Center for Volunteer & Nonprofit Leadership

What it reported doing in 2024

Management Services: Nonprofits throughout Marin, Napa, Sonoma, Solano, and the surrounding Bay Area rely on CVNL for expert guidance, professional and organizational development, and nonprofit management expertise through Volunteer Services, Leadership Programs, Executive Search, and Consulting Services. In 2025, CVNL's Learning & Leadership (L&L) department partnered with the Community Foundation of Sonoma County (CFSC) to deliver eight three-hour workshops over three months, engaging 214 participants.In addition to the partnership with CFSC, the L&L department delivered a portfolio of 5 capacity-building course series, serving 81 nonprofit professionals. These programs offer leadership training and professional development designed to strengthen organizational effectiveness across the sector. Offerings included: " Management Essentials: A Roadmap for Managing People (Spring, Fall) " Board Governance Boot Camp (Spring) " Executive Leadership Program (Spring) " Grant writing (Spring and Fall) " Program Development & Evaluation (Winter, Spring and Fall) The L&L department also launched workshop offerings, which are shorter-form content, and two-hour long sessions. Six workshops took place in 2025, serving 40 nonprofit professionals, on topics covering:" Artificial Intelligence" Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion" Fundraising" Communications" Strategic Planning" GrantwritingFree sessions were provided to the community at large and CVNL members in the form of Peer Learning Networks/Peer Exchange and townhalls. Nine sessions were offered in 2025, serving 443 nonprofit professionals on the following topics:" Planned Giving" Volunteer Appreciation" Leading Change" Self-Care & Stress Management" Guide to GrantStation" Fund Development Planning" Donor Engagement Campaigns" Nonprofit Townhall with Congressman Jared Huffman" Navigating DEI under the New Trump Administration All sessions were delivered via Zoom, except for the hybrid Spring Executive Leadership Program. During this period, 5 nonprofit professionals across Solano, Napa, Sonoma, and Marin counties received partial scholarships based on applicant needs, totaling $1,228 in support for participation in Learning & Leadership programs. CVNL's Executive Search department placed two senior level nonprofit professional in the Bay Area. CVNL's Consulting Services advanced the capabilities of 30 organizations through consulting projects and capacity-building activities related to board governance, organizational assessment, strategic planning, executive coaching, and meeting facilitation, among others. In addition to the consulting services offered, our team provided brief pro bono sessions to new member organizations and supported general information and referrals to the broader nonprofit community. Our Membership Program included free and discounted workshops for staff, board members, and volunteers of member organizations; one-on-one support and consultation services from CVNL staff; and opportunities to network with other nonprofits in the community. In 2025, there were a total of 98 CVNL member organizations, of which 15 were new members and 83 were renewed members. Another member benefit involves GrantStation. 19 CVNL members were provided discounted access to the proprietary database which supports nonprofit professionals conducting grant research and strengthens their fund development process.In 2025, CVNL's Volunteer Services Department engaged more than 4,000 volunteers across Napa, Solano, Sonoma, and Marin Counties, connecting individuals with nonprofits, government agencies, businesses, and community groups through meaningful service opportunities.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 73.2%; rating input score 73
• Program expense ratio: 85.8%; rating input score 86
• Fundraising efficiency: $360.26 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 95; 95th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 93.3%; rating input score 93; 17th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 3 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 50
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 57.7%; rating input score 58; 17th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 8 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 89
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Fail
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 15.2%; rating input score 71; 71st percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.93; rating input score 34; 34th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.34; rating input score 31; 31st percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 8.8%; rating input score 34; 34th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 13.5% per year; rating input score 100; 74th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 13.8% per year; rating input score 100; 79th percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 17.1% per year; rating input score 100; 79th percentile among comparable filings