Community Association of Big Sur, Inc.

Serving the Coast for more than 50 years.

aka Coast Property Owners Association   |   Big Sur, CA   |  www.CABigSur.org

Mission

Our shared mission is to protect and defend the rural and residential character, and to preserve the natural and aesthetic beauty of the Big Sur coast; to provide for the health, safety, and welfare of the Big Sur Community; to encourage community service and otherwise act in the interests of the residents and property owners of Big Sur. CABS is committed to a collaborative approach towards responsible land stewardship. CABS believes that an effective partnership between private and public property owners is essential for a healthy and sustainable community.

Ruling year info

1986

Executive Director

Mr. Butch Kronlund

Main address

PO Box 59

Big Sur, CA 93920 USA

Show more contact info

Formerly known as

Coast Property Owners Assocation

EIN

77-0091132

NTEE code info

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

Other Philanthropy, Voluntarism, and Grantmaking Foundations N.E.C. (T99)

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

Like many iconic global destinations, Big Sur’s existing infrastructure and fragile coastal environment is strained beyond capacity. A significant surge in visitation, 4 wild fires that destroyed over 160 homes, and road closures due to extreme weather and aging highway infrastructure have impacted the well being of our 1500 resident community in the past 10 years. At the same time, agencies representing Monterey County, California State and U.S. Federal Government are reducing management resources critical to the health and safety of Big Sur’s visitors and residents. We believe that viable solutions can be found in effective public/private partnerships. CABS six community initiatives (The Big Sur Destination Stewardship Project, The Big Sur Pledge, The Sycamore Canyon Shuttle, The California Coastal Trail Big Sur Section, Disaster Recovery Service, and Community Housing & Visitor-Serving Infrastructure).

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?

Big Sur Destination Stewardship Project

Big Sur is ranked as one of the top 35 tourist hotspots on the globe. As challenges mount due to an increase in visitors, CABS is at the forefront in calling for a Big Sur Destination Stewardship Project (DSP). A DSP process provides a pathway for communities to collaboratively assess and co-design innovative management solutions to address visitation, natural resource protection, economic impacts and community well-being.

Population(s) Served
Adults
Children and youth
Low-income people
Migrant workers
Victims of disaster

Where we work

Videos

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 residents, employees, property owners and businesses assisted with disaster recovery

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Decreasing

Context Notes

Metrics relate to our Disaster Recovery Services program.

Number of collaborative solutions defined and prototyped

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

Big Sur Destination Stewardship Project

Type of Metric

Other - describing something else

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

Metrics relate to the number of initiatives with prototype solutions currently in process addressing challenges faced by our community.

Number of CABS Associates

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

CABS Associates are residents, employees, parents of children in the school district, renters, caretakers and/or property owners within the Big Sur area.

Dollars raised to support community initiatives

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

Big Sur Destination Stewardship Project

Type of Metric

Input - describing resources we use

Direction of Success

Increasing

Context Notes

This metric is the total dollar amount generously donated by the public to support our six initiatives.

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.

CABS goal is the ensure the viability of Big Sur's fragile coastal community for the benefit of visitors and residents for generations to come. We are addressing this through advocacy, collaborative problem-solving, and disaster recovery services.
Our six initiatives provide tangible actions and outcomes to address the well being of our visitors, our coastal natural resources and our community:
-The Big Sur Destination Stewardship Project
-The Big Sur Pledge
-The Sycamore Canyon Shuttle
-The Big Sur portion of the California Coastal Trail
-Disaster Recovery Services
-Community Housing and Visitor-Serving Infrastructure

The California Coastal Act and our own Big Sur Land Use Plan espouse the ethos of balance, but neither of those foundational documents provide guidance on how to achieve that goal. A Big Sur Destination Stewardship Plan could be the tool that builds a future reflective of our shared vision of economic prosperity, environmental health, enhanced visitor experience and the well-being of the residents who inhabit Big Sur.

This planning process aims to bring together county, state and federal jurisdictional stakeholders, as well as representatives from the local business community, emergency first responders, outdoor enthusiasts, environmental nonprofits and the resident community. The effort to address this growing imbalance in our community will require curiosity, reliable data, a collaborative spirit and a willingness to innovate.

