Network News June 2025
Learning Groups, Reading Groups, and Fieldstone Fieldtrips Plus, learn about BRIDGE!
Want to know what’s happening across our leadership community? Network News brings you the latest stories, updates, and opportunities all in one place. Click below to explore what’s new and what’s coming up.
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Fieldstone Leadership Network SD Included in Initial BRIDGE Cohort
Prebys Foundation Launches $2 Million BRIDGE Initiative to
Strengthen San Diego’s Nonprofit/Civic Sector Amid Growing Uncertainty
San Diego nonprofits are navigating delayed funding, budget cuts, rising costs, and shifting federal policies. To help them adapt and lead through change, the Prebys Foundation is launching BRIDGE (Building Resilient, Inclusive, and Dynamic Grassroot Ecosystems), a $2 million initiative that will support nonprofit and civic leaders from across sectors working together to strengthen their organizations and communities.
BRIDGE will begin by investing in eight trusted community organizations chosen for their strong leadership, diverse focus areas, and the people they serve. Together they will help other nonprofits and civic groups build skills, strengthen their leadership and operations, and stay connected through training, wellness practices, advocacy, and shared learning, with the potential to grow this network over time.
The BRIDGE Cohort
· Chicano Federation – Cultivates opportunities and advocates for equity in San Diego County—serving 50,000+ people annually through child development, nutrition, affordable housing, and workforce programs.
· Fieldstone Leadership Network San Diego – Builds and sustains nonprofit leaders’ personal and professional capabilities through a comprehensive continuum of development programs.
· Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE) – Empowers Latinas to achieve political and economic parity through leadership training, advocacy, and education that uplifts entire communities.
· LEAD San Diego – The region’s sole nonprofit dedicated to developing civically engaged leaders; educates, engages, and mobilizes individuals to drive lasting, positive change.
· RISE San Diego – advances urban leadership through dialogue-based civic engagement, dynamic nonprofit partnerships and direct training and support to increase the capacity of urban residents to effect meaningful community change.
· Amplified Impact Partners (formerly San Diego Social Venture Partners) – Delivers high-impact pro bono consulting services to nonprofits in need of strategic and operational support, mobilizing talented professionals to amplify the effectiveness of organizations tackling San Diego’s toughest challenges.
· The Nonprofit Institute – Housed at USD’s School of Leadership and Education Sciences, it strengthens San Diego’s nonprofit sector through research, evaluation, leadership development, and signature events.
· Walking Shield – A Native-managed nonprofit since 1986, dedicated to improving American Indian families’ quality of life through health, education, housing, and economic development across 51 tribes.
Janine Mason, FLNSD Founder, shared her enthusiasm for the opportunity to be part of this work; “At a time when nonprofit leaders continue to face mounting challenges, it is deeply encouraging to be part of this collaborative effort to build greater resilience and connection across our sector. To be included in this inaugural cohort is both humbling and energizing — and we are ready to do the work alongside such inspiring peers.
Even before recent shifts in federal policy and disruptions in nonprofit funding, the Prebys Foundation had already begun working with community partners to strengthen the region’s nonprofit and civic infrastructure. What began in fall 2024 as a collaborative planning effort has become BRIDGE, a coordinated investment in leadership, partnership, and local capacity to meet rising community needs. As uncertainty grows nationally, this work takes on new urgency, ensuring that local leaders are equipped and supported to lead through change.
“Nonprofits are the backbone of San Diego’s civic and social infrastructure,” said Grant Oliphant, CEO of the Prebys Foundation. “Through BRIDGE, we are standing with them in this moment of disruption to ensure they not only survive but emerge stronger, more connected, and more impactful than ever.”
BRIDGE stands for Building Resilient, Inclusive, and Dynamic Grassroots Eco-systems and is a cross-sector initiative supported by the Prebys Foundation, alongside funding partners like Catalyst of San Diego & Imperial Counties. Together, they will work to enhance accessibility, broaden the initiative’s reach and reinforce San Diego’s nonprofit and civic leadership during a time of urgent need. The vision is a more resilient, community-driven ecosystem that supports local leaders and their organizations to strengthen impact across urban, rural, and tribal communities.
Fieldstone Leadership Network San Diego is grateful to the Prebys Foundation for recognizing the value of investing in leadership, and proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with the incredible organizations in the BRIDGE cohort to support San Diego at this critical time.
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Leaders in the Field
Discover the Latest from Fieldstone Leaders
Leaders in the Field is Fieldstone Leadership Network San Diego’s quarterly newsletter celebrating the impact of our nonprofit leadership community. Each edition spotlights the achievements, milestones, and contributions of our Network members—leaders who are driving meaningful change across San Diego and beyond. Don’t miss this opportunity to see what your peers are accomplishing and be inspired by their work.
