Blue Avocado’s Jan Masaoka to lead
California Association of Nonprofits

A frequent visitor to Hawaii and friend of nonprofits everywhere, Jan Masaoka has accepted the job of chief executive officer for the California Association of Nonprofits. A well-known national nonprofit leader, author and presenter, Masaoka is currently the editor-in-chief of Blue Avocado, an influential online magazine for nonprofits with both practical and provocative articles.

She is also former executive director of CompassPoint Nonprofit Services, in which position she was named Nonprofit Executive of the Year by The NonProfit Times in 2003. Her books include Nonprofit Sustainability,  co-authored by Jeanne Bell and Steve Zimmerman, and The Nonprofit's Guide to HR. Eight times she has been selected as one of the "Fifty Most Influential People in the Nonprofit Sector" nationwide, and in 2006 she was named California Community Leader of the Year by Leadership California.

Well-known to Hawaii nonprofit leaders, Masaoka has been a speaker at the Hawaii Community Foundation’s “Breaking Boardom” conference for nonprofit board members, at the HANO annual conference and at other nonprofit gatherings across the nation. She was also one of the organizers of the tongue-in-cheek Just Awards for “Narcissism in Philanthropy” and “Abominable Media Coverage of the Nonprofit Sector.”

Masaoka writes: “I have accepted the job as CEO of the California Association of Nonprofits, and will be starting on Jan. 2, 2012. I am daunted but excited about working with the wonderful new board chair, Linda Davis, and others to re-imagine a future for this organization. It is our dream that the California Association of Nonprofits can become an effective champion for community nonprofits: in Sacramento; with philanthropy; and in the fields of nonprofit practice and thought.”

According to Masaoka:

• Blue Avocado will continue, but with a much-reduced publication schedule.
• California Association of Nonprofits will open an office in San Francisco and maintain a presence in Sacramento.
• My family thinks I'm crazy but is nonetheless supportive.
• After Jan. 2, please use janm@canonprofits.org for business correspondence.
• Yes, I will take you up on your offers to help!