In this illuminating episode, Geoff Green, CEO of the California Association of Nonprofits (CalNonprofits), provides a masterclass on the economic and political power of California's nonprofit sector. Green explains how nonprofits, as the fourth-largest employer in California with 1.2 million workers, are often tasked with addressing the "externalized costs" of both business and government - from poverty wages to environmental degradation - yet are chronically underfunded and undervalued in policy discussions.
The conversation delves into the critical challenges facing nonprofit workers, including delayed government payments, inadequate overhead rates, and the fact that 22% of nonprofit workers struggle to make ends meet. Green discusses CalNonprofits' legislative efforts to reform government contracting and shares a promising new Los Angeles initiative that ensures wage equity across public, private, and nonprofit sectors. He emphasizes that for every $20 of public expenditure, there is only $1 of charitable funding - highlighting why nonprofits must build political power to influence how public dollars are spent rather than simply providing services on the cheap.
Key Points:
--Learn why nonprofits are California's fourth-largest employer and how they're transforming their economic power into political influence
--Discover why "working on the cheap" hurts both nonprofit workers and the communities they serve
--Get an insider's perspective on recent legislative wins and ongoing battles to reform government contracting with nonprofits
--Understand the complex relationship between labor unions and nonprofits, and innovative solutions for wage equity across sectors
--Hear about new research showing how Trump-era tax changes resulted in $20 billion less in charitable giving, and what this means for the sector.
Bio for Geoff Green
Geoff Green is CEO of the California Association of Nonprofits (CalNonprofits), a statewide policy alliance of more than 10,000 nonprofits speaking to government, philanthropy, and the public at large.
A long-time CalNonprofits board member, Geoff previously served as CEO of the Santa Barbara City College Foundation. With more than 25 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, he has worked on a wide variety of issues including affordable housing, access to education, racial equity, and environmental protection.
Under Green’s nine years of leadership, the SBCC Foundation raised over $50 million to support student success programs. In 2016 he led the creation of the SBCC Promise, a groundbreaking initiative that offers all recent, local high school graduates the opportunity to attend college full-time at no cost.
A native of the San Francisco Bay Area, Green now resides on the Central Coast. He has served on a diverse array of local, state, and national nonprofit boards in addition to both elected and appointed public office. A dedicated champion of the nonprofit sector, his prior roles include campaign organizer, public affairs radio host, and national park ranger.
You can reach Geoff by email: Geoffg[at]calnonprofits[dot]org.
Links to Resources:
NONPROFIT WORKFORCE:
ALICE in the Nonprofit Workforce (2024)
GENERAL PHILANTHROPY / NONPROFIT DATA:
CalNonprofits "Causes Count" Study (2019)
2024 Giving USA Report Summary
TAX ISSUES:
National Council of Nonprofits (NCN) Tax Policy Proposal (Oct 2024)
DONOR ADVISED FUNDS:
CA Attorney General Survey of Donor Advised Funds: (from 2021 - 39 pages)
DAF Research Collaborative Report: (released February 15, 2024 - 72 pages)
National Philanthropic Trust (NPT) 2023 DAF Report: (released November 14, 2023 - 38 pages)
ADDITIONAL RESOURCE:
Podcast episode with Jan Masaoka, former CEO of CalNonprofits