Foundation Supports the California Association of Nonprofits

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Feb. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The California Association of Nonprofits, a voice for California's nonprofits and the millions of people they serve, was awarded a $25,000 grant by the California Consumer Protection Foundation.

CAN is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, founded in 1984.  CAN monitors legislation and conducts public policy in Sacramento on behalf of the state's 100,000 plus nonprofit organizations. It promotes the importance of nonprofits in the lives of all Californians and provides its members with an array of benefits and services. Member services include discounts on business services, a help desk and brokered insurance coverage for the nonprofit workforce offered through its wholly-owned subsidiary, CAN Insurance Services.

The grant award will be used to help the association make use of Web 2.0 and social media tools to strengthen two-way communications and engagement with its stakeholders throughout the state.  

The goal is to engage nonprofits throughout California in helping set future public policy priorities for the association.  "This grant helps us build an effective statewide public policy program that speaks for and about the nonprofit sector of California," said board member and public policy committee chair, Dena Jenson, vice president and director of the Ventura Community Foundation.  "Mobilizing our membership base and other nonprofits will help us have a strong influence on public policy throughout the state," said Ken Larsen, CAN's director of public policy.

In 2010, CAN began a search for a new chief executive and expects to have a person in place by April 2011.  Support for this has been provided by grants from the James Irvine, William and Flora Hewlett, David and Lucile Packard and Weingart Foundations.

About CAN

The California Association of Nonprofits was founded in 1984 in response to an insurance crisis that threatened access by the state's nonprofits to affordable health insurance. Two organizations were formed; CAN and its wholly-owned subsidiary CAN Insurance Services.  CAN Insurance Services brokers insurance services for its members, as well as providing educational resources.

CAN was the second statewide association of nonprofits formed in the country and currently has 1,700 members. It plays a role in shaping state and federal legislation and helping local organizations continue to serve their communities.  Even nonprofits that are not members can benefit from the work of CAN.

CAN has offices in Sacramento, Capitola and Los Angeles. More information about the association, its work and future plans can be found online at www.canonprofits.org.  

SOURCE California Association of Nonprofits