2019 was a really busy legislative session! Our new Governor brought in his own bold agenda focusing on hot topics like housing, early childhood education, and criminal justice reform. And new and returning legislators were eager to put their own ideas into action. 

Issues that CalNonprofits takes up are typically lower-profile, yet high-impact for nonprofits, and with over 3,000 bills competing for attention in this crowded session, we had our work cut out for us.

Here’s how we were able to use our clout and maneuver through this challenging session.

We won!

In a win for nonprofits doing habitat restoration and improving public access to coastal resources, AB 1011 by Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris (D-Laguna Beach) provides extra consideration to nonprofits who apply for fee waivers, making it much easier and less costly for nonprofits to undertake this important work. CalNonprofits was pleased to support this bill which was signed into law by the Governor.

Not Done Yet!

This year CalNonprofits decided to take on a transparency initiative regarding Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs).  We surveyed our members about their experiences with DAFs and 65 percent of respondents told us that they think DAFs are "good but need to be regulated."  We also spoke with national experts and local stakeholders, all of which led us to co-sponsor AB 1712 to improve transparency and accountability of donor-advised funds. 

Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland), explained why she authored this bill:  “I introduced AB 1712 because we must ensure that tax incentives meant to encourage charitable contributions are being used as they were intended: to directly benefit the people and causes of service providers. They should not be used as a vehicle to benefit a few wealthy individuals while depriving the general public of the benefits that result from direct gifts to charitable service providers.”

The bill did not advance this year, but because we just wrapped up year one of a two-year session, we have the opportunity in January to pick up where we left off. Stay tuned – we’ll be asking for your help when the bill is brought up again.

Student debt continues to plague our communities, with an estimated 160,000 nonprofit employees in California alone carrying student debt. As part of our Nonprofit Student Debt Project, CalNonprofits supported Assemblymember Mark Stone (D-Santa Cruz)’s AB 376 – the Borrower’s Bill of Rights – to ensure that student loan borrowers are given reliable information, quality customer service, and meaningful access to repayment and forgiveness programs. Ultimately, the bill did not make it to the Governor’s Desk, and will be taken up again in January 2020. 

First we win, then we make it happen

In 2018 CalNonprofits sponsored the Grant Information Act of 2018 (AB 2252) by Assemblymember Monique Limon, chair of the Assembly Select Committee for the Nonprofit Sector, which will create one centralized and searchable database of state grants. With more than 30 percent of nonprofit revenue coming from government sources, this new tool will help nonprofits find and apply for state grants, which is notoriously difficult right now.

The California State Library is managing the effort and will house and maintain this website, scheduled to be up and running by July 1, 2020.  Right now, we are working with the State Library team to help with design and implementation issues. Thanks to all of you who helped make this happen. 

The 2020 legislative session is likely to be just as busy – and nonprofits will also be involved in the Census, redistricting, voter registration, get-out-the-vote efforts, and advocacy on issues and ballot measures. As always, CalNonprofits will be there making sure that nonprofits have “a seat at the table” and we encourage you to continue to be advocates for, and with, your community. 

We can't do our legislative advocacy work without the support of our 10,000 members. If your organization is not a member, please consider joining today. And, if you are not on our email list, subscribe now!

YES! The nonprofit sector is a powerful economic engine in California, especially when it comes to employment and wages. The nonprofit industry employs more than 1.2 million Californians and, in 2016, paid a total of $74 Billion in wages.

Later this year, CalNonprofits will release new findings for Causes Count: The Economic Impact of California’s Nonprofit Sector. We are so excited we just had to share this sneak peek at some of the data from the “Employment” section of the report:

In total, nonprofits added 107,626 jobs and $13.7 billion in wages between 2012 and 2016. Environment/animal organizations and education (excluding higher education) grew in both the number of jobs and wages. Private foundations were in the top three for job growth while international organizations rounded out the top three for wage growth.

Nonprofits “raise” $16.6 billion each year by mobilizing volunteers to contribute unpaid hours

Volunteers do the equivalent work of 331,058 full-time workers — a significant economic and intangible contribution to the state. New trends in volunteering, however, show that while the number of adults participating as volunteers has grown slightly, the number of hours contributed has dropped by an alarming 25%. 

Following up on the data we reported in 2014 in the original Causes Count: The Economic Impact of California's Nonprofit Sector, the report of the new findings will include new research on nonprofit business models and funding sources, plus updated information about employment, disparities within the nonprofit sector, and more. Make sure you are subscribed to our email list - in the coming weeks, we’ll also give you a sneak peek at some of the data in the “disparities within the nonprofit sector” section.

The anticipation of 2020 continues to grow, particularly as California prepares for the census, redistricting, and elections. Organizations and communities continue to work tirelessly to coordinate and align their efforts to ensure that each person is counted and represented in our democracy.

While the 2020 Census is on the immediate horizon, communities will also begin to prepare in early 2020 for redistricting. Communities’ representation and, as a result, their influence in the public decisions that affect their lives for the entire decade that follows, hinges on a strong redistricting process that includes people from across the wide range of diverse Californians.

What is the role of nonprofits, foundations, and government to ensure that Californians are represented fairly?

Tuesday, October 29th from 12pm to 1pm
Register here

SPEAKERS:

• Connie Malloy, Executive Director, Panta Rhea Foundation; Commissioner, California Citizens Redistricting Commission
• Aarti Kohli, Executive Director, Advancing Justice-Asian Law Caucus
• Efrain Escobedo, Vice President, Education, and Immigration, California Community Foundation
• Anthony Thigpenn, Founder and President, California Calls; The Black Census and Redistricting Hub
• Amy Dominguez- Arms, Consultant, Philanthropy California (Moderator)

Join us to learn about the timeline, key activities, and roles we can all play to ensure Californians of all backgrounds have a strong voice in the public sphere for the decade to come.

Register now! (webinar will be recorded and sent to all registrants)

Make sure you are subscribed to our email list to get updates about future California Policy Forum webinars.

A partnership between CalNonprofits, Philanthropy California (Northern California Grantmakers, San Diego Grantmakers and Southern California Grantmakers) and the League of California Community Foundations, the California Policy Forum not only provides a platform to bring together the voice of nonprofits and philanthropy in our state, but amplifies the sector's significance and priorities to policymakers and experts.