Are you involved in advocacy? Whether you want to grow your skills or even begin your advocacy journey, we have the right place for you.
Thrive Alliance and Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits (SVCN) are committed to helping nonprofit organizations challenge systemic inequities through advocacy. In the spirit of Thrive and SVCN values of centering racial equity and building collective impact, these trainings empower participants to work together and amplify community voices to build power and thriving and equitable communities.
The Nonprofit Advocacy Series aims to empower San Mateo County and Santa Clara County nonprofits with the knowledge and tools necessary for effective community advocacy. These sessions cover the importance of policy engagement, introduce advocacy techniques, and offer guidance on mobilizing stakeholders and shaping strategies for governmental influence. So far, we have held three events: Nonprofits, Advocacy, Campaigns 101, and Local Legislative Advocacy. The fourth installment of this series will be Charting the Legal Lobbying Waters for Impactful Nonprofit Advocacy on Wednesday, March 27, 2:00 - 3:00 pm. We hope to see you there!
We will cover Working in Coalition, Community Organizing, and Media and Communications 101 in the upcoming months!
If you have any questions about the series or are an expert on the topics above, email me at yajaira@thrivealliance.org.
Yajaira Ortega, Policy and Equity Manager
To view Thrive and community events or to submit an event, visit Thrive's Event page.
Federal and State Updates
Calling All Advocates: Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
The DACA program, which offers temporary legal status to undocumented young people, faces an uncertain future as it returns to the U.S. Supreme Court. Advocates are creating a program for DACA recipients to gain permanent legal status. Join the Zellerbach Family Foundation, The Grove Foundation, Path2Papers, and Justice Action Center on Wednesday, April 3, from 10:00 - 11:30 am to learn about employment-based immigration solutions for DACA recipients. Discover how nonprofit and public employers can legalize their DACA staff and access free resources from Path2Papers for eligibility screening and pro-bono sponsorship application assistance. Register here.
Local to State Advocacy:
Educational Revenue Augmentation Funds (ERAF)
In fiscal year 2023-24, the County and cities are entitled to approximately $267 million in in-lieu Vehicle License Fee (VLF) funds. However, there's only around $153 million available from Educational Revenue Augmentation Funds (ERAF) and property taxes from non-basic aid school districts countywide, resulting in a shortfall of approximately $114 million to cover the County's full entitlement of $158.9 million. Seeking reimbursement from the State, the County continues efforts to cover the shortfall, allocating Excess ERAF funds to bridge the gap for now. This strategy may affect the County's ability to fund capital expenses, including maintenance and new infrastructure, as property tax revenues and State policies impact the availability of Excess ERAF. The proposed 2024-25 State Budget suggests changes that could further reduce Returned ERAF, necessitating prudent budgeting and strategic use of funds for ongoing and one-time purposes, such as addressing unfunded liabilities and capital investments.
The proposed changes will likely result in San Mateo County losing an essential source of revenue used to fund many critical programs. This could significantly impact social services, immigration, childcare, healthcare, mental health, and other safety net programs desperately needed by our most economically disadvantaged and historically marginalized communities.
Help CalNonprofits Understand Student Debt in our Sector
A 2016 survey explored the impact of student debt on nonprofit workforce retention and support mechanisms for employees with debt. A new survey aims to address how over 160,000 California nonprofit employees are affected by student loans. This issue touches the nonprofit sector on a personal, organizational, and policy level. The findings will guide advocacy and educational efforts to combat the adverse effects of student debt. Participants are encouraged to contribute to the survey by Tuesday, March 26, to help shape effective responses. Learn more here.
$4 Million in Federal Funding Headed to County for Farmworker Housing, Accessible Playground
San Mateo County has secured $4 million in federal funding to support two key projects: enhancing farmworker housing and creating an accessible playground. The investment will improve living conditions for farmworkers through the rehabilitation of existing housing and the construction of new units. Additionally, the funding will facilitate the development of an all-inclusive playground designed to be accessible to children of all abilities. Learn more here.
