LEAD California is a coalition of California’s leading colleges and universities that each year invests in and champions more than 500,000 students, faculty members, administrators and community members involved in diverse and ground-breaking activities that support and expand civic and community engagement throughout California.
Founded in 1988, LEAD California (formerly known as California Campus Compact) includes among its members public, private, two-year and four-year institutions across the state and the spectrum of higher education.
LEAD California’s reputation as a national leader in civic and community engagement and service- learning provide many opportunities to highlight California campuses to both statewide and national audiences. LEAD California regularly communicates about higher education’s commitment to public and community service with legislators, corporations, foundations, community-based organizations, and media representatives.
LEAD California works with members in making links between service, service-learning and civic engagement efforts and larger institutional priorities, such as retention of students, multicultural education, community relations, and workforce development. In doing so, we not only advance the civic engagement movement, but also help address other important institutional challenges.
LEAD California provides access to grant funding for our member campuses to support new programming and initiatives, education awards, training and technical assistance, and professional development for faculty, staff, administrators, community partners, and students.
LEAD California is the only state-based membership organization that intentionally include members from all sectors of higher education. To promote collaboration across sectors, we regularly facilitate convening and networking opportunities and encourage cross-campus networking and collaboration among faculty, staff, and campus leaders.
LEAD California provides a variety of professional development and technical assistance services, including on-site consultations, workshops, institutes, networking opportunities, cutting-edge publications, and our monthly membership e-newsletter. These services have reached millions of faculty, staff, administrators, students, and community partners since 1988.