We’re coming off the energy of a powerful Climate Summit 2025, where community leaders, nonprofits, and public officials gathered to center equity and resilience in local climate action. A special thank-you to Assemblymember Diane Papan for her inspiring remarks and continued leadership on climate issues. Building on that momentum, we’re excited to announce another opportunity to strengthen our collective voice—registration is now open for Nonprofit Advocacy Series: Launch Pad – Basics to Impact, happening on Wednesday, November 19. Co-hosted by Thrive Alliance and Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits (SVCN), this hands-on training will help nonprofit board and staff strengthen their advocacy skills, understand legal guidelines, and build effective coalitions for change. It’s an excellent opportunity to connect with peers and deepen your impact as we prepare for the year ahead. Learn more and register here.
October also reminds us how closely our local actions connect to national decisions. The federal shutdown has disrupted grants and essential programs, putting more pressure on community organizations to fill the gaps. At the same time, new investigations and housing rollbacks are challenging the stability of the nonprofit sector, yet our local network continues to respond with collaboration, care, and courage.
With the Prop 50 Special Electionapproaching, now is the time to help our communities stay informed and ready to vote. You’ll find additional resources and tools below to support outreach and engagement efforts.
Finally, we’re proud to launch Civic Threads, Thrive’s new rapid-response alert system for policy and civic engagement. Subscribe here to stay informed, connected, and ready to take action.
Thank you for continuing to show up for our community and for one another. Your partnership makes this work possible.
In solidarity,
Skye Hathaway, Policy and Equity Coordinator
Yajaira Ortega, Policy and Equity, Senior Manager
To view Thrive and community events or to submit an event, visit Thrive's Event page.
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The federal government shut down on October 1, 2025, after Congress failed to reach agreement on FY 2026 appropriations, leaving hundreds of thousands of federal employees unpaid and halting many agency operations. Essential services like air traffic control and law enforcement continue. Still, programs administered by agencies such as HUD, the SBA, and the IRS are essentially frozen while political negotiations remain at an impasse. (Reuters)
For nonprofits, the shutdown means delays in federal grants and reimbursements, disruptions in data and compliance reviews, and increased pressure on community organizations now filling gaps left by suspended public services. (NCSL)
Federal Investigation on Nonprofit Lobbying
In late August, President Trump directed the Department of Justice and federal agencies to investigate whether federal grant funds are being used for lobbying or partisan political activity. The memo appears to misinterpret existing law, which already prohibits only the use of federal, not private, funds for lobbying. Agencies have 180 days to report their findings, creating uncertainty about how this expanded scrutiny will affect federally funded nonprofits. (National Council of Nonprofits)
Presidential Memorandum On Political Violence
A new presidential memorandum on “countering domestic terrorism and organized political violence” directs federal agencies to increase oversight of nonprofits and other organizations for potential extremist ties. The order authorizes the IRS, DOJ, and Treasury to scrutinize tax-exempt groups’ funding, staff, and activities as part of national security enforcement. ACLU warns that the memo’s broad language could be used to investigate or penalize political opponents and advocacy organizations, raising concerns about overreach and potential chilling effects on free expression. (ACLU)
Leaked Documents Show Massive HUD Changes
A leaked federal housing rules draft would allow local agencies to impose full-time work requirements and two-year limits on public or subsidized housing, potentially affecting up to 4 million residents. A separate rule would bar mixed-status immigrant families from receiving aid, forcing many to choose between separation and losing housing. Advocates warn the changes could sharply increase homelessness and hardship among low-income households. (ProPublica)
Representative Mullin on Healthcare Cuts
Rep. Kevin Mullin and Covered California Director Jessica Altman hosted an emergency town hall on how the federal shutdown and proposed budget cuts threaten healthcare access. They warned that losing ACA subsidies and Medicaid funding could strip coverage from millions, including 400,000 Californians, and sharply raise premiums unless Congress acts soon. (Live Stream Recording)
H-1B Visa Changes
A new presidential proclamation issued on September 19, 2025, restricts the entry of foreign workers under the H-1B visa program unless their employers pay a $100,000 fee per worker.
State Updates
2025 Bill Package Protecting Communities from ICE
On September 20, Governor Newsom signed a package of bills to shield students, patients, and communities from aggressive federal immigration enforcement. Among the new laws: AB 49 bars ICE agents from entering non-public school spaces without a warrant, SB 98 requires schools to notify families when ICE is present, SB 81 protects patients’ immigration status from disclosure in hospitals absent a court order, and SB 627 bans masked officers in California even in federal operations. (CalMatters) (LA Times)
Below is a short list of resources, including a one-page handout we developed, to prepare you and your community for the upcoming election.
A retired judge, serving as the independent hearing officer, issued a 42-page advisory opinion finding multiple grounds to remove Sheriff Christina Corpus from office, citing conflicts of interest, retaliation against staff, and misuse of authority. (Press Release)
A week later, in a unanimous 5–0 vote, the Board of Supervisors officially ousted Christina Corpus from office, invoking new charter authority granted under Measure A. Undersheriff Dan Perea will serve as interim sheriff while the Board may choose to appoint a permanent replacement or hold a special election. (Press Release)
$41 Million Measure K Funds for Housing
At its October 7 meeting, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors approved $41.15 million in Affordable Housing Fund (AHF) 13.0 allocations to support multiple affordable housing projects. The funding package combines Measure K revenue, returned previous Measure K funds, Permanent Local Housing Allocation dollars, county impact fees (for unincorporated areas), Mental Health Act money, and up to $2 million in Homeless Housing Assistance & Prevention funds. (Email Update)
District 4 Supervisor Lisa Gauthier is inviting local nonprofits and community groups to participate in a series of Measure K Listening Sessions this fall to help shape how discretionary funds are allocated in the district. Sessions will be held in various locations between October 15 and December 16, offering a platform for residents and organizations to share their priorities and influence funding decisions for local services and infrastructure. Register for a session here.
The Youth Suing Trump for their Future
Sustainable San Mateo County hosted a webinar titled “Youth vs. Executive Power: The Fight for a Climate-Safe Future”, centered on the landmark Lighthiser v. Trump case. The event featured youth plaintiffs Eva Lighthiser and Delaney Reynolds, along with attorney Philip Gregory of Our Children’s Trust, discussing their challenge to executive orders accelerating fossil fuel development and suppressing climate science. Read more and watch the recording here.
Thrive Updates
Climate Summit 2025 Recap
On October 9th, the Fourth Annual Climate Summit for San Mateo County convened nearly 200 people from community-based organizations, academia, government, nonprofits, and elected officials. This year's theme, "Sustaining Community Power in Climate Action", reflected the need to center equity, resilience, and community leadership in addressing the urgent climate challenges facing the region. The Summit, co-presented by Stanford University as part of the Office of Community Engagement Regional Forum, was also live-streamed to ensure broader access.
The Climate Summit Planning Committee would like to give a special thank you to Assemblymember Diane Papan, who provided opening remarks for the Summit, which focused on recognizing the region's unique geographic and climate challenges, as well as innovative adaptation and resilience strategies.
The Summit included substantial representation from local, county, and state government, including the Offices of Supervisor Noelia Corzo, Supervisor Lisa Gauthier, Congressman Kevin Mullin, and Mark Dinan, Vice Mayor of East Palo Alto. The San Mateo County Office of Education and the Sustainability Department were represented at the Summit as participants and panelists, with Jasneet W. Sharma, Director of the San Mateo County Sustainability Department, serving on a cross-sectoral panel in the morning.
The