County Launches Mobile Mental Health Crisis Response
San Mateo County has initiated a mobile mental health crisis response program aimed at providing immediate, on-site support to individuals experiencing a mental health emergency. The program, which includes mental health clinicians and emergency medical technicians, offers an alternative to law enforcement intervention. This initiative aims to deliver compassionate care, reduce the stigma around mental health crises, and improve outcomes for needy individuals. Learn more here.
Faith and Housing Advocacy Unite
In 2023, the Housing Leadership Council (HLC) initiated a program to mobilize San Mateo County faith communities towards housing justice, achieving significant support for SB4 and making it a landmark campaign with the most faith community endorsements in the state. The program's momentum continued into 2024 by creating a pro-housing, anti-displacement initiative, launching a network of 19 housing champions from 16 congregations to empower faith leaders to advocate for policy changes. These housing champions are set to engage deeply in housing advocacy, attending council meetings to support affordable housing and influencing housing policies, signifying a robust movement within faith communities towards equitable housing solutions.
Thrive RISE recently hosted a continuity of operations (COOP) training for farmers on the South Coast in partnership with SF CARD, South Coast Sustainable, and the San Mateo RCD. The training addressed nature-based solutions on farms, continuity of operations planning specific to the agricultural sector, and the County's new Ag ID program. Stay tuned for an upcoming training opportunity for small businesses on the coast in May.
Nonprofit REDI Hub
Call for Racial Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Speakers
Thrive & SVCN are inviting speakers — panelists, presenters, trainers, and facilitators -- to submit proposals on topics including but not limited to:
Racial Justice
Race and Identity
Organizational Culture
Governance and Nonprofit Boards
REDI Metrics and Accountability
Support System
Healing and Wellness
We encourage submissions from speakers who represent a wide range of backgrounds and we welcome speakers from outside Silicon Valley.
Psychological Safety Training for Nonprofit Leaders
Wednesday, March 25, 1:00 - 2:30 pm, Virtual
Curious about how to create a supportive and empowering work environment?
Join Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits (SVCN) and Thrive Alliance's workshop on Psychological Safety. Psychological safety is the shared belief among team members that they can take interpersonal risks without fear of negative consequences to their self-image, status, or career. Learn how fostering psychological safety within your team can build capacity and enhance collaboration, creativity, and organizational effectiveness. Discover practical strategies for building trust, open communication, and handling conflicts constructively. Don't miss this opportunity to elevate your leadership and organizational impact.
Thrive RISE March Meeting: Understanding Major Changes to FEMA Assistance for Future Disasters
Wednesday, March 27, 10:00 - 11:00 am, Virtual
Earlier this year, FEMA announced policy changes to its Individual Assistance program that will greatly reduce barriers to assistance for those impacted by disasters. These policy changes, which go into effect for presidentially declared disasters that occur on or after March 22, 2024, aim to make the application and appeals processes easier for applicants, remove red tape associated with duplication of benefits, and promote more equitable outcomes among survivors.
Join our March meeting with Claire Balsley from SBP to learn about the specifics of these policy changes and what they mean for the communities you serve.
Building Momentum for Resilience Hubs Across the Bay Area
March 26 - May 22, Virtual
Join Thrive Alliance and Collective Resilience for a three-part workshop series to understand the landscape of resilience hubs in the Bay Area, learn the concepts and tools needed to develop resilience hubs, and develop partnerships with nonprofits, governments, and funders. We will lay the groundwork to develop a robust network of resilience hubs across the Bay Area for communities that need them most.
The workshops will be interactive, feature guest speakers with expertise in developing resilience hubs with opportunities for networking and peer-to-peer learning. The series is free for community members and small organizations, with a suggested fee for large organizations, businesses, and government agencies. These fees go toward speaker stipends and organizer costs, with any remaining funds to be put toward a fund for resilience hub development. Registration signs you up for all three sessions.
Session 1: The State of Resilience Hub Work in the Bay Area
Tuesday, March 26, 1:00 - 3:00 pm, Virtual
Session 2: Funding and Development of Resilience Hubs
Charting the Legal Lobbying Waters for Impactful Nonprofit Advocacy
Wednesday, March 27, 2:00 - 3:00 pm, Virtual
The bottom line is: nonprofits can lobby! The question is: how to do it legally?
