Grades of Green is proud to announce it has been selected as a 2026 California Nonprofit of the Year by Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi, California State Assembly District 66.
Grades of Green is one of more than one hundred nonprofits that will be honored by their state senators and assemblymembers for their outstanding contributions to the communities they serve.
Founded in 2009, Grades of Green is a nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring and activating students to lead environmental change in their schools and communities. What began as a local school-based initiative has grown into a nationally recognized organization supporting thousands of students and educators each year through hands-on programs, professional development, and youth-led climate action.
Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi, California State Assembly District 66
“As someone who has spent my career working alongside teachers and students, I don’t take this recognition lightly. I’ve seen what happens when students are trusted with real responsibility. They rise to it. That’s why this recognition means so much to all of us at Grades of Green. It reflects a belief we hold deeply. Students are ready to lead. They don’t need more awareness, they need real opportunities to take action. That’s what we’re building alongside educators and partners every day, and this moment affirms that the work matters,” said Kelley Lê, Ed.D., Executive Director of Grades of Green.
“We are grateful for the work of Grades of Green and want to extend our congratulations for this well deserved recognition,” said Geoff Green, CEO of the California Association of Nonprofits (CalNonprofits) which sponsors the initiative. “Nonprofits are among our country’s most trusted organizations and an integral part of civil society. There’s likely never been a more important time to lift up the contributions nonprofits make within the communities they serve.”
Nonprofits are well known for being problem-solvers, innovators, helpers, and advocates, but they are also a major economic force. According to “Causes Count 3.0,” a new report soon to be released by CalNonprofits, the nonprofit sector is now the third largest employer in the state, with approximately 1.5 million Californians working for nonprofit organizations. Collectively our state’s 110,000 501c3 public charities generate more than $430 billion in revenue each year.
Now in its eleventh year, the California Nonprofit of the Year initiative provides the opportunity for each California state legislator to recognize a nonprofit organization doing outstanding work in their district. The program culminates with a celebratory luncheon at the Capitol on California Nonprofits Day, which this year is May 20.
The program is sponsored by the CalNonprofits in partnership with the state Senate and Assembly Select Committees on the Nonprofit Sector. CalNonprofits, the leading policy voice for California’s nonprofit sector, focuses on advocacy, education, and research to build a more powerful and politically engaged nonprofit network across the state.
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