Did you know that California moved its primary elections from June to March? This year, primary voting starts on February 5, with the last day to vote on March 5. Read on to see how you can make your voice heard in this year's primaries.
Thrive will be hosting candidate forums to give the candidates a chance to discuss the issues of greatest concern to us. Reach out to us if you would like to provide input on the questions asked during the candidate forums. This is a chance to make your concerns and priorities known to the candidates seeking to represent you.
The retirement of Anna Eshoo from the District 16 Congressional seat, after more than 30 years in Congress, has created a wide-open race that has attracted eleven candidates. The district was redrawn after the last census to include a much larger portion of San Mateo County, including the Coastside from Pescadero to Pacifica, and Atherton, Woodside, Portola Valley and parts of Menlo Park. See the district map here. The new Congressional representative will play an important role in representing the interests of San Mateo County.
We will also be seeking input from you for our other candidate forums for the Board of Supervisors (BOS) races. On January 30, Thrive and Leadership Council of San Mateo County will host a BOS District 4 Candidate Forum. On February 5, Thrive, in partnership with the Choose Children Initiative and Silicon Valley Community Foundation, will invite all candidates running for supervisor seats to discuss issues related to children in San Mateo County.
As always, we are supporting civic participation through our voter trainings and outreach, as well as our toolkit program. See below for more information.
Elections aren’t the only way to have your voice heard. At our last Children & Education TAG meeting, we asked you what learnings and outcomes you want to see at our third annual Partners in Education Summit, which we host jointly with the San Mateo County Office of Education. This year’s topic is Elevating Racial Equity. Save the date for February 15!
Our partnership over the past year with all of you has been productive and deeply meaningful. Thank you so much for your continued commitment and engagement. We are so excited to work with you next year and to continue elevating the voices of the community. We wish you all a joyous and peaceful holiday season and look forward to a hopeful New Year!
Petra Silton, Senior Director of Programs and Yajaira Ortega, Policy and Equity Manager
For Thrive and community events or to submit an event, visit Thrive's Event page.
Federal & State Policy Updates
Streamlining Federal Grants Act (S. 2286/H.R. 5934) Nonprofit Coalition Support Letter
The Streamlining Federal Grants Act proposes a one-year council to simplify application and reporting requirements for nonprofit grants. It suggests limiting grant application summaries to 500 words. The goal is to improve service delivery, especially to underserved communities. Please support this legislative change by signing on here.
County Policy Updates
Measure K Applications Due Jan 5
Find more information about the Notice of Funding Opportunity on Measure K here. Priority Funding areas are: Children, Families, and Seniors; Housing and Homelessness; Emergency Preparedness.
Housing for Farm Laborers
San Mateo County announced receiving a grant from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative to support housing initiatives for farm laborers. The funding is intended to address the critical need for affordable housing in the agricultural community, offering financial assistance to facilitate the development of suitable accommodations. By allocating resources to housing projects, the initiative seeks to alleviate housing-related hardships for farm laborers, contributing to overall community well-being. Read more here.
If you attended the Nonprofit Racial Justice Summit, which we cohosted the with Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits (SVCN), thank you for your invaluable contributions which enriched our summit, and your individual and collective commitments to advance racial equity. You can find the reflections and commitments from participants here. Special thank you to our incredible keynote, Angela Glover Blackwell, and panelists:
Regina Celestin Williams, Executive Director, SV@Home
We are offering the recording for free, but please consider donating to either of our organizations so that we can continue to fund the Nonprofit REDI Hub and bring programming like this at free or low cost for others. Watch the recording here.
During our meeting, we learned about available materials for the next election, gathered feedback from the last grant cycle, and shared opportunities to collaborate. If you have additional feedback for Thrive's Election Education Toolkit, please send it directly to Yajaira Ortega.
Voting starts Feb 5! The last day to vote is March 5.
Children & Education TAG
Candidate Questions and Education Summit: Outlining Goals & Outcomes Recap
Thrive invited our nonprofit friends to share ideas, questions, and desired outcomes as we plan two big events for this February: the San Mateo County Candidate Conversation on Children, February 5 and the Summit for Partnerships in Education: Elevating Racial Equity, February 15. We will be incorporating these thoughts into our candidate questions and programs!
