Staff

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.

Through active policy, educational, and research work, CalNonprofits works with legislators and regulators to strengthen the economic and regulatory climate for nonprofits. CalNonprofits has offices in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Sacramento, and through our social enterprise, we are also a full-service insurance broker and provide health insurance to more than 25,000 nonprofit staff.

Jan 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). Jan 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.

First volunteer experience: One of Jan’s first volunteer experiences was during high school, when she volunteered with the Japanese American Citizens League. She helped the organization develop their mailing list the old-fashioned way—by reading through phone books and writing down the Japanese names.

You can reach Jan by email: Janm[at]calnonprofits[dot]org.

Vanessa Cruz is the Member Support Associate for CalNonprofits' more than 10,000 members. She earned her A.A. at Cypress Community College and B.A. in Sociology at California State University Fullerton. Being a first-generation college graduate, she wanted to help others who were accomplishing this milestone. While attending Cypress College, she enrolled in a Chicana/o studies course, which further educated her about her community. As an undergrad, she gained research experience in an educational institution.

“As part of the CalNonprofits membership team, I look forward to working with our members in providing the resources to continue being a strong community of nonprofits! I admire every one of our members their dedication in assisting the community.”

My first volunteer experience was during high school. For a month, I volunteered with my former kindergarten teacher assisting her class with different learning activities. Most recently, I volunteered for an organization, New Alternatives, Inc. where I supervised visitations between children in the foster care system and their parents.

You can reach Vanessa by email: Vanessac[at]calnonprofits[dot]org.

Robert Gibbons is the Director of Education at CalNonprofits. He is an experienced nonprofit professional with a strong background in program creation, implementation, and multicultural communication. He holds a Master's of Public Policy from UCLA, and a Bachelor of Arts in American Studies from UC Berkeley.

Prior to joining CalNonprofits, Robert was an advisor at The Asia Foundation focused on resource development, leadership, and exchange programs. During the pandemic, Robert worked as a program lead with CORE: Community Organized Relief Effort in Los Angeles, managing partner logistics for large-scale vaccine sites, collaborating with emergency management agencies and community organizations to administer over 2.5 million vaccinations to the region. Robert has also spent time abroad with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in East Africa and as a Visiting Scholar at the Muhammad Yunus Center in Bangkok.

Robert’s first volunteer experience was in middle school, working with under-resourced youth in San Francisco, where he was born and raised.

You can reach Robert by email at Robertg[at]calnonprofits[dot]org.

Lauren Kay is the Director of Communications & Marketing for CalNonprofits. A strategic communications professional with more than 25 years’ experience in the nonprofit and philanthropic sectors, Lauren has a deep appreciation for the power of clear language and compelling storytelling to move people to action, raise awareness for missions, and attract media attention that matters.

Previously, Lauren directed communications at Community Partners, a Los Angeles-based fiscal sponsor and intermediary organization, and at the California Community Foundation. She was project director for The National Network of Consultants to Grantmakers and has served as an independent communications consultant to prominent grantmaking foundations and a variety of nonprofit organizations. Early in her career, Lauren was a newspaper reporter and editor. She is a member of the leadership team for ComNetworkLA, the local chapter of the national Communications Network. Outside of work, Lauren enjoys hiking, designs jewelry, and is always on the look-out for the next great taco stand.

First volunteer experience: A very early volunteer experience for Lauren was as a child, helping to stuff envelopes alongside her mother for an anti-war group.

You can reach Lauren by email at laurenk[at]calnonprofits[dot]org

Linh Ngo is the Director of Projects & Membership at CalNonprofits, where she oversees the execution and administration of recruitment, retention, and engagement of CalNonprofits members.

Prior to joining CalNonprofits, Linh was at the Diversity in Health Training Institute, where she managed a program that supports underserved Asians with intellectual and developmental disabilities access services through workforce development, community outreach and engagement, and service referrals. She has experience providing case management services to youth placed-at-risk and career coaching for immigrants and refugees. Linh holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work and has worked with students in Vietnam and across the globe in volunteer projects.

First volunteer experience: Linh supported volunteers coming from other countries all over the world to teach English to primary students in Vietnam.

You can reach Linh by email at linhn[at]calnonprofits[dot]org