KAN’s 4th Annual Nonprofit Leadership Awards is scheduled for Wednesday, June 3rd, 2026, at 11:00 AM at the Woman’s Club of Bakersfield, 2030 18th St. The purpose of the Nonprofit Leadership Awards is to recognize distinguished Kern County residents who have made significant contributions to the nonprofit sector in the region.

To purchase tickets or a table (CLICK HERE).

To become a sponsor (CLICK HERE).

Nomination Information

To help us recognize remarkable individuals, KAN invites you to make a nomination by using the online form (CLICK HERE).

Awards categories include:

• Nonprofit Professional of the Year (25-26) – It takes passion, drive and intellect to craft true transformation for people served by the non-profit community. This award honors the leader who has best used those tools to make a dramatic impact in the lives of their non-profit clients and, through service, improved the communities of Kern County.
• Board Member of the Year – This honor goes to the non-profit board member whose commitment, engagement and stewardship has helped shape growth, improvement, and accountability at a Kern County Non-Profit. By providing financial support, oversight, guidance, and encouragement this leader has helped staff and the non-profit exceed its plans and expectations.
• Rising Star Award – Non-profit staff and young leaders are on the frontlines of our efforts to impact community problems, overcome social barriers to success and improve people’s lives. This award honors an emerging star in the nonprofit world who made a powerful impact this year and who we are excited to see grow and develop in the coming years.
• Lifetime Achievement Award – This category is designed to honor the legends of Kern County’s non-profit community. Their decades of commitment and effort have built a lasting legacy for the organizations they serve, created a foundation of structure and knowledge all nonprofits can benefit from, and served as the measure of attainment that new generations should aspire to.
• Unsung Hero – These quiet champions transform services from routine to exceptional because they get things done, serve with heart and don’t waste time asking for recognition. They’re an example of how to truly excel and an inspiration for those around them. This award exists to create a space where these humble leaders get the recognition they deserve.
• Youth Award (High School) – The next generation of non-profit leaders and innovators are already giving of their time and individual passion as they work toward their high school graduation. This award will recognize one of these young people for the work they do on behalf of causes they care for.
• Nonprofit Contributor/Partner – Non-Profits don’t succeed without the support of community supporters who give of themselves and their resources to empower the transformative work our organizations do each day. This awards a community contributor and partner who has a heart for making sure nonprofits have what they need to succeed.

Give Big Kern 2026

GBK 2026 will take place on May 5, 2026!

Give Big Kern has raised over millions of dollars from thousands of donors for hundreds of local nonprofit organizations. Every year since 2016, Kern Community Foundation has hosted GBK to help local nonprofit organizations raise money and volunteer hours. GBK is a month-long event of community engagement in giving and volunteering that leads up to the first Tuesday in May. GBK is part of Kern Community Foundation’s Nonprofit Strengthening strategic initiative. The initiative increases visibility, builds capacity, and improves sustainability for local nonprofits. The effort shines a light on hard-working local nonprofits, empowering them to advance their marketing and development capabilities, and donor, board and volunteer engagement while encouraging networking and collaboration among nonprofit organizations across the sector. GBK would not have been possible without the support of our sponsors. Nonprofits participate in GBK at no cost. Marketing materials, event fees, online platform, and training are provided through our generous sponsors.

Interested in a sponsoring, please contact info@kernfoundation.org.

Other GBK 2026 Events
Press Conference – April 14, 2026
3rd Annual Give Big at the Park: Nonprofit Meet & Greet – April 18, 2026
Liberty Bell & Watch Party – May 5, 2026

Candid Directory 

The Kern Alliance of Nonprofits (KAN) kicks off its 2026 training series with its January Workshop. Following the ongoing search for nonprofit funding, this session will take a deeper dive into one of the most comprehensive tools in grant seeking — Candid’s Foundation Directory.

Led by Teems Tulfo, Chief Impact Officer at Kern Community Foundation, this workshop will walk participants through the steps to utilize this tool, which features over 239,000 grantmaker profiles. Teems will explain how the Directory works to help organizations find new funding opportunities and how local nonprofits can access it at Kern Community Foundation.

Workshop Details:

• Date: Friday, January 16th, 2025
• Time: 8:00 AM – 9:45 AM (Program begins at 8:30)
• Location: KCSOS City Centre, Room 1B – 1300 17th Street, Bakersfield, CA

Reserve your spot through the RSVP Google Form: CLICK HERE

This workshop is part of the KAN 2026-27 Training Calendar, offering valuable sessions for local nonprofits. Future topics include foundation resources, nonprofit management, and more. Full calendar coming soon.

Join us for “Nonprofit & Human Resources Law Tips”, a workshop hosted by KCSOS and Daniel Klingenberger LeBeau, Thelen LLC. This interactive session, taking place on March 14, 2025, from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM at the KCSOS City Centre (1300 17th Street, Room 1B), will provide valuable insights into navigating workplace laws and managing workplace challenges. Whether you’re looking to strengthen your HR knowledge or ensure your practices align with legal requirements, this workshop is for you. Enjoy complimentary donuts & coffee while learning from experts in the field. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to sharpen your workplace strategies!

Give Big Kern 2025

Give Big Kern 2025 will take place on May 6, 2025!