If you would like to share an accomplishment or contribution of yours or of your colleagues in upcoming Leaders in the Field publications, please email Becky at [email protected]
Read MoreNetwork News May 2025
Clare Rose Sabbatical Announcements! Upcoming Leadership Reading Group! Fieldstone Circle Continues!
Looking for the latest updates, stories, and opportunities from our leadership community? Network News has you covered. Click below to see what’s new and what’s next—we’d love for you to be part of it.
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Announcing our 2025 Clare Rose Sabbatical Recipients
Investing in Leadership. Strengthening Organizations. Building a Vibrant Nonprofit Community.
Fieldstone Leadership Network San Diego and the Clare Rose Foundation are proud to announce the 2025 recipients of the Clare Rose Sabbatical Program:
Jen Nation and Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center
and
Ben McCue and Outdoor Outreach.
These outstanding leaders have been selected to receive a fully funded sabbatical experience, designed not only to provide them with a period of personal renewal but also to support a comprehensive capacity-building experience for their entire organizations. The grant includes funds to provide salary and benefits for the leader for the three months they are away, development opportunities for those leading in the absence of the executive director, additional compensation for those leading, and a consultant to help with the planning, execution and return phases of the program. Jen and Ben were selected from a rich candidate pool by a committee comprised of past Clare Rose Sabbatical-Takers, including Fiona Chatwin, Tanya Danielly, Renato Paiva, Pauline Martinson and Barbara Reuer. Past sabbatical-takers also participated in the surprise announcements to welcome the newest members of our Clare Rose Sabbatical Community.
Since its inception, the Clare Rose Sabbatical Program has recognized that the sustainability of nonprofit leadership requires intentional rest, distributed leadership, and organizational resilience. By focusing on both the individual leader and the wider organization, the program strengthens the leadership bench, fosters innovation, and enhances long-term effectiveness. Fieldstone and the Clare Rose Foundation joined forces in 2014 to offer the Clare Rose Sabbatical Program as part of the Fieldstone Leadership Network San Diego. To date, we have provided nearly 40 sabbaticals to nonprofit leaders across San Diego, resulting in stronger, more adaptive organizations and communities.
Meet the 2025 Recipients
Jen Nation
Executive Director, Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center
Located on a 7.85-acre historic property in National City, Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center has been a hub for health, environmental, and community education since 2008. Under Jen’s leadership, the organization has deepened its commitment to its mission to nourish communities and cultivate a deep connection to the environment through nutrition education, sustainable urban agriculture, collective advocacy, and intergenerational leadership.
This work supports a bold vision of a community free of diet-related health conditions and a thriving environment.
Jen brings more than 20 years of nonprofit experience to her role and holds degrees in nonprofit administration and nonprofit leadership. She is dedicated to building healthy, engaged communities and fostering long-lasting relationships, both locally and beyond. The sabbatical will allow Jen and her team to further develop leadership capacity within the organization and continue Olivewood’s tradition of community-rooted impact.
Ben McCue
Executive Director, Outdoor Outreach
Since 1999, Outdoor Outreach has provided life-changing experiences to more than 20,000 San Diego youth, connecting them to the transformative power of the outdoors. The organization’s mission is clear:
To connect youth to the transformative power of the outdoors, with a vision for an outdoors for all that inspires and sustains healthy, vibrant communities.
Ben joined Outdoor Outreach in 2013, bringing his passion for environmental equity and youth development to the organization. Under his leadership, Outdoor Outreach has expanded its reach and strengthened its commitment to making nature accessible to all youth, regardless of background or barriers. His recent recognition with the Prebys Leadership Award affirms the impact of his work.
Through the sabbatical, Ben and his team will focus on enhancing leadership throughout the organization, investing in professional growth and long-term sustainability, and ensuring Outdoor Outreach continues to thrive as a platform for youth empowerment.
Looking Ahead
The next application cycle for the Clare Rose Sabbatical Program is anticipated to open in January 2027. During this interim period, Fieldstone Leadership Network San Diego and the Clare Rose Foundation will undertake a thoughtful evaluation and restructuring of the program to ensure it continues to meet the evolving needs of nonprofit leaders and organizations.
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Jen Nation and Ben McCue, and to the entire teams at Olivewood Gardens and Outdoor Outreach, for their remarkable leadership and deep commitment to community. We expect that their sabbatical journeys will strengthen not only their organizations but the entire fabric of San Diego’s nonprofit sector.
