The following is an Open Letter to the Board of Trustees of the James Irvine Foundation as they seek a new president. We hope this letter sparks a public dialogue and we welcome your comments. The letter, signed by CEO Jan Masaoka and Board Chair Ashley McCumber, was sent in advance to Don Howard, Acting President of the Foundation and asks the Trustees to consider not only what the James Irvine Foundation needs in a new executive, but what California needs from the Irvine Foundation.

Dear Friends: The appointment of a new president at the Irvine Foundation represents a moment of opportunity not only for the Irvine Foundation, but for all of California. California nonprofit leaders -- regardless of how they have felt about the foundation in recent years -- are both worried and hopeful.

In this open letter, we ask you -- the Trustees -- to consider not only what the Irvine Foundation needs in a new executive, but what California needs from the Irvine Foundation.

We feel compelled to write this letter because -- to your credit -- we nonprofits think of the Irvine Foundation as part of our community. Many foundations are so distant that nonprofits wouldn't bother thinking about their leadership or expect that they would be open to hearing what we have to say. But you are the Irvine Foundation, and a measure of the Foundation's success is the large degree to which your nonprofit constituency feels we are stakeholders.

The California Association of Nonprofits (CalNonprofits) is a grantee of the Irvine Foundation, and on behalf of the sector and our own organization we are grateful for the support the foundation -- and its staff -- provides.

In his departing letter, Jim Canales referenced five characteristics he has appreciated most in the people with whom he has worked in his role. He has provided us with an excellent framework for the characteristics we urge you to seek in a new president:

Visionary: The Irvine Foundation has always been led by a strong vision for California, and we in the nonprofit sector have especially appreciated the emphasis on inclusive democracy, community development, under-represented communities and the arts as components of that vision.

A key part of this vision is ensuring that marginalized communities have the "locally grown" institutions they need to participate fully in California's future. It is hard for us to envision a strong California that does not have strong community-based institutions in low-income communities, in communities of color, and in rural communities.

Curious: The word "curious" is a wonderful choice of Jim's because it evokes a sense of exploration and openness to wonder. Nonprofits have long appreciated that Irvine has supported new ideas and schools of thought, abandoned areas of work that have not been effective, and made deliberate transitions from one to the other.

We suffer when foundations chase after the "flavor of the month" in the name of innovation and leave unsustainable efforts in their wake when the next flavor beckons. Thank you for the balance you strike between curiosity and a measured pace.

Curiosity also extends to this special place where we all reside. We hope that the Foundation's new leader will be someone whose desire to learn about California is based in a deep knowledge and love of our state and its varied landscapes and communities.

Ego-less: While no organization or individual can truly be without ego, we have appreciated the organizational and individual modesty of the Foundation, not only with nonprofits but in collaborative funding efforts. The Irvine Foundation no longer uses the phrase "the community foundation of California," but its responsiveness to community is demonstrated by accepting unsolicited proposals, making responsive grants, and recognizing that sometimes geographic need or community development opportunities trump management strength in a nonprofit. This modesty is not unappreciated.

Truth-telling: The most important truths we have to tell you are not new, but it's important to underscore them. Though investing in nonprofit organization performance means many things, these are the fundamentals:

• Core, unrestricted, multi-year support
• A focus on organizations and movements springing up in communities rather than created in a top-down way, and attending to the ecosystems of nonprofit sub-sectors
• Paying for the full cost of programs or initiatives
• Proportionate due diligence: requiring less time from prospective grantees when smaller amounts of money are being considered
• Helping nonprofits interact effectively with government, as contractors, as advocates, and as partners in problem-solving and democracy

Optimistic: "Pessimism is about an assessment of the situation," goes a saying, "while optimism is an orientation of the spirit." California's nonprofits are fundamentally optimistic: who else would set about changing the world in such deep ways? Nonprofits -- and foundations -- are not just about services but also about inspiration, commitment and values.

Jim Canales has embodied these characteristics and values, and we are optimistic that the Foundation will find new strength for a new era in its new president. In this spirit, thank you for listening.

Sincerely,

Ashley McCumber, Chair, Board of Directors
Jan Masaoka, CEO, CalNonprofits