Give Big Kern has raised over millions of dollars from thousands of donors for hundreds of local nonprofit organizations.. Every year since 2016, Kern Community Foundation has hosted GBK to help local nonprofit organizations raise money and volunteer hours. GBK is a month-long event of community engagement in giving and volunteering that leads up to the first Tuesday in May. GBK is part of Kern Community Foundation’s Nonprofit Strengthening strategic initiative. The initiative increases visibility, builds capacity, and improves sustainability for local nonprofits. The effort shines a light on hard-working local nonprofits, empowering them to advance their marketing and development capabilities, and donor, board and volunteer engagement while encouraging networking and collaboration among nonprofit organizations across the sector. GBK would not have been possible without the support of our sponsors. Nonprofits participate in GBK at no cost. Marketing materials, event fees, online platform, and training are provided through our generous sponsors. If you are interested in becoming a Sponsor, please contact info@kernfoundation.org.

3rd Annual Give Big at the Park 2025

Give Big at the Park 2025 will take place on May 3, 2025!

Save the date for the 3rd Annual Give Big at the Park: Nonprofit Meet and Greet.
Date: Saturday, May 3, 2025
Location: The Park at Riverwalk
Time: 8 AM – 1 PM

Join us for the 3rd Annual Give Big at the Park: Nonprofit Meet and Greet. The nonprofit meet-and-greet will showcase the vibrant nonprofits in Kern County. Last year, over 60 local nonprofit organizations shared their missions, services, and stories with the attendees and nonprofit partners. The event’s purpose was to educate the community by showcasing the different causes the local nonprofit organizations support. The event provided a valuable platform for networking and collaboration among the participating nonprofits. Give Big Kern has raised millions of dollars from thousands of donors for hundreds of local nonprofit organizations. Every year since 2016, Kern Community Foundation has hosted GBK to help local nonprofit organizations raise money and volunteer hours. GBK is a month-long community engagement event that involves giving and volunteering and will run until the first Tuesday in May. GBK is part of Kern Community Foundation’s Nonprofit Strengthening strategic initiative. The initiative increases visibility, builds capacity, and improves sustainability for local nonprofits. The effort shines a light on hard-working local nonprofits, empowering them to advance their marketing and development capabilities, and donor, board and volunteer engagement while encouraging networking and collaboration among nonprofit organizations across the sector. GBK would not have been possible without the support of our sponsors. Nonprofits participate in GBK at no cost.

The Kern Alliance of Nonprofits is hosting a workshop on Kern County’s economy and the future corporate landscape, led by Richard Chapman from the Kern Economic Development Corporation. This informative event will take place on Friday, January 17th, from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM at 1300 17th Street, KCSOS City Centre, Room 1B. Attendees will gain valuable insights into the local economy, emerging business trends, and the opportunities shaping the future of Kern County. It’s a great opportunity to learn and stay informed about the region’s growth and development. Donuts and coffee provided. 

TO RSVP : Click the link below

KAN JANUARY 2025 RSVP

KAN September Workshop

This workshop will provide an overview of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its impact on the nonprofit sector and how we do business. Participants will learn about the opportunities and pitfalls of AI technology and discuss how nonprofits are utilizing this emerging technology. RSVP at www.kernfoundation.org/kan.

Friday, September 20, 2024

KAN Workshop: Understanding Artificial Intelligence (AI)

KCSOS City Centre, Room 1B

Presenter: Britton Smith, IT Services Coordinator, KCSOS

Mr. Smith currently serves as IT Services Coordinator for the Kern County Superintendent of Schools, leading technology initiatives and supporting educational technology at school districts throughout Kern County. In 2021, he established and continues to support a non-profit for the 11u Bakersfield Assault Baseball Club.

Kern Alliance of Nonprofits May 2024 Training

KAN Training: Continuous Improvement

The Kern Alliance of Nonprofits (KAN) is hosting nonprofit trainings. Launched in 2016 by a small group of local nonprofit leaders who care deeply about building the capacity of nonprofit organizations in Kern County. They provide monthly educational workshops on various aspects of nonprofit work taught by qualified leaders, and quarterly social mixers designed to bring community-based organizations and their partners and supporters together for strategic networking.

Date: May 17, 2024
Location: KCSOS City Centre, Rm 1B 1300 17th Street

*Training dates, locations, and topics are tentative and subject to change
All trainings will be from 8:30 – 10:00 a.m., with check-in at 8 a.m.

Trainings will also be available on Zoom. Link will be sent upon registration.

Interested in becoming a member? Click (HERE) and submit your membership form today! 

The Steering Committee meets monthly to guide the Alliance’s work in the areas of strategic planning, education and nonprofit leadership development, communications and outreach, advocacy, membership, and more.

Their mission was…To strengthen the Community Benefit Organizations of Kern County. Following a process that involved stakeholder feedback and strategic planning in the Spring of 2019, the new mission is…To strengthen the Nonprofit Organizations of Kern County through training, networking, and advocacy. 

Interested in becoming a member of KAN? Click (HERE) and submit your membership form today! 

KAN’s Vision is…To create a strong community benefit sector that plays a vital role in a healthy, prosperous and vibrant Kern County.

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