Community Initiatives Welcomes Chris Hobbs
as Chief Executive Officer

The Community Initiatives Board of Directors and CEO Search Committee are pleased to announce the appointment of Chris Hobbs as the organization’s next Chief Executive Officer, beginning October 26, 2026.

Hobbs joins Community Initiatives at an exciting moment in the organization’s 30-year history. A national fiscal sponsor with offices in Oakland and Los Angeles, Community Initiatives supports more than 170 projects working across California and throughout the country, with annual revenue projected to reach $100 million this fiscal year. The organization combines this scale with longstanding fiscal sponsorship expertise and a deep commitment to the people and communities its projects serve.

 

Following a months-long national search, the Board selected Hobbs for his extensive background in fiscal sponsorship, organizational strategy and operations, and his thoughtful, people-centered approach to leadership.

 

“We are incredibly excited to welcome Chris to Community Initiatives,” said Casey Budesilich, Chair and member of the CEO Search Committee. “We wanted a leader who understands the responsibility of this work and sees its possibilities just as clearly. Chris stood out for his knowledge of fiscal sponsorship, his curiosity, and the care he brings to leading people. We are confident in the leader we selected and very happy to welcome him to Community Initiatives.”

 

Hobbs brings more than 20 years of social sector leadership and a career-long belief in fiscal sponsorship as a powerful tool for innovation, equity, efficiency, and collaboration. He spent 13 years at Arabella Advisors, where he built and led the firm’s fiscal sponsorship practice before serving as Chief Operating Officer. Most recently, he served as COO of Kinaura Partners, a global consulting firm serving the social sector, where he led people, culture, strategy implementation, and operations for a team spanning 20 countries.

 

Throughout his career, Hobbs has seen firsthand what the fiscal sponsorship model can make possible: helping ideas launch sooner, allowing leaders to focus their energy on mission rather than administration, and providing the infrastructure and partnership that help communities put solutions into action. His leadership approach focuses on listening first, leading with empathy and clarity, and creating systems that help people do their best work.

 

“Fiscal sponsorship is one of the most powerful tools we have to bring great ideas to life, and Community Initiatives has been doing that work for 30 years,” said Hobbs. “What drew me here is the opportunity to build on an extraordinary foundation—an organization with talented people, ambitious projects, and the experience and infrastructure to help changemakers go further. I’m honored to join Community Initiatives, and I’m ready to listen, learn, and work alongside this community to strengthen what’s working, explore what’s possible, and expand our impact together.”

 

Hobbs’s appointment follows a period of intentional reflection and organizational learning under Interim CEO Kafi Blumenfield. During her tenure, Blumenfield worked alongside staff and the Board to deepen their understanding of the organization and prepare for its next permanent leader.

 

“It has been a privilege to serve Community Initiatives during such an important time,” said Blumenfield. “I have been impressed by how much the people here care about this organization, one another, and the work they do every day. I look forward to seeing how Chris and this dedicated team advance Community Initiatives’ mission to support and strengthen its nonprofit partners in their efforts to advance positive social change.”

Board member and CEO Search Committee member Diana Villalta added, “Nonprofit leaders need more than a place to house their work. They need a fiscal sponsor with the experience, capacity, and responsiveness to keep pace with their ambitions. For 30 years, Community Initiatives has been that kind of partner. Chris understands both what it takes to deliver at that level and where the model can go next, which is exactly the leadership we want as we continue serving projects across California and the country.”

Hobbs holds a BS in business administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an executive certificate in strategy and innovation from MIT Sloan. A longtime Angeleno with strong ties to the Bay Area, he will lead Community Initiatives from Los Angeles.

For 30 years, Community Initiatives has served as a trusted fiscal sponsor to nonprofit projects working to strengthen communities and advance social change. With offices in Oakland and Los Angeles and a national reach, Community Initiatives provides fiscal sponsorship and professional services to more than 170 projects across a wide range of issue areas.

 

Backed by a strong financial foundation and decades of experience, Community Initiatives provides the infrastructure and expertise that allows nonprofit leaders to focus on their missions, grow their impact, and build for the long term.