CALIFORNIA PRESERVATION FOUNDATION

Education - In 2024, CPF reached record-breaking attendance with over 945 participants at our California Preservation Conference and more than 3,200 participants across our webinars and seminars. The conference featured 52 sessions covering cutting-edge preservation practices and housing solutions in historic contexts. Our Doors Open California program, supported by a grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, gave public access to more than 60 historic sites across the state. CPF continues to expand its educational offerings based on participant feedback and evolving needs. We also invested in the next generation of preservationists by hosting over a dozen university students, awarding stipends to student speakers, and hiring two student fellows through our Underrecognized California program. For the seventh year in a row, we provided scholarships thanks to generous donor support. These efforts reflect CPFs deep commitment to building knowledge, nurturing future leaders, and broadening public access to Californias historic places and preservation practices.

Advocacy - CPF led major advocacy efforts to advance preservation and address housing needs. We co-sponsored AB 3068 with YIMBY Action to make adaptive reuse for housing a use-by-right across all zones, provided projects followed the Secretary of the Interiors Standards. The bill passed both houses but was ultimately vetoed, though it built a solid foundation for future efforts. CPF also opposed AB 2580, which threatened to undermine preservation, mobilizing thousands in grassroots advocacy. We actively lobbied to relocate the proposed State Capitol Visitors Center to preserve the historic West Portal. In addition, we hosted Building on History: A Summit for Housing Solutions, convening over 400 experts and advocates to explore preservation-based approaches to Californias housing crisis. To further unify our voice statewide, CPF launched an Advocacy Network and saw a surge in membership engagement, underscoring our growing influence as a statewide leader in shaping preservation policy and supporting equitable housing solutions.