California Nonprofits Day

Each year, California legislators are invited to choose a Nonprofit of the Year in their district and come together to celebrate at the California Nonprofits Day Luncheon. This event fosters relationships between elected officials and nonprofits doing important work in their communities. Since the first California Nonprofits Day in 2016 more than 450 nonprofits have been honored by their Assemblymembers and Senators.

2020 California Nonprofits Day is on hold due to the COVID19 pandemic. The celebration luncheon originally scheduled for June 10 is canceled.

The best way to be selected as a Nonprofit of the Year is to build a relationship with your legislator or their staff. While State Senators and Assemblymembers might not be able to meet with you in person, you can usually schedule meetings with their staff "in-district" (ie their local office, rather than in Sacramento) to talk to them about a specific bill or educate them about the issues you care about and the community you serve. If you have any questions please contact Christine Metropoulos.

California Nonprofits Day 2019

For the 4th Annual California Nonprofits Day, Assemblymember Monique Limon, Chair of the Assembly Select Committee on Nonprofits, introduced a resolution in the Assembly declaring June 5, 2019, California Nonprofits Day (click here for the text of the Resolution.) And on Wednesday, June 5th, 2019, an inspiring group of leaders from around California traveled to Sacramento to be recognized as Nonprofits of the Year!

102 state senators and assemblymembers selected nonprofits in their districts for the honor and more than 500 legislators and nonprofits staff, board members, and volunteers attended a sold-out celebration luncheon on the South Lawn of the state capitol. 

Assemblywoman Monique Limón (Santa Barbara), chair of the Assembly Select Committee on the Nonprofit Sector, opened the luncheon by highlighting the great work nonprofits from all sectors - arts, environment, human services, animal welfare and more - are doing supporting and advocating for their communities.

During her keynote address, Senator Holly J. Mitchell (Los Angeles) talked about her own history as a nonprofit leader and the challenges she faced and told the crowd: "I've been where you are. I feel your pain." She went on to highlight the importance of nonprofit-government partnerships, noting that both rely on each other to help our communities thrive. 

A list of the honorees and the program from the day can be downloaded here.  

Photos from the event can be found here on our Box archive.