About Us

Cultivating your success is our mission.

The initial idea was simple:  Offer practical advice to the region’s nonprofits and equip them with skills and tools to improve operations.

After 45 years, that same intention continues – CNM is an experienced, thoughtful partner offering the expertise and solutions that enable our nonprofit sector to thrive.

Solve Problems

Our team leverages expertise in strategy, planning, and evaluation to create solutions that drive results across Southern California communities.

Build Skills

Our training programs provide opportunities to master management and leadership fundamentals, strengthening attendees’ capacity to respond to change.

Advocate for Nonprofits

As we build meaningful relationships across our network, we use our capacity-building expertise to represent the interests of service providers to increase their impact.

Our Mission:

To foster thriving communities in Southern California by ensuring that nonprofit leaders and organizations have the knowledge, skills and resources to fulfill their mission. 

A Message From CNM:

We are fortunate to live and work in Southern California, a region known for innovation, sunshine, nonstop action, and a willingness to find creative solutions to complicated problems. However, with so many economic and political forces putting pressure on social structures to change, it is inevitable that board members, executives, and their staff are feeling an urgent need to think strategically, find solutions, deliver results, and adapt at an exponential pace.

Every year thousands of leaders, deeply committed to their missions, turn to our experienced team of nonprofit consultants, certified coaches, and experienced instructors at CNM to find answers they can trust.

As a nonprofit ourselves, we understand the constraints of working in the social sector. For this reason, we’re able to be a thoughtful partner in driving organizational development.

We are trained experts in professional and organizational development who will work with you to unlock ideas and share what we know about what works.  Not white papers and ideal scenarios, but practical, proven strategies and tools you can use with your board, staff, community stakeholders, and others to achieve your goals.

Whether you’re looking to get ahead in your own personal development, connect with peers, transform the organization you work for, or create lasting change, CNM can help get you there.

Our only mission is to help provide you with everything you need to succeed.

Meet Our Team

Strategist

Meet Our Board

Corporate Partners

About Us
BankofAmerica About Us
BoltonandCompany About Us
Capital Group Logo About Us
CityNationalBank About Us
Deloitte About Us
DickersonInsuranceServices About Us
EastWestBank About Us
EdisonLogo About Us
Enterprise About Us
First 5 LA: Giving kids the best
Green Hasson Janks About Us
JPMorgan Chase About Us
Kaiser Permanente
NationBuilder About Us
SoCalGas About Us
UnionBank About Us
USC About Us
WaltDisneyCompany About Us
Warner Borthers About Us
Wells Fargo About Us

Foundation and Philanthropic Partners

The Ahmanson Foundation

Annenberg Foundation

The California Endowment

City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs

City of Santa Monica

Conrad N. Hilton Foundation

Crail-Johnson Foundation

The Durfee Foundation

Dwight Stuart Youth Fund

Jewish Community Foundation

Los Angeles County Arts & Culture

Los Angeles Department of Water & Power

Majestic Realty Foundation

The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation

Reissa Foundation

Rose Hills Foundation

Southern California Grantmakers

W.M. Keck Foundation

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility

CNM thoughtfully incorporates an equity and social justice foundation in our programs and services. This commitment to ongoing learning strengthens our understanding of systems and historical practices and their impact on the individuals and groups we serve throughout our sector. As nonprofit capacity-builders, we continuously adjust our internal and external practices and organizational culture to advance our commitment to a more equitable and just society.  

Want to join our team or board and make a tangible change in Southern California?

Speak With an Expert

Need expert advice? We're only an email or phone call away. Use this form to get in touch or call the Nonprofit Answer Hotline at the number listed below. You can also schedule a free, 15-minute appointment and we’ll match you with an in-house expert.








To select more than one item, hold Command on Mac or Control on PC.



CNM Nonprofit Hotline

Need expert advice? We’re only an email or phone call away. Use this form to get in touch or call the Nonprofit Answer Hotline at the number listed below.

You can also schedule a free, 15-minute appointment and we’ll match you with an in-house expert.








To select more than one item, hold Command on Mac or Control on PC.




Sign up for CNM's eBlasts

Required *

Maura Harrington Ph.D., MBA

Executive Vice President
Center for Nonprofit Management

Maura is known for her expertise in organizational development and strategy and in all aspects of organizational development with a focus on strategic planning, assessment, and evaluation. At CNM, she oversees the client services team and provides consulting, training, and coaching services to a broad range of organizations. Much of her consulting and capacity-building work has been with community-based organizations and public health departments related to effective organizational operations, evaluation practices, and the use of logic models and other assessment tools to support planning, evaluation, and management. A BoardSource Trainer, a certified Advanced Associate, and a Trainer for the Connective Leadership Institute; Maura has completed certification as an executive coach under the International Coaching Federation. She holds a Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior from the Claremont Graduate School, an MBA from the Peter Drucker Graduate Management Center, a BS in Psychology from Georgetown University, and serves as an adjunct professor at USC’s School of Social Work and Department of Psychology.