During this session, you'll gain a clearer grasp of how to navigate nonpartisan advocacy within legal lobbying restrictions. You'll also learn how to maintain records that will keep your organization's head above water to be in compliance with 501(c)(3) nonprofit lobbying restrictions.
The Voter Education and Outreach Advisory Committee will recap the last elections, discuss which outreach strategies were most effective, and share best practices for the November elections! Everyone is welcome.
Co-chaired by San Francisco Peninsula People Power, the County Elections Office, and Thrive Alliance.
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The 2024 Nonprofit Power Report, recently released by Nonprofit VOTE, reveals that nonprofits significantly boost voter turnout by ten percentage points among those they engage, particularly in historically marginalized communities.
Bay Area Transit Expands Clipper START Program to Provide Affordable Transit for Low-Income Riders
Bay Area Transit has expanded its Clipper START program to make it more affordable for low-income riders aged 19-64. The program offers a 50% discount on single-ride fares for all Bay Area transit, including bus, rail, ferry, and train.
Applications are available in English, Spanish, Chinese, and Tagalog. Eligible participants can apply online here.
Finding affordable housing in the Bay Area is a challenge for most people, but it is tough for teachers and education staffers to live in the communities in which they work. Register here.
As we witness the far-reaching effects of climate change, from the retreat of Arctic ice to unprecedented heatwaves and ecological shifts, we acknowledge that we stand at a critical juncture. Acterra’s Promise to Our Planet - At the Tipping Point delves into the dynamics of complex systems, emphasizing that seemingly small efforts can spark monumental change, altering the fate of our planet. Register here.
Project Homekey: Ask An Expert
Wednesday, March 27, 5:00 pm, Virtual
Project Homekey, a statewide effort, aims to sustain and rapidly expand housing for persons experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness by providing state funding to local government agencies for property purchase and rehabilitation. San Mateo County has five Project Homekey sites, with a proposed sixth location in Millbrae. For questions regarding the initiative, email LWVNCSMC to reach Mike Callagy, San Mateo County's Executive Officer. Register here.
Rally the Sector: Nonprofits and Election 2024
Thursday, March 28, 11:00 am, Virtual
Nonprofits have a HUGE nonpartisan role in elections, with voters they engage having vastly higher turnout rates than those who aren't. As we barrel toward what's sure to be a blockbuster election year with crucial races up and down the ballot, the time is now to harness the power of nonprofits to build sustainable voting infrastructure in communities across the country. Register here.
3rd Annual Cesar Chavez Celebration
"Beyond the Fields"
Friday, March 29, 4:30 - 8:00 pm, In-Person
The Behavioral Health and Recovery Services' Office of Diversity and Equity's Latino/a/x Collaborative is again partnering with Voices of Recovery for the 3rd Annual Cesar Chavez Celebration. This year, the event will occur at the East Palo Alto Academy. Learn more here.
Feel Good Action
Tuesday, April 2, 4:30 pm, In-Person
Ladera Community Church: 3300 Alpine Rd Portola Valley, CA 94028
Feel Good Action is aimed at our future in many ways—especially young people voting and staying involved. Learn more here.
CalNonprofit's Student Debt Program collaborated with the Nonprofit Student Debt Task Force and industry experts to produce an updated and timely PSLF Webinar. Changes to the PSLF program occur on April 30th, so you'll want to attend to learn more! Register here.
CEN’s Board Matching Event is a space where individuals can connect and explore the possibility of working together to further their collective community impact. It is open to those who completed the Building Representative Boards or Board Organizational Preparedness cohort programs. Register here.
Join Legal Services for Prisoners to rally at the state capitol for the annual Quest for Democracy event. Every year, Legal Services for Prisoners bus hundreds of formerly incarcerated persons to Sacramento to meet directly with their elected legislators. Please join and support the movement to advocate for the rights of persons formerly and currently incarcerated. Register here.
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