Description:

CNM’s State of the Sector Lecture Series provides nonprofit leaders with a structured, honest look at the current landscape — what’s changing, what it means for organizations in Southern California, and what CNM is tracking heading into the next fiscal year. This session covers the LA mayoral race and emerging discourse on the nonprofit sector’s role in city governance, new strategic directions from major foundations for FY27, key federal-level policy developments affecting the sector, and a look ahead at CNM’s own program offerings. 

Topics of Discussion:  

• The political and civic context shaping nonprofit sector conditions in Los Angeles 

• Major foundation strategic pivots in FY27 and what they mean for funding priorities 

• The nonprofit lifecycle framework and how to assess your organization’s current stage 

• Key federal policy developments and their downstream effects on local nonprofit operations 

• CNM program offerings and how to position your organization for what’s ahead 

Who Should Attend:

Executive directors and senior nonprofit leaders who want a clear, grounded read of the current sector moment — and a framework for connecting sector-level trends to their own organizational planning. 

Facilitator Bio:

Dr. Rigoberto Marquez is a first generation professional and comes to CNM with powerful educational and professional experiences at the intersections of inclusion, equity, access, integrative learning, and transformational change. He brings over 20 years of experience leading projects, programs and system change at the intersection of professional development and community engagement.  A Los Angeles native, a lifelong public-school student and a beneficiary of community and public programs. Rigioberto is deeply committed to cultivating partnerships, fostering inclusive learning cultures, and advancing civic involvement and engagement across the Los Angeles region. He received his PhD from UCLA’s School of Education and Information Studies, and has held faculty positions at Stanford, Columbia University and at UCLA Center for Community Engagement.