California Forward

What California Forward does

California Forward (CA FWD) is a multi-partisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Sacramento, California, founded in 2007 (California Stewardship Network founded 2008), with a small staff of 11-50 employees and a working model that supports economic growth using a regions-up approach, stewards state resources, and builds climate resilience. The organization serves as interconnective tissue between the California state government and regional stakeholders, convening leaders from business, community, government, labor, and philanthropy around a New California Economy agenda. Its primary constituents are regional civic leaders, state policy makers, and California communities facing fragmented funding streams, climate risk, and geographic inequality.

CA FWD's core offerings span events, programs, and digital resources rather than software products. The flagship California Economic Summit is an annual in-person convening (14th edition held in Stockton in 2025; Long Beach in 2026). The California Stewardship Network, joined to CA FWD in 2019, functions as a backbone alliance of regional civic leaders. The California Dreamshot Podcast (bi-weekly) covers industrial, energy, and resilience policy. The Fiscal Resilience portfolio includes the Resilience District Incubator, the California Resilience Implementation Accelerator (multi-million dollar initiative), the Community Wildfire Resilience Workgroup, and Resilient Design Sprints. Leadership development is delivered through the Becky Morgan Steward Leadership Program and the Young Leaders Program. The Energy Project Benefits Agreement Database, developed with UC Berkeley's Possibility Lab, is a searchable digital resource for project negotiation benchmarking.

CA FWD's business model is nonprofit donation and sponsorship-driven. Revenue streams consist of charitable contributions from individuals, foundations, and organizations, plus event sponsorships for the California Economic Summit. Registration fees may be charged for summit attendance. The organization has a Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency (2023) and is federally classified as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public charity (Tax ID 26-0566540). Distribution is community-led and event-driven, anchored by the rotating annual Summit and supplemented by regional convenings, Investor Exchanges (in partnership with GO-Biz), and podcasts/webinars. Notable strategic partners include Resilient Cities Catalyst, Climate Resolve, Resources Legacy Fund, UC Berkeley's Possibility Lab, Insurance for Good, GO-Biz, the California Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force, and UAW's Center for Manufacturing a Green Economy. Leadership is led by CEO Kate Gordon (formerly Senior Advisor at the Governor's Office of Planning and Research) and COO Nuin-Tara Key.

Name

California Forward

Legal name

California Forward

Website

https://cafwd.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

California Forward is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that convenes regional leaders, state policy makers, and cross-sector partners across California to drive sustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient economic policy through events, workgroups, and digital resources.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Policy Advocacy and Convening

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Business Associations (81391)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Engagement & Participatory Planning (BPAHAKAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environment, Climate & Sustainability Congresses (THAHAJAH), Nonprofit, Social Services & Community Development Congresses (THAHAJAO), Executive Leadership & C-Suite Development (EDABAAAA)

Keywords

• Economic policy advocacy
• Regional economic development
• Climate resilience programs
• Nonprofit policy convening
• Civic leadership development

Headquarters

HQ city

Sacramento

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Charitable Contributions and Donations: As a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization, CA FWD generates revenue primarily through charitable donations from individuals, foundations, and organizations. Donations support the organization's work in driving economic growth using a regions-up approach, stewarding state resources, and building climate resilience.
2. Event Sponsorships: The California Economic Summit generates revenue through corporate and organizational sponsorships. Sponsorship opportunities are offered throughout the year to support the organization's vital work.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

California Forward operates as a multi-partisan convening organization that brings together regional stakeholders across business, community, government, labor, and philanthropy to drive economic policy and climate resilience in California. Its core offerings are programs and events—including the annual California Economic Summit, the California Stewardship Network, the California Dreamshot Podcast, the Energy Project Benefits Agreement Database, and fiscal resilience programs such as the Resilience District Incubator and California Resilience Implementation Accelerator. The organization also delivers leadership development through the Becky Morgan Steward Leadership Program and Young Leaders Program.

