With so much at stake in 2025, our collective action has never been more urgent. As attacks on democracy, immigrant rights, and the nonprofit sector escalate, we must stay engaged, informed, and ready to act. Policies are being shaped now—from federal legislation threatening civic engagement to local measures like San Mateo County’s Measure A, which directly impact our communities. The choices we make today will define our future.
To strengthen our collective impact, we invite you to two critical trainings.
Healthy Democracy: Civic Engagement Hub on Wednesday, March 19, 10-12 pm, is an interactive workshop on using social media for civic engagement. Learn to craft compelling messages, analyze engagement, and develop a brand kit to amplify your organization’s voice.
Know Your Rights: Protecting Nonprofits & Their Communities Thursday, March 20, 10-12 pm will equip nonprofit leaders with essential strategies for handling ICE visits, protecting staff and client information, and ensuring compliance with workplace policies.
This month’s newsletter also highlights key policy battles and opportunities for action, including urgent federal legislation, state-level advocacy for nonprofit protections, and pressing local issues. Your voice matters—whether by contacting representatives, attending trainings, or mobilizing your network, your action fuels the movement for justice and equity. We appreciate your dedication—we’re in this together.
In Solidarity,
Yajaira Ortega, Senior Manager, Policy and Equity
Skye Hathaway, Policy and Equity Intern
To view Thrive and community events or to submit an event, visit Thrive's Event page.
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The National Council of Nonprofits curates a list of executive orders that affect charitable nonprofits. The full list, last updated Friday, March 14, can be found here.
Just Security's Litigation Tracker is a searchable list of legal cases against Executive Orders. The resource is continuously updated and available here.
The ACLU hosted a webinar on Thursday, February 20, to discuss the fight against Trump's executive overreach. Watch the recording here.
Stop the SAVE Act
The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, H.R. 22, has been presented to the house. The bill seeks to stop an already essentially nonexistent amount of non-citizen voting by "ending all nonpartisan nonprofit-led and third-party voter registration drives."
Nonprofit VOTE wants you to keep this from passing the House; use their tool here to inform your representatives.
State Updates
Representative Mullin Responds to President Trump
Representative Mullin responded to President Trump's joint address, condemning deep Medicaid cuts, attacks on protections, and Elon Musk's role in federal layoffs. He urged resistance, highlighting Democratic efforts to counter and calling Americans to mobilize against Republican control. Watch his response here.
CalNonprofits' Legislation
CalNonprofits’ 2025 legislative agenda includes bills to ensure timely nonprofit payments (AB 880), mandate advance state funding (AB 1039), streamline charity registration (SB 488), and strengthen nonprofits as Medi-Cal providers (SB 324). These efforts aim to enhance nonprofit stability and impact. Read more here.
AI Safety Act
The Automated Decisions Safety Act (AB 1018) aims to prevent AI-driven discrimination in jobs, housing, healthcare, and finance. The bill requires transparency, performance evaluations, and third-party audits to ensure fairness in automated decision-making. Read Tech Equity's letter of support here.
County Updates
San Mateo County Annual Report on Sales Tax
San Mateo County’s Measure K Annual Report details how voter-approved sales tax funds support public safety, health, and housing. The report, presented to the Board of Supervisors, ensures transparency in local investments. Read more here.
Apply to Serve on a Board or Commission
San Mateo County invites residents to actively participate in local governance by applying to serve on various boards and commissions. These groups, composed of community members, provide valuable insights and recommendations to the Board of Supervisors on diverse issues. Learn more and apply here.
Thrive Update
Translation Services Hub
Apply for Thrive Alliance's Translation Services Hub for translation needs that your organization cannot manage alone! We envision a nonprofit community unbounded by language barriers, meeting the needs of all our non-anglophone community members.
The Translation Services Hub offers nonprofits free language translation and interpretation services in Spanish, Chinese, and Filipino. Learn more about this service or put in a request here.
Wednesday, March 19, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm, In-Person
Redwood City
Join us for an interactive, hands-on training on leveraging social media for community civic engagement. This session will cover effective messaging, analytics, and brand-building strategies to strengthen your organization's digital presence. Bring your devices, and get ready to create and refine your content in real time! With experts in the room to guide you, you'll develop a brand kit, practice crafting impactful posts, and learn how to measure engagement effectively. Whether new to social media or looking to sharpen your strategy, this workshop will provide practical tools to elevate your online outreach and mobilize your community.