Thrive RISE
In anticipation of a wet winter, Thrive RISE's November meeting featured Emily Rogan from United Policyholders, a nonprofit that advocates for insurance customers who have experienced a disaster. Emily explained the differences in coverage between homeowner and renters policies and flood insurance policies, how to shop for flood insurance, and known challenges in the claims process. You can watch the recording of the meeting here. We will be skipping our December meeting and reconvening in January to discuss cold weather impacts on the human body and the County of San Mateo's Inclement Weather Program.
If you haven't yet, check out our Community and Disaster Services Map, which helps local organizations identify potential partners and collaborators by sector. If you want your organization's information to be added to or edited within the map, click the 'Contact Us' button at the top or fill out this form.
Our November TAG provided potential funding resources with a training on how to access grants from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).
The Funding Navigator linked below helps nonprofits, local governments, affordable housing providers, private citizens, tribes, and companies learn where they can apply for billions of dollars in federal funding and tax credits in these areas: Energy Efficiency and Renewables, Resiliency, Transportation, Environmental Justice, Workforce Development, Broadband, Utility Scale Energy, Lead and Healthy Housing, Brownfields, and Waste Management.
Crafting Wellness: The Intersection of Arts and Mental Health was the Arts and Culture TAG's final event of the year and explored the powerful connection between art and mental well-being and the often-overlooked utility of art in fostering growth, healing, and providing a space for constructive and expressive emotional release.
Thank you to everyone who attended this year’s lively and festive Holiday Mix & Mingle party at the CZI Community Space! Thrive would like to extend a special thank you to all of the Legislative Aides who were in attendance. Thank you for all the work you do all year!
Thrive & SVCN Featured:
Latinx Speaker Series: Latino Nonprofit Board Leadership in Silicon Valley
Thrive Alliance and Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits (SVCN) recently developed the 2023 Regional Nonprofit Report for San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties. On Wednesday, December 6, participants joined the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley and panelists including Thrive's Executive Director Georgia Farooq and SVCN’s CEO Kyra Kazantzis to learn more about the report and view a presentation on the most extensive review ever conducted of Latinos in nonprofit governance. The conversation was moderated by Mauricio Palma of Silicon Valley Community Foundation. Learn more about this recent event here.
Upcoming Thrive Events
Environment & Sustainability TAG
A Vision for Bay Area Resilience: Coyote Point Guided Hike
Thursday, December 14, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm, In Person
Embark on an enriching journey with us as we explore the scenic beauty of Coyote Point during a guided hike led by Sam Herzberg, the Senior Planner for San Mateo County Parks Department. Take in the views as Sam shares insights into the Coyote Point Recreation Area Master Plan he developed as well as the San Mateo County Parks Sustainability Action Plan, both of which improve the sustainability and resiliency of San Mateo County with regards to sea-level rise and other coastal climate vulnerabilities. Sam will also provide an overview of the recently completed Coyote Point Eastern Promenade Rejuvenation Project, a major capital improvement project, as well as the San Mateo County Parks system. These vital plans can serve as models of best practices for the rest of the Bay Area to learn from and implement.
Our meeting point is the Coyote Point Recreation Area. Following our exploration, Thrive will provide a delightful picnic experience at the Eucalyptus Picnic Area. Ensure you come prepared with a water bottle and attire suitable for a coastal hike.
Don't miss this opportunity to connect, learn, and appreciate the wonders of Coyote Point with fellow nature enthusiasts.
Thrive Resource Room Using AI To Boost Your Organization's Productivity and Mission
Tuesday, January 9, 10:00 - 11:00 am, Virtual
This dynamic session, anchored at the intersection of technology and altruism, navigates through the latest developments in artificial intelligence, their implications for social good, and the ethical considerations surrounding their application. Cherian Koshy, a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) and Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP) will showcase a unique interactive "Robot Petting Zoo", where attendees can engage hands-on with several AI tools. These advanced technologies have the potential to redefine the philanthropic landscape, drive inclusive growth, and spark a new era of innovation in nonprofit work. Don't miss this chance to better understand the potential and ethical implications of AI in the philanthropic sector.
