The Kenneth L. Maddy Institute was selected as a 2025 California Nonprofit of the Year by Assemblymember David Tangipa, a Fresno State alumnus, representing the 8th Assembly District.
The Maddy Institute is one of more than 100 nonprofits that will be honored by their state senators and assemblymembers for their outstanding contributions to the communities they serve.
“I am honored to select The Maddy Institute as our nonprofit of the year,” said Tangipa, who was a tight end on the Fresno State football team from 2014-18. . “The Maddy Institute provides our next generation of leaders with the opportunity to work behind the scenes in policy making and constituent services.” Over the last few months, we have watched our own Maddy intern, Rayne, excel in her communication skills, constituent outreach, and policy analysis. She has truly become an invaluable part of the team.”
Established in 1999 by a unanimous vote of the California Legislature to honor Senator Ken Maddy, The Maddy Institute is dedicated to cultivating the next generation of public servants in the San Joaquin Valley through its legislative internship program. The Maddy Institute also fosters civic engagement by encouraging active citizen participation in government and provides nonpartisan, in-depth policy analysis on critical regional issues.
“Senator Ken Maddy believed that the Central Valley produced one-of-a-kind legislators, and his vision was for The Maddy Institute to give opportunities to young people who wanted to be engaged in public service,” said Blake Zante, executive director of the institute. “This recognition by the California Legislature is a testament that Senator Maddy’s legacy lives on in hundreds of current and future leaders who have participated in The Maddy Institute’s programs.”
To date, about 600 students in the Central Valley have been given an opportunity to intern in a local, state or federal government office. The Maddy Institute partners with Fresno State, CSU Bakersfield, Stanislaus State, UC Merced and the State Center Community College District.
“The Maddy Institute has provided countless opportunities for students to get involved in public service,” said Melissa Frank, chair of the Maddy Institute’s board of directors. “We are proud to be recognized by the California Legislature for our work to inspire the next generation of bipartisan problem solvers.”
Now in its 10th 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 21.
“We are grateful for the work of The Maddy Institute and want to extend our congratulations for this well deserved recognition,” said Geoff Green, CEO of the California Association of Nonprofits (CalNonprofits), the sponsor for the initiative. “Nonprofits provide critical services, advocate for our most vulnerable neighbors, and enrich the lives of all Californians. From the childcare program to the soccer team, from the art class to the health clinic, and from the community organizer to the animal shelter, nonprofits make our communities stronger.”
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.
“Nonprofits are not just innovators and problem-solvers, but also a major economic force within the state,” Green said. According to “Causes Count,” a 2019 report commissioned by CalNonprofits, the nonprofit sector is the fourth-largest industry in the state, employing more than 1.2 million people. Each year, California nonprofits generate more than $273 billion in revenue and bring in $40 billion in revenue from outside of California. The unpaid labor contributed by volunteers at nonprofits is equivalent to 330,000 full-time jobs every year.