Thursday, March 20, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm, In-Person
Redwood City
Nonprofits play a critical role in supporting immigrant communities, but unexpected visits from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) can create uncertainty and fear. This training will equip nonprofit leaders and staff with the knowledge and tools to develop a comprehensive workplace preparedness plan, ensuring legal compliance while protecting employees and clients.
The session will begin with a presentation and interactive discussion that will provide clarity on ICE’s role and enforcement actions, distinguishing them from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Participants will gain practical, actionable strategies, including creating a workplace preparedness plan for ICE visits to minimize disruption and ensure compliance, staff training on handling ICE interactions and responding confidently under pressure, implementing confidentiality policies to safeguard client and employee information, and best practices for handling sensitive immigration data while ensuring security and privacy compliance. The session will also cover I-9 verification, audits, and employer obligations. The training will conclude with key takeaways, advocacy next steps, and an opportunity to connect with local immigrant rights organizations over lunch. Bring your questions, share your concerns, and leave with a clear action plan to protect your nonprofit and the communities you serve.
The Policy Insights Conference brings together California’s leading policy experts, advocates, and community leaders to strategize for a more equitable and inclusive future. Hosted by the California Budget & Policy Center, this year’s event also marks 30 years of advancing justice and progressive policy, followed by an anniversary reception to celebrate the impact of this work. Register here.
The Legal Landscape for Nonprofits
The National Council of Nonprofits is hosting an informational webinar on ongoing legal efforts to protect charitable nonprofits from funding restrictions and attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Experts will break down the current legal landscape, highlight philanthropic responses, and share actionable steps for nonprofits and their supporters. Register to attend here, or to receive the recording here.
Community briefings from the California Office of Community Awareness, Response and Engagement (CARE) are available here.
Everyone Belongs Here is a new resource for healthcare providers seeking to better support immigrant and refugee communities.
If you witness ICE activity or immigration enforcement in your community, call the San Mateo County Rapid Response Hotline at 203-666-4472 (203-NO-MIGRA). Find more information and printable resources here.
Public Counsel has hosted a "know your rights" information session that can be read here, or watched here.
Of Interest
Nonprofit Security and Infrastructure
The Building Movement Project hosted a webinar on nonprofit security and infrastructure, highlighting strategies for resilience amid political polarization. Speakers from the Transgender Law Center, ProInspire, and Muslims For Just Futures shared insights on safety and organizational preparedness. Read the full recap, watch the recording, here.
Protecting Social Movements
The Building Movement Project examines escalating threats to social movements, including digital surveillance, doxxing, and legislative suppression. The article introduces a “threat matrix” to map these attacks and emphasizes the need for stronger infrastructure, partnerships, and community care. Read more here.
FAQ for Nonprofits
The Building Movement Project’s FAQ guide explores how nonprofits can navigate increasing political and legal challenges, including restrictions on advocacy and funding risks. It provides key strategies for staying mission-driven while addressing external pressures. Read more here.
Budget Cuts Effects on Californians
The California Budget & Policy Center outlines how proposed Republican budget cuts could slash funding for Medi-Cal, CalFresh, and housing support, affecting millions of Californians. These cuts would worsen poverty, widen inequities, and threaten access to essential services. Read more here.
California Statewide Survey
The latest Public Policy Institute of California Statewide Survey captures public sentiment amid major events, including California wildfires, Governor Newsom’s optimistic 2025–2026 budget proposal, and the start of Donald Trump’s second presidential term marked by executive orders on immigration, climate, and tariffs. While job growth continues, inflation concerns have stalled interest rate cuts. The survey reflects how these developments shape Californians’ views on government and policy. Read the full survey results here.
Nonprofit VOTE Biennial Report
Nonprofit VOTE has assembled resources, data, and stories from the last two years of their work. Check out the report here.
It’s Time To Invest in Housing for All
With soaring rental costs and over half of renters struggling, Tech Equity reports on a statewide coalition urging for a $2.9 billion investment—just 1% of the state budget—to fund affordable housing and homelessness programs. Read the letter here.
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