Building Strong Nonprofits: Annual CAN Conference

California's smart nonprofit conference

The Annual CAN Conference is on a temporary hiatus in 2009. Please check back at the end of the year for details on the 2010 Annual CAN Conference.

Please see below for events and information from the 2008 Annual CAN Conference.

• Workshops
• Presenter Profiles 
• Exhibitors
• Awards of Excellence
• Sponsors 
• Questions
• Click here to view the CAN Conference program(PDF) Note: this is a large file and may take a few minutes to download.

Building Strong Nonprofits: 17th Annual CAN Conference (2008)

2008 Awards of Excellence Luncheon

The 10th Annual Awards of Excellence are generously funded by CAN Insurance Service. Please join us as we honor top leaders and organizations within California's nonprofit sector: 

Excellence in Leadership
Presented to an exceptional Executive Director or Board Member who has demonstrated excellence and innovation within their organization and community.

Achievement in Innovation
Presented to an organization demonstrating innovation in the design and/or delivery of products or services.

Click here for the 2008 winners and nominations.

Meet & Greet Mixer on the Plaza

Immediately following the afternoon concurrent workshops, all are welcome to join us around the beautiful Jerusalem Fountain in the courtyard of Cathedral Plaza for a special get-together with light snacks, fun prizes and lots of good conversation. CAN members will receive a free drink ticket.


Funders Forum

Hear five expert grantmaking executives in a candid, thought-provoking conversation concerning foundation giving trends and the strategic relationship between funders and California's nonprofits. Moderated by James M. Ferris, Ph.D., Director of The Center on Philanthropy and Public Policy at the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development with Bernard Boudreaux, Senior Manager, Community Relations, Target; James E. Canales, President and CEO, The James Irvine Foundation; Antonia Hernández, President & CEO, California Community Foundation; Ray F. Reisler, Executive Director, S. Mark Taper Foundation; and Gary L. Yates, President & CEO, The California Wellness Foundation.


Public Policy Town Hall

With the Legislature and Congress just having wrapped up their business for the year and all levels of government facing massive deficits, not to mention a November ballot looming with complex and confusing proposals, what better time for CAN to convene a Town Hall meeting at the annual conference. Ken Larsen, CAN Director of Public Policy, will field questions from the audience and try to make sense for everyone of what is going on in Sacramento and Washington that is of primary concern to nonprofit organizations. This is an opportunity for YOU to be heard and be part of the discussion.


Luncheon: Social & Economic Justice - What The Election Means to the Nonprofit Community

Torie Osborne

The keynote speaker at lunch will be Torie Osborn who served in the cabinet of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa for two years, and continues as a senior advisor to the Mayor. From 1997 through 2005, she was executive director of the Liberty Hill Foundation, one of the nation’s most admired social-change foundations. Ms. Osborn has been a social activist for 40 years, beginning with the anti-poverty, civil rights and anti-war movements of the 1960s, as well as the women’s movement of the 1970s and later as a champion for gay and lesbian rights.

Concurrent Workshop Sessions Top of Page

Click here to view workshop offerings.


Exhibitor Expo Top of Page

Click here to view a list of exhibitors from the 2008 Annual CAN Conference.

Questions? Top of Page

For general questions regarding the Annual CAN Conference, please click here.