first 5 la First 5 LA

Impact Stories

First 5 LA

Best Start Program

First 5 LA: Giving kids the best
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Nonprofits

Trained at learning events and feedback sessions building stronger connections

The Context

In service of its vision that all children in LA County enter kindergarten ready to succeed in school and life, First 5 LA’s Best Start effort invests in 14 geographic areas that have faced historic disenfranchisement and oppression. First 5 LA sought a partner to provide capacity-strengthening services for the nonprofits participating within each of its Best Start community partnerships to help them address challenges, build partnerships, and influence policy and systems-level change.  

The Engagement

CNM provided technical assistance, training, and coaching to the staff of more than 100 nonprofits participating in the Best Start Networks. By attending CNM’s professional development seminars and skill-building certificate programs, the staff at these nonprofits improved their capacity to effectively achieve their mission-focused goals, influence policy outcomes, and advocate for systemic change.

CNM’s advisors and coaches helped the grantees improve in these areas and more:

  • Nonprofit management
  • Building an equitable workplace culture
  • Leveraging boards during times of crisis
  • Power mapping to support systems change
  • Advancing equity and addressing bias, bigotry, and racism

Services Provided

  • Strengthening Opportunities for Organizations and People
  • Organizational Assessments
  • Strategy Development and Planning
  • Program Design and Implementation
  • Connection and Collaboration

The Results

  • 150+ Nonprofits strengthened their capacity to better serve young children and the families and communities who support them.
  • CNM continues to support the organizations participating in First 5 LA’s Best Start

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.








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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.




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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.