About Canal Alliance
What is Canal Alliance?
Canal Alliance is a nonprofit in San Rafael, California, that "exists to break the generational cycle of poverty for Latino immigrants and their families by lifting barriers to their success." Since its founding in 1982, it says, it "has evolved in response to the changing needs of Marin's Latino community." Its strategy "intertwines high-impact direct services with bold, place-based initiatives that address the root causes of injustice", organised around five areas: individual and family wellbeing, dignified and affordable housing, legal rights and safety, education and career training, and strong and resilient neighborhoods. Services include a weekly food pantry, English classes, citizenship exam preparation, career certification programs, immigration legal services and ICE encounter and family preparedness support. In the 2026 fiscal year Canal Alliance served 4,797 clients and distributed 644,996 pounds of food, and for the 2025 tax year it filed 701 tax returns that returned $1,712,025 in refunds to clients. Its operating budget for fiscal year 2027 is $16.1 million.
Where will I work?
In San Rafael, on a hybrid pattern. Canal Alliance's job postings say "We offer hybrid work for most positions", and the Staff Attorney – Pro Bono Coordinator role has "a hybrid work model requiring three days a week in the office", with hearings and interviews in San Francisco as needed. The organisation has two sites in San Rafael: its headquarters at 711 Grand Avenue and a Neighborhood Location at 91 Larkspur Street. Both are open Monday to Thursday, in step with the four-day week. "We are a dog friendly office," the careers page adds.
What is the Canal Alliance team like?
Canal Alliance had 101 employees as of fall 2026, led by Chief Executive Officer Omar Carrera, Chief Financial Officer Karen Rodriguez, Chief Program Officer Richard Martinez, Chief Development Officer Sara Matson and Chief Human Resources Officer Johanna Schleret. The North Bay Business Journal named it one of its 2025 Best Places to Work. Before the four-day pilot, the organisation spent two years on its culture: "extensive leadership development", diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging work, and a redesigned approach to performance management, "prioritizing professional development opportunities for staff at all levels." Its postings describe "a collaborative and trauma-informed environment" with peer reviews, one-on-one check-ins and "quarterly all-staff retreats". The two roles open in September 2026 are immigration attorney posts, a Staff Attorney – Pro Bono Coordinator and a Staff Attorney in the Affirmative Unit; both require fluent English and Spanish and both publish a salary range.
Work-Life Balance
"We work a 4 day workweek with a regular 32 hours per week," Canal Alliance's job postings say, and the careers page confirms: "We operate on a four-day workweek (32 hours)." The organisation piloted the schedule in February 2024 and made it permanent in June 2024. Its Chief Human Resources Officer wrote in August 2025: "Since February of 2024 we have had zero resignations due to burnout. Zero. That is down from a turnover rate that had hovered around 34% for years." Between February 2024 and July 2025, 82% of staff reported a sustained improvement in their work-life balance, 74% reported improved mental health and 72% improved physical health, while applications for open positions rose 70%. The shorter week came with "shorter and fewer meetings, calendar holds for deep work time" and set weekly time for quick questions. The same post is candid about the adjustment: "We have struggled with meeting fatigue, prioritization, learning how to 'say no' at an agency level, and compressed time frames for planning and reporting." Leave includes three weeks of paid vacation, three weeks of sick leave, a paid birthday and at least 13 holidays, "including the week between Christmas and New Year's Day", and longtime staff can take a month-long paid sabbatical after five years.
Perks and Benefits
- A four-day, 32-hour workweek, with both offices open Monday to Thursday
- Three weeks of paid vacation, three weeks of sick leave and a paid birthday
- At least 13 paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year's Day
- A month-long paid sabbatical after five years
- 100% employer-paid employee medical and dental insurance
- Fully paid online therapy sessions (up to 24 on the newest posting) and an employee assistance program
- Telehealth for physical and mental health
- Life insurance and long-term disability cover
- A 403(b) retirement plan with an employer match of up to 4% after three months
- Voluntary vision, FSA, life and pet insurance, with coverage for dependents
- Salary ranges published on job postings
- Quarterly all-staff retreats
- A dog-friendly office