Product overview

California Forward (CA FWD) is a multi-partisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that does not offer traditional software products but rather provides a portfolio of programs, initiatives, and events focused on building a New California Economy. The core offerings include the annual California Economic Summit, the California Stewardship Network alliance, and the California Dreamshot Podcast. Key program areas include Fiscal Resilience (encompassing the Resilience District Incubator, California Resilience Implementation Accelerator, Community Wildfire Resilience Workgroup, and Resilient Design Sprints), Leadership Development (Becky Morgan Steward Leadership Program and Young Leaders Program), Energy & Industrial (R)Evolution, Regions-Up, Thriving Regions, and Investor Exchanges. CA FWD also provides digital resources including the Energy Project Benefits Agreement Database (developed with UC Berkeley's Possibility Lab), a Legislative Tracker, and various publications and policy briefs. The organization serves as an interconnective tissue between the state and its regions, working with partners including the California Stewardship Network, Resilient Cities Catalyst, Climate Resolve, and Insurance for Good.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• California Economic Summit CA FWD's flagship annual event convening regional and statewide leaders from business, community, government, philanthropy, and labor for plenary sessions, work groups, and regional tours to catalyze a New California Economy.
• California Stewardship Network (CSN) An alliance of regional civic leaders committed to developing innovative solutions to California's economic, environmental, and social challenges, with CA FWD serving as backbone organization.
• California Dreamshot Podcast A bi-weekly podcast covering industrial and energy policy and resilience policy in California, hosted by CA FWD's COO and partner co-hosts.
• Energy Project Benefits Agreement Database A searchable digital database developed in partnership with UC Berkeley's Possibility Lab, allowing developers and community organizations to see how others have effectively engaged in project negotiations.
• Fiscal Resilience Program A portfolio of initiatives designed to unlock sustained investment in climate risk reduction, pilot scalable solutions, and align public and private incentives to drive long-term resilience.
• Resilience District Incubator A program developed by CA FWD and Resilient Cities Catalyst providing hands-on support, a national learning network, and practical toolkits to guide communities through implementation of Resilience Districts.
• California Resilience Implementation Accelerator A multi-million dollar initiative supporting high-impact, community-driven climate adaptation projects from planning toward implementation through seed funding grants, technical assistance, and connections to aligned capital.
• Community Wildfire Resilience Workgroup A workgroup bringing together leaders across wildfire science, land use, insurance, finance, and community implementation to align around a policy agenda to reduce wildfire risk statewide.
• Becky Morgan Steward Leadership Program A mid-career leadership program under the California Stewardship Network inviting leaders to deepen their understanding of regional and statewide policy issues and hone decision-making and management skills.
• Young Leaders Program (YLP) A two-year program that elevates the next generation of industry, policy, and nonprofit leaders through professional development, peer knowledge exchange, and engagement with California experts.
• Energy & Industrial (R)Evolution A strategic priority focused on driving California toward a more innovative, resilient, and sustainable economy through advanced manufacturing and supply chains, with roadmaps for priority industry sectors.
• Regions-Up An initiative championing regional voices in Sacramento and building a durable system for regional implementation, funding, and collaboration through a policy playbook and statewide coalition.
• Thriving Regions A portfolio bringing together regional leaders, state partners, and industry experts to align inclusive economic growth with climate reality, including Investor Exchanges and Energy Project Benefits work.
• Investor Exchanges A series of events convening in partnership with GO-Biz to connect regional partners and project leads with investors and capital partners and showcase emerging industries grounded in regional priorities.
• Legislative Tracker An online resource tracking bills and initiatives CA FWD is supporting during legislative sessions, including legislation on wildfire mitigation, beneficial fire, grid manufacturing, and sustainable communities.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly $1.5 billion in state commitments for regional programs between 2019-2026
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• California Stewardship NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSN is an alliance of regional civic leaders committed to developing innovative solutions to California's economic, environmental, and social challenges. Founded in 2008 by the Morgan Family Foundation, CSN joined CA FWD in 2019. CA FWD serves as a member of and backbone for CSN, developing and implementing projects that address specific regional challenges together.
