About
Jim Keddy assists social change organizations in growing their capacities in community organizing, advocacy, policy analysis and development, organizational growth and fundraising.
With over 30 years of experience in social change and philanthropy, Jim brings a spirit of curiosity and challenge to every relationship. He seeks to place human development at the center of organizational action and advocacy strategy and believes that organizations must seek to align their external justice work with their internal policies and practices. He is grounded in a belief in human dignity and in a social analysis centered on equity.
Over the years, Jim has:
His current efforts include:
Jim serves as the executive director of Youth Forward, a child advocacy and youth organizing effort (www.youth-forward.org). He serves on the board of Kids First California, a child advocacy 501c4. He is a former foster parent and is currently active in providing respite support for adoptive families. He is fortunate to be married to Gina Martinez-Keddy and to have two amazing young adult children, Luke and Clare. He lives in Sacramento, California.
With over 30 years of experience in social change and philanthropy, Jim brings a spirit of curiosity and challenge to every relationship. He seeks to place human development at the center of organizational action and advocacy strategy and believes that organizations must seek to align their external justice work with their internal policies and practices. He is grounded in a belief in human dignity and in a social analysis centered on equity.
Over the years, Jim has:
- Developed a youth organizing strategy for a major statewide charitable foundation.
- Directed the largest statewide community organizing network in the country.
- Created a network model of community organizing that enabled local organizations to act together in a powerful way on state and federal policy.
- Provided coaching and mentoring to new non-profit directors.
- Helped a national parent engagement organization develop a systematic approach to fundraising.
- Co-led staff development sessions to bring a racial equity perspective to strategy.
- Built community organizing efforts from the ground up.
His current efforts include:
- Developing an online training program in community organizing for a national organizing network.
- Co-leading a campaign to win a ballot measure in support of children and youth services.
- Providing consulting support to a Latino high school organizing effort and a Solano County youth effort.
- Executive coaching for directors of a regional community organizing effort and three city-based efforts on the East Coast and California.
- Developing an advocacy effort on the marijuana industry grounded in racial and health equity (www.youth-forward.org).
Jim serves as the executive director of Youth Forward, a child advocacy and youth organizing effort (www.youth-forward.org). He serves on the board of Kids First California, a child advocacy 501c4. He is a former foster parent and is currently active in providing respite support for adoptive families. He is fortunate to be married to Gina Martinez-Keddy and to have two amazing young adult children, Luke and Clare. He lives in Sacramento, California.