For more information, please visit our website
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Fieldstone Leaders Share Their Stories on Spotlight on the Community
Fieldstone Leadership Network San Diego recently had the privilege of joining Drew Schlosberg on his long-running podcast, Spotlight on the Community, for a conversation about leadership, mission, and the power of connection.
This special appearance follows Janine Mason’s earlier visit to the podcast in January of this year, where she discussed Fieldstone’s work in strengthening nonprofit leaders and building a vibrant network of support throughout San Diego. For this latest conversation, Janine returned to the studio — and this time, she brought along several inspiring members of the Fieldstone Leadership Network to share firsthand how being part of FLNSD has shaped their leadership journeys and empowered their organizations to better meet their missions. We are grateful to Jen Nation, Olivewood Gardens and Learning Center; Fiona Chatwin, Villa Musica, Rhea Van Brocklin, Christie’s Place and Valin Brown, Alliant Educational Foundation for sharing their experiences so generously.
For nearly two decades, Spotlight on the Community has been amplifying the voices of social impact organizations, social entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and community champions who are working every day to shape the culture, creativity, and connectivity that drive San Diego forward. As the longest-running community podcast in the country, now in its 19th year and proudly supported by Mission Fed Credit Union, Drew and his guests continue to shine a light on the people and projects making a difference.
We are grateful to Drew Schlosberg for his unwavering commitment to elevating local voices and to our Fieldstone leaders for sharing their lived experiences, insights, and stories on this platform. Their conversation is a reminder that nonprofit leadership is both deeply personal and deeply communal — and that together, we are always stronger.
🎧 We invite you to listen in and be inspired.
👉 Spotify: https://buff.ly/htb8Z2Z Apple: https://buff.ly/toEDgzg
Mason Recognized as Nonprofit Board Leader of Influence
Janine Mason was recently recognized by the San Diego Business Journal as a Nonprofit Board Leader of Influence for 2025. The recognition is presented annually to honor the valuable service provided by members of the San Diego community to local nonprofit organizations. Honoree’s are nominated for consideration. Janine was nominated by Will Peterson, Executive Director of the Catholic Community Foundation of San Diego. Janine has served as a trustee of the CCFSD since 2020.
Janine’s feature in the SDBJ reads as follows:
“With extensive board service and leadership, Janine Mason is a recognized champion of nonprofit excellence. She serves as a trustee for the Catholic Community Foundation of San Diego and the Erik & Ese Banck Clinical Research Center. Committed to strengthening board governance, she founded the Nonprofit Board Exchange to expand and diversify board service and established the Kaleidoscope Award for Excellence in Board Governance, presented annually by USD. As co-creator of the Clare Rose Sabbatical Program, she has fostered leadership renewal across the sector. Formerly Executive Director of Fieldstone Foundation, she has also consulted with the Weingart and Clare Rose Foundations, directing resources to advance organizational impact. Janine holds an MA from USD, executive education certificates from Notre Dame and Stanford, and professional certifications from BoardSource, the Centers for Creative Leadership, and Courage & Renewal. Through board leadership and strategic initiatives, she has significantly shaped the nonprofit landscape.”
In addition to her two current board roles, Janine has served on the board of the San Diego Blood Bank Foundation, BIA Cares, Harmonium, The Children’s Initiative, The National Society of Fundraising Executives (San Diego), San Diego Grantmakers (Catalyst) and The Nonprofit Institute. She also served on the Alumni Board for the University of San Diego and board of the Notre Dame Club of San Diego .
We understand that board service to a nonprofit organization is a significant way to support an agency’s mission and work towards its success. We applaud all of the honorees and thank them for their unselfish and inspired service.
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Leaders in the Field
Recognizing our Network Members
Members of the Fieldstone Leadership Network San Diego are some of the most accomplished leaders in our community. And we are proud of them!! Thus, we offer Leaders in The Field, a quarterly communication highlighting Fieldstone Leadership Network San Diego members, their contributions to and achievements in our community. Leaders in the Field seeks to recognize and celebrate our members while increasing the awareness of their work and accomplishments.
If you would like to share an accomplishment or contribution of yours or of your colleagues in upcoming Leaders in the Field publications, please email Janine at [email protected]
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Network News February 2025
A Look Back at February with Fieldstone Leadership Network San Diego
February was a month filled with growth, connection, and inspiration at Fieldstone Leadership Network San Diego! From transformative leadership programs to meaningful gatherings that foster collaboration and renewal, our community came together in powerful ways.
Whether you’re a longtime member of our network or just discovering the work we do, we invite you to reflect on the past month with us. Read on for highlights, insights, and stories from February—you won’t want to miss what unfolded!
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Network News January 2025
We are welcoming 2025 with new learning groups, coaching partnerships, a Fieldstone Circle and more. Learn all about it HERE
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