• Resilient Cities CatalystcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to develop and implement Resilience Districts through the Resilience District Incubator project. CA FWD and Resilient Cities Catalyst are turning Resilience Districts from statute into practice, providing hands-on support, a national learning network, and practical toolkits to guide communities through implementation.
• Climate ResolvecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the California Resilience Implementation Accelerator, supporting high-impact, community-driven climate adaptation projects from planning toward implementation through seed funding grants, tailored technical assistance, and connections to aligned capital.
• Resources Legacy FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on the Climate Smart Economy initiative, a state-wide effort to advance a policy playbook for the next governor. Also partnered on the Community Wildfire Resilience Workgroup and California Climate-Smart Economy Initiative Discussion Paper.
• UC Berkeley Possibility LabTechnology or IntegrationPartnership to develop the Energy Project Benefits Agreement Database - a searchable digital resource allowing developers and community organizations to see how others have effectively engaged in project negotiations. Also collaborated on workforce development and economic development research.
• Insurance for GoodcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to develop an actionable guidebook outlining replicable funding and financing strategies for risk reduction and resilience. Joint work includes a blog series on funding climate resilience and convening a cross-sector working group on sustainable funding and financing models.
• GO-Biz (Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Investor Exchanges connecting regional partners and project leads with investors and capital partners. CA FWD hosts these exchanges in partnership with GO-Biz to showcase emerging industries grounded in regional priorities.
• California Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task ForcesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCA FWD's Community Wildfire Resilience Workgroup builds on the Task Force's work and the $5.6 billion+ investment in landscape resilience between 2015-2023.
• United Auto Workers' Center for Manufacturing a Green EconomysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the California Dreamshot Podcast, with Priyanka Mohanty (UAW-CMGE) co-hosting the Industrial & Energy Policy beat discussing the transition, grid, and what gets built and where.
• Insurance for Good (Podcast Partnership)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the California Dreamshot Podcast, with Carolyn Kousky (Insurance for Good) co-hosting the Resilience Policy beat covering wildfire, insurance, climate risk, and finance.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Resources Legacy Fund: California-focused philanthropic foundation funding environmental, ocean, and equitable economy initiatives; CA FWD's partner on the Climate Smart Economy playbook. Comparable as a California-centric policy/philanthropy intermediary targeting climate and inclusive growth.
• State Innovation Exchange (SiX): State-focused policy organization that supports state legislators on progressive policy and convenes cross-state learning networks. Comparable to CA FWD in using convening and policy development as its core levers, though SiX works inside the legislature.
• Smart Growth America: Advocacy coalition advancing equitable, climate-resilient regional development and infrastructure policy nationwide. Comparable to CA FWD in combining state-level policy advocacy with place-based convening around resilience and inclusive economic development.
• Public Agenda: Nonprofit that combines public engagement research with on-the-ground deliberation to inform policy. Directly comparable in mission (bridging citizens/communities to state policy) and similar operating model to CA FWD's regional convening.
• National Civic League: National nonprofit focused on civic engagement, deliberative democracy, and regional collaboration practice. Directly comparable to CA FWD's regions-up, cross-sector convening approach in a similarly sized policy/civic intermediary role.

Broad incumbents

• Brookings Institution (Metropolitan Policy Program): Much larger DC-based public policy organization whose Metropolitan Policy Program produces influential research on regional economic growth, infrastructure, and inclusive economies – the same intellectual territory CA FWD operates in at the state level.
• Aspen Institute: National nonprofit that convenes leaders across sectors around policy and leadership development. Comparable to CA FWD as a convening-and-leadership-pipeline intermediary, though at significantly larger scale and broader thematic scope.

Others

• Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz): California state agency CA FWD partners with to host Investor Exchanges and integrate regional priorities into state economic strategy. Comparable as a stakeholder in the same regions-up policy ecosystem, though operating as government rather than as an independent nonprofit.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MoveCAFWD
• Facebookfacebook.com/CAfwd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/california-forward

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about California Forward