PLATINUM2023

CALIFORNIA FORWARD

Sacramento, CA   |  www.cafwd.org

Mission

California Forward (CA FWD) leads a statewide movement, bringing people together across communities, regions and interests to improve government and create inclusive, sustainable growth for everyone. A 501(c)(3) organization, CA FWD drives collective action to identify solutions that can be taken to scale to meet the challenges the state is facing. The organization is driven by the belief that this collective action will help ensure the economic, environmental, and social prosperity of all people. It has a sister organization, the California Forward Action Fund, that engages in aligned lobbying and advocacy activities. CA FWD serves as the backbone for the California Stewardship Network, an alliance of regional leaders, and is the host of the California Economic Summit.

Ruling year info

2008

CEO

Dr. Micah Weinberg

Main address

925 L Street Suite 600

Sacramento, CA 95814 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

26-0566540

NTEE code info

Public, Society Benefit - Multipurpose and Other N.E.C. (W99)

Community Improvement, Capacity Building N.E.C. (S99)

Voter Education/Registration (R40)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

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Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

California, the world’s fifth largest economy and a state known for innovation, is also home to significant challenges. From having the highest rate of real poverty in the country to disastrous wildfires to systemic social, racial, and geographic inequities, California harbors tremendous barriers for many to achieve shared prosperity and the California Dream.

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

California Economic Summit

Co-hosted by the California Stewardship Network and grounded in triple-bottom-line solutions, the Summit is a vehicle to put forth policy recommendations that transform regions, including initiatives that create more homes, more skilled workers, and more quality jobs.

From preparing a 21st century workforce, ensuring equitable homeownership, and bridging the digital divide to creating ecosystems and climate resiliency, the Summit is the only space of its kind to provide a platform to showcase inclusive, regional economic development efforts to a broad range of stakeholders, influencers, and powerbrokers, including the governor, legislators, and investors. Leaders across all sectors, industries, and regions come together at the Summit to propel solutions-oriented, bipartisan collaboration that moves the state forward.

Population(s) Served
Adults

The California Forward Young Leaders Advisory Council is comprised of Californians ages 16-24 from diverse backgrounds and social identities who are committed to intergenerational collaboration. The Council is poised to address both regional and statewide issues that greatly impact the next generation through advocacy, civic engagement, coalition building, and policy development. The Council is constructing a future of equity and opportunity for all Californians.

Population(s) Served
Young adults

The California Dream Index consists of 10 trackable outcome measures that influence economic security, mobility, and inclusion through a common platform. The California Dream Index offers regions an "apples to apples" comparison across the state. Through the California Dream Index, local, regional, and state leaders have access to both a shared platform of measurement tools and a community of practice that spurs policy and collective action across the state.

Population(s) Served

The Becky Morgan Steward Leadership Program invites local leaders to deepen their understanding of regional and statewide policy issues, hone their decision-making skills, and unite with other leaders to learn, grow, and change California. The learning objectives of the program aim to develop an awareness and commitment to practicing stewardship, building coalitions, leading consciously, and incorporating triple-bottom-line approaches into community-based solutions and decision-making.

Population(s) Served
Adults

The California Stewardship Network (CSN) is an alliance of regional leaders who are committed to improving government and creating inclusive, sustainable growth for all. CSN organizations lead innovative regional solutions that can be scaled up to solve some of our state’s most pressing economic, environmental, and social well-being challenges. By creating thriving regions, we can ensure a thriving state.

Population(s) Served

Where we work

Our results

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.

Number of people who attended the California Economic Summit

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Related Program

California Economic Summit

Type of Metric

Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

2022 Impact: 863 people networking, sharing, learning, and moving policies forward in the state.

Percentage of First-Time Summit Attendees

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Related Program

California Economic Summit

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Holding steady

Context Notes

2022 Impact: 70% of registrants were first-time attendees

Our Sustainable Development Goals

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

California Forward drives collective action to bring people together across communities, regions, and interests to identify triple-bottom-line (economy, environment, equity) solutions that can be taken to scale to meet the challenges the state is facing; improve government; and create inclusive, sustainable growth for everyone.

California Forward works closely with cross-sector partners throughout the state to improve economic, environmental, and equitable outcomes for the people of California. California Forward carries out this work through a core set of institutional assets that include the California Stewardship Network (a diverse alliance of regional leaders), the California Economic Summit and associated policy work groups (California Forward’s signature event fostering cross-sector collaboration and elevating state and regional policy initiatives), the Young Leaders Advisory Council (representing youth and young adult voices throughout the state), and the Becky Morgan Steward Leadership Program (a leadership development program for rising professionals). All residing under the umbrella of California Forward, these entities are focused throughout the year on creating a more inclusive and prosperous California for all. In addition, California Forward houses the California Dream Index, a data platform that tracks progress toward a more equitable California utilizing 10 indicators for economic mobility, security, and inclusion.

