Bumble bees (genus Bombus) are a charismatic, widespread group of bees that are economically and ecologically important due to their contribution to pollination of wild and crop plants. Habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change have negatively impacted many bumble bee species. While some species appear to have stable populations, the IUCN considers 25 percent of North American bumble bee species as threatened or endangered. There are 25 bumble bee species known from California. Six species are identified as Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and four of those are currently candidates for listing under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA). The California Bumble Bee Atlas (Atlas) is a community science initiative established to systematically, non-lethally survey bumble bees throughout California to help quantify their persistence and abundance. Launched in 2022, the Atlas trained over 200 volunteers and held 11 field training events throughout the state. Atlas volunteers documented almost 3700 bumble bee observations of 22 species, including four of the six SGCN species. In 2023, Atlas collaborators will continue to conduct surveys and analyze bumble bee distributions across the state, efforts which will aid the targeted conservation of these important pollinators.