By the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:
Understand the emerging role of AI in the nonprofit sector and how it's transforming traditional philanthropy.
Gain an in-depth view of the ethical considerations that arise when integrating AI and technology in nonprofit work.
Experience firsthand various AI tools and technologies via our interactive "Robot Petting Zoo", enhancing your understanding of their functionality and potential applications.
Discuss the potential risks and benefits associated with integrating these technologies into nonprofit work, fostering a balanced view of AI-driven philanthropy.
Devise strategies to effectively leverage AI tools while navigating ethical challenges to boost their organization’s mission.
Spark ideas for collaboration and innovation within their own organizations using AI and technology, guided by an ethical framework.
*Zoom information will be sent to registered attendees.
Join us for our Voter Outreach Trainingsession to learn the what, where, when, and why of effective voter engagement. This inclusive training is open to everyone, providing valuable resources for voter education customized for your organization.
In addition, you will learn about Thrive's Election Education Toolkit. This toolkit aims to amplify and strengthen voter outreach and education in traditionally less engaged communities by addressing the lack of knowledge about the process. Give this toolkit to leaders in your community to use for informal voter education. The toolkits will be available in English and Spanish. Each toolkit comes with a $1,500 stipend to support outreach and encourage participation. Email Yajaira Ortega if you are interested in more information about receiving the stipend.
An Introduction to Cold Impacts on Health and the County's Inclement Weather Program
Wednesday, January 31, 10:00 - 11:00 am, Virtual
Cold weather can result in poor health outcomes, and even death, for those that are unhoused or who otherwise lack proper heating resources. Individuals most at risk for hypothermia are people experiencing homelessness, older adults with inadequate food and heating resources, infants in cold bedrooms, and substance users. Join our January COAD meeting with representatives from the County of San Mateo Health and Human Services Agency to learn more about cold impacts on the human body, how social vulnerability exacerbates risk to cold weather, and how the County’s Inclement Weather Program is working to expand shelter availability for unhoused individuals on cold nights.
All organizations are welcome at this meeting, regardless of sector or experience in responding to community emergencies. Registration is not required for these recurring meetings. Please save this link as a recurring event on your calendar for the last Wednesday of the month.
San Mateo County Board of Supervisors District 4 Candidate Forum - January 30
San Mateo County Candidate Conversation on Children - February 5
Congressional District 16 Candidate Forum - TBD
Partners in Education Summit: Elevating Racial Equity - February 15
Partner Events & Announcements
Participate in Fair Pay for Northern California Nonprofits
The 2024 Compensation & Benefits Survey is now open for participation! A tight labor market, high costs, and pandemic-related impacts on the workplace present challenges for nonprofit employers who manage their organizations’ compensation and benefits policies. The data from the survey will provide a wealth of information to help nonprofits compete effectively on this ever-changing playing field.
This past year, 779 nonprofit organizations reporting on more than 40,000 jobs participated in the 2023 survey, making it the largest and most robust in the survey's 45-year history.
The survey will be open until Friday, February 16 and the report is scheduled to be published in April. Take the survey here.
CZI's Annual Housing Sentiment Survey is a one-page overview that tracks public opinion on California's housing crisis over three years, including insights from the September survey on challenges, solutions, and support for revenue initiatives and social housing.
Wednesday, December 13, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm, Virtual
This year’s event, “Action for Uncertain Times,” will offer an inspiring look at some of the most creative advocacy efforts from across the state, as well as a dive into CalNonprofits’ multi-year campaign to improve the way the state contracts with its nonprofit partners. Hear from nonprofit leaders, government representatives who understand and champion nonprofits, and other expert panelists who will discuss innovative and actionable strategies you can use in building a more resilient and equitable future. Register here.
.jpg?upscale=true&width=1168&upscale=true&name=thrive_policy_advocacy_banner%20(1).jpg)
-1.jpg?upscale=true&width=504&upscale=true&name=unnamed%20(2)-1.jpg)
-3.jpg?upscale=true&width=504&upscale=true&name=unnamed%20(3)-3.jpg)
.png?upscale=true&width=1088&upscale=true&name=voter_outreach%20(1).png)
