CalNonprofits is co-hosting virtual town halls with California lawmakers from around the state. Join CalNonprofits CEO Jan Masaoka and Public Policy Director Lucy Salcido Carter on for a webinar-style town hall where you'll hear directly from the California lawmakers representing your area, and from philanthropy, and nonprofits on what’s going on at the state and federal levels in response to COVID-19 and how these policies impact nonprofits.

Recordings of previous Town Hall events:

With the Fourth of July just ahead of us and Juneteenth just behind us, it’s a good time to reflect on inequality, democracy, and nonprofits.

The nonprofit sector could also be called the First Amendment Sector – four of the five First Amendment rights speak directly to what we nonprofits are about: freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly (to set up groups), and freedom to petition the government (the fifth is freedom of the press).

As institutions rooted in democratic principles, we nonprofits often see ourselves as working against inequality and trying to reduce disparities if not eliminate them. Yet in many ways, the nonprofit community itself reflects those inequalities and disparities. Key reasons? Government agencies and foundations perpetuate these inequalities by reason of who and how they fund.

Unexpectedly, disparities in the nonprofit community have gotten worse over the last several years, despite government and philanthropic initiatives started on these issues (all data from Causes Count 2019: The Economic Power of California’s Nonprofit Sector):

Earlier this month, the California assembly passed AB 2936, a simple, modest transparency bill related to donor-advised funds (DAFs). Even so, it is generally believed that this is the first state law anywhere in the U.S. addressing transparency for donor-advised funds. As such it is landmark legislation, and it's important for us to get it past the finish line. To do that, we need to get it passed by two senate committees and the full senate, before it goes to the Governor to sign it into law.

The donor-advised fund (DAF) bill:

• Establishes some definitions for donor-advised funds (not currently defined in California law)
• Affirms the authority of the California Attorney General to require reports from donor-advised fund sponsors

Please take a moment to sign this letter letting the California state senate know that nonprofits care about this issue.

DEADLINE: Friday, July 10, at 2pm.

You will be asked to provide your organization's name, your name, and title, as well as your organization's logo (optional).