2020 Honorees for Nonprofit of the Year

There are 120 members of the California state legislature: 80 in the Assembly and 40 in the State Senate. In this time of COVID-19, the wildfires, and other troubles, nearly 90% of legislators made sure they took the time to identify a nonprofit for special recognition. The organizations honored by legislators include a remarkable range of nonprofit types: large and small, human services and arts, urban and rural, religion-based, and serving all the different kinds of people and communities we have in California.

You can find our press release here.

Click on the name of the region below to see the nonprofit honorees and the legislators who selected them in each region. Or you can download a list organized by senate and assembly districts here.

What is California Nonprofit of the Year?

Each year, California Assemblymembers and State Senators are invited to honor a Nonprofit of the Year for their district. Co-sponsored by the Assembly Select Committee on the Nonprofit Sector and the California Association of Nonprofits (CalNonprofits), these awards:

• Bring attention and recognition to outstanding nonprofits — especially in local press where it often means the most.
• Collectively illustrate the remarkable diversity and vibrancy of California's nonprofit community: big and small we touch Californians every day through health clinics, churches, American Legion posts, choral groups, Meals on Wheels, prison reform organizations, wildfire relief organizations, museums, environmental advocacy organizations, and more.
• Give legislators a way to highlight some types of nonprofits that are often overlooked: all-volunteer organizations and nonprofits based in Black and other communities of color.

Nonprofit honorees strengthen their relationships with legislators and vice versa. As policy advocates, we know that when legislators know nonprofits in their district, they listen more carefully to what nonprofits and the communities they represent need.

In 2020 we are celebrating the Nonprofits of the Year virtually! 105 out of 119* Legislators selected their honorees and we will celebrated them, and the wider nonprofit community, in September. Follow us on Twitter or like us on Facebook to join the festivities. (*1 seat is vacant.)

Celebrating Nonprofits of the Year at 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.