CalNonprofits (CN): The nonprofit sector plays a crucial role in California communities, spanning diverse areas like human services, behavioral health, environmental protection, disaster relief, education, animal welfare, arts, and culture. Please share any personal experience or involvement you’ve had with nonprofits, including how you’ve supported or engaged with the sector. How has this shaped your understanding of nonprofits’ challenges and contributions?

Betty Yee (BY): My personal experience with nonprofits spans over many decades, from serving as a volunteer (for organizations such as public radio, food banks, and literacy for non-English speakers) to serving on the board of directors of several organizations (such as crisis and shelter support, LGBTQ+ rights advocacy, environmental sustainability, and leadership development). I also have financially supported many nonprofits across a diverse array of interests.

This 360-experience with nonprofits has given me first-hand understanding of the contributions of nonprofits as well as the challenges they face: contributions that include serving as a conduit between the state and hard-to-reach communities (linguistically, culturally, geographically, and more), delivering services innovatively to meet people where they are and building trust along the way, and employing staff who are from or share the lived experiences of the communities they serve; and challenges mostly related to their capacity to serve due to funding or human resource constraints and often having to find the balance between securing new sources of funding and the heavy attendant administrative responsibilities and burdens. For nonprofits whose primary mission is advocacy rather than direct service delivery, I have experienced the added dimension of navigating political headwinds that affect their work and ability to serve their communities. 

I have tremendous respect and gratitude for the work of nonprofits and want to see the State value nonprofits more in how we uplift communities around the state. The State’s common top-down, one-size-fits-all approach to service delivery does not serve our diverse communities and their array of needs effectively. I envision formalizing how the State may showcase nonprofits’ best practices as well as identify shortcomings to guide successful program implementation, effective service delivery, and appropriate oversight.

CN: Nonprofits are currently navigating a complex financial landscape, facing increased demand for services while managing rising costs and uncertain funding streams. What specific steps would you take to ensure the financial health and long-term sustainability of the nonprofit sector, including its workforce, in our state? How might you potentially address issues related to government funding and contract reforms?

BY: Understanding that nonprofits are confronting rising costs just like government, businesses, and households are with respect to insurance, utilities, and more, and are often the front line of service delivery to hard-to-reach communities, I want to ensure the State is doing all it can to further the financial health of nonprofits, including everything from how the state disburses grant funding with consistency and awareness of cash flow and better meeting indirect costs to how we determine the appropriate oversight and accountability such that the expectations for such are clear, consistent, and fulfilled on a regular basis so as not to create an undue burden for both the nonprofits and the State. 

I also encourage the State formalizing training for the nonprofit workforce on grants and contract administration, establishing and meeting key performance indicators, and State auditing requirements. Additionally, to the extent feasible, I would examine how to streamline grant application dates and reporting requirements to lessen the administrative burdens on nonprofits and the State.

CN: Nonprofits possess deep community understanding, innovate solutions, and fill systemic gaps by collaborating with government agencies. The state’s Little Hoover Commission recently issued a report detailing recommended state reforms to improve the partnership of the state and nonprofits. If elected, what specific policies or structures would you prioritize to foster stronger partnerships between government and the nonprofit sector in order to address local challenges?

BY: I would establish a nonprofit liaison within the Governor’s Office to ensure consistent grant administration across all state agencies and departments and work to have a special unit in the State Controller’s office to interface with nonprofits as well. Additionally, I would task the Governor’s Office liaison with developing ongoing opportunities for cooperation and collaboration, including the development of training for nonprofits and how oversight and accountability can best be carried out. Nonprofits’ success is the State’s success for ensuring effective service delivery for Californians.