Our Board Members live and work along the Big Sur Coast. Board members are property and business owners, employees of local businesses, renters, parents of children in the school district, and caretakers. Our board members live in north, central and south Big Sur. They are engaged both in their local neighborhoods as well as participating on boards and in leadership roles both in Big Sur and in the County of Monterey. Some of the boards and initiatives that our board members are engaged in include the following:
Big Sur Cellular Taskforce
Big Sur Community Emergency Response Team
Big Sur Fire
Big Sur Land Use Advisory Committee
Big Sur Multi-Agency Advisory Council
Big Sur Pledge
California Coastal Trail Planning
Fire Safe Council
Fuel Mitigation Taskforce
Water & Road Boards

Accomplished since 2008:
Protecting and defending Big Sur’s community and environment since 1962
Over $3.8 million in donor dollars distributed to over 2,000 Big Sur residents, employees, businesses, community water and road companies, and nonprofits since 2008
Disaster recovery services provided in the aftermath of 3 wildfires, 1 atmospheric river event, and 1 major road closure in the past 11 years
Over 4,000 hours dedicated annually to leadership and community representation by the CABS board and executive director
Active participation in and partnership with over 200 Local, County, State and Federal entities and/or individuals in initiatives that impact Big Sur
Whatʻs Next:
A Big Sur Destination Stewardship Project
Global awareness of natural and community resource protection through the Big Sur Pledge Campaign
Solution Proto-typing e.g. the Sycamore Canyon Shuttle, Big Sur Community Engagement in the Coastal Trail Alignment
Disaster Recovery Services as needed: financial and rebuilding help post-fire, flood and road closure since 2008, most recent 2020 and 2021 events include the Dolan Fire, a highway 1 road closure due to road failure, and financial impacts from COVID
Engagement with the community and diverse stakeholders through the Big Sur Destination Project to address Community Housing and Visitor-Serving Infrastructure

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We demonstrated a willingness to learn more by reviewing resources about feedback practice.
done We shared information about our current feedback practices.

  • Who are the people you serve with your mission?

    Community residents, employers, employees; community health and safety nonprofits; government and philanthropic community stakeholders.

  • How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?

    Electronic surveys (by email, tablet, etc.), Focus groups or interviews (by phone or in person), Community meetings/Town halls, Constituent (client or resident, etc.) advisory committees, Suggestion box/email,

  • How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?

    To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals,

  • What significant change resulted from feedback?

    The Destination Stewardship Plan published in 2020 was based on community feedback and that feedback is defining the solutions that our organization is now putting into action.

  • With whom is the organization sharing feedback?

    The people we serve, Our staff, Our board, Our funders, Our community partners,

  • How has asking for feedback from the people you serve changed your relationship?

    Weekly zoom meetings facilitated by CABS were held during COVID with community stakeholders. These meetings provided much needed leadership to help discuss and solve ongoing community challenges associated with the pandemic.

  • Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?

    We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We act on the feedback we receive, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback,

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

    We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback,

Financials

Community Association of Big Sur, Inc.
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Operations

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

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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.

Community Association of Big Sur, Inc.

Board of directors
as of 8/21/2021
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

Ms. Pam Peck

Magnus Toren

Big Sur Valley, Henry Miller Memorial Library

Patte Kronlund

Big Sur Valley, Self-Employed

Lisa Kleissner

Garrapata, KL Felicitas Foundation

Martine Palafox

Big Sur Valley, Post Ranch Inn

Ken Ekelund

Garrapata, Trout Farm

Kendra Morgenrath

Pfeiffer Ridge, HR Director at Nepenthe

Ryne Leuzinger

Clear Ridge, Assoc. Librarian at CSUMB

Tom Collins

South Coast, Retired Facility Engineer at AMGEN

Michael Gilson

South Coast, Restaurant Owner, Big Sur Bakery

Blain VandenBerg

Palo Colorado, Mountain Pony Flowers, Owner

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 ? No
  • 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? No

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 08/21/2021

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? GuideStar partnered on this section with CHANGE Philanthropy and Equity in the Center.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
White/Caucasian/European
Gender identity
Male

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

 

Sexual orientation

No data

Disability

No data

Equity strategies

Last updated: 08/21/2021

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 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 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 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.