaoka is CEO of the California Association of Nonprofits (CalNonprofits), a statewide policy alliance of more than 10,000 nonprofits speaking to government, philanthropy, and the public at large. During her tenure, CalNonprofits has been a leader for nonprofits in government-nonprofit contract reform, in philanthropic reform, in regulation of online fundraising platforms, and in research.
Masaoka is a leading writer and thinker on nonprofit organizations with particular emphasis on boards of directors, business planning, and the role of nonprofits in society. Her books include Best of the Board Café (Fieldstone), Nonprofit Sustainability: Making Strategic Decisions for Financial Viability, co-author (Jossey Bass) and The Nonprofit’s Guide to HR (Nolo Press). Masaoka founded and wrote Blue Avocado magazine, growing it to 64,000 subscribers, before leaving in late 2015.
Prior to CalNonprofits, she served 14 years as executive director of CompassPoint Nonprofit Services in which position she was named “Nonprofit Executive of the Year” by Nonprofit Times. She is an eight-time designee as one of the “Fifty Most Influential” people in the nonprofit sector nationwide and was named California Community Leader of the Year by Leadership California. Her volunteer work includes having served as chair of Asian Pacific Islander Wellness Center and founding chair of Community Initiatives; she currently serves on the National Public Policy Committee of Independent Sector.