California Forward has extensive experience in areas such as engaging in collective action, building coalitions, hosting convenings, conducting research, and providing policy expertise and technical assistance—all of which contribute to moving the policy needle forward to create inclusive and sustainable impact within the state’s different regions.

We start with the evidence:
The data gathered by the California Dream Index serves as our “North Star,” allowing us to track economic mobility and keep ourselves and others accountable for progress.

We use a regional approach:
We center our work with partners across California’s diverse regions, with a focus on solutions that balance equity, environmental sustainability, and economic growth.

We build collaborative policy solutions:
Through the California Economic Summit and our work groups, we lift up policy agendas and recommendations that will
be advanced throughout the year. We share these recommendations in our annual Roadmap to Shared Prosperity.

We take action to advance policy:
We work with multi-sector partners across the state to advance these policy solutions aimed at giving more Californians the opportunity to thrive. When appropriate, we move policy recommendations forward through our sister advocacy organization, the CA FWD Action Fund.

California Forward, with support from our partners, networks and work groups, continues to advance collective action work that is moving the policy needle forward within interconnected issue areas ranging from homeownership expansion to climate resilience to workforce development.

Throughout the state’s different regions, California Forward also continues to collaborate with California Stewardship Network partners and other stakeholders to identify and elevate inclusive regional economic development priorities through strategic convenings and planning sessions, including those connected to the State's Community Economic Resilience Fund.

Other recent accomplishments include:

In 2022, CA FWD partnered with the Newsom Administration and former Los Angeles mayor and current California Infrastructure Advisor, Antonio Villaraigosa, on a statewide infrastructure project to ensure federal funding is maximized in communities and regions across California. Although the partnership is ongoing, it has already produced significant outcomes, including vital recommendations captured from the 30+ roundtables and 20+ thought leader listening sessions convened in 13 regions, on Zoom, and at the 2022 California Economic Summit, that will continue to inform statewide public policy and boots-on-the-ground efforts.

In 2021, CA FWD was selected by the State Treasurer’s Office to design the framework for the California Dream for All program (AB 140). This program addresses inequities in BIPOC homeownership and wealth accumulation.

The road ahead:

CA FWD is excited about the road ahead. From advancing inclusive, regional economic development plans
and investments across the state to advocating for the equitable distribution of federal infrastructure
funding to standing up a statewide advisory council of leaders to broaden access to pragmatic policy and
practice, CA FWD will continue to engage a very diverse group of state, regional and local stakeholders to
establish common ground and a productive way through California’s most difficult challenges.

We have a reputation for convening "middle tables" that bring divergent schools of thought and approaches closer together to spur collaboration, out-of-the-box thinking and common-sense solutions that position all of us who love this great state to organize with—instead of against—each other. When addressing the complex issues of the regions, the most transformative path forward has rarely been to the right or left; rather, it is often through the middle. CA FWD will continue to hold the space and extend an open invitation to local, regional and state
stakeholders curious and courageous enough to meet us in the middle where we can collectively move California forward.

Financials

CALIFORNIA FORWARD
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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lock

Connect with nonprofit leaders

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  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

CALIFORNIA FORWARD

Board of directors
as of 03/14/2023
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board co-chair

John Chiang

Apollo Medical Holdings

Term: 2019 - 2023


Board co-chair

Ashley Swearengin

Central Valley Community Foundation

Term: 2021 - 2023

Jennifer Hernandez

Holland & Knight

Pete Peterson

Davenport Institute for Public Engagement and Civic Leadership, Pepperdine School of Public Policy

Caroline Whistler

Third Sector Capital Partners

Catharine Baker

Hoge Fenton

Sunita Cooke

Miracosta Community College District

Jim Heerwagen

Voter's Right to Know

Gustavo Herrera

Arts for LA

Jacqueline Martinez Garcel

Latino Community Foundation

Lenny Mendonca

Former Chief Economic and Business Advisor for Gov. Gavin Newsom and Director of the Office of Business and Economic Development

Kausik Rajgopal

PayPal

Dave Regan

SEIU-UHW

Evan Schmidt

Valley Vision

Jeffery Wallace

LeadersUp

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 3/14/2023

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
White/Caucasian/European
Gender identity
Male, Not transgender (cisgender)
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual or straight
Disability status
Person without a disability

Race & ethnicity

No data

Gender identity

 

Sexual orientation

No data

Disability

No data

Equity strategies

Last updated: 10/19/2021

GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more

Data
  • We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
  • We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
  • We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
  • We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
  • We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
  • We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured.
  • We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
Policies and processes
  • We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
  • We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions.
  • We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
  • We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
  • We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
  • We measure and then disaggregate job satisfaction and retention data by race, function, level, and/or team.
  • We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.