San Diego, CA —Assemblymember Chris Ward (D-San Diego) has named KPBS as the Nonprofit of the Year for Assembly District 78.
“KPBS is the backbone of the San Diego region, providing reliable news and programming for the area, keeping the people of San Diego informed,” said Assemblymember Ward. “Their expansive programming for all ages and on all topics not only allows you to start and end your day with them but also stay engaged throughout your entire life. The public programming KPBS provides is critical infrastructure in our day-to-day lives.”
Now in its 11th year, the California Nonprofit of the Year initiative is a statewide program celebrating the essential role nonprofit organizations play in supporting and strengthening California communities. Each year, state legislators recognize a nonprofit from their district, culminating in a formal celebration at the State Capitol in May.
KPBS has been serving the San Diego region for over 60 years, and as our public media loses federal funding, we need to continue investing in public media outlets that have served with both consistency and integrity for so long.
“We are honored to be recognized by Assemblymember Ward as the 2026 Nonprofit of the Year Honoree for the 78th Assembly District,” said Deanna Mackey, KPBS General Manager. “For 65 years, KPBS has been San Diego’s storyteller. We are a group of nearly 200 people who love being here for San Diego and believe in the power of public media as a means to strengthen our democracy and empower San Diegans with accurate information, diverse perspectives, and enriching content that uplifts and unites. On behalf of Team KPBS, thank you to Assemblymember Ward for this special recognition.”
“We are grateful for the work of KPBS 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.”
The California Nonprofit of the Year program is a joint effort by CalNonprofits and the California State Senate and California Assembly Select Committee on the Nonprofit Sector. CalNonprofits is the state’s leading policy voice for the nonprofit sector, advancing advocacy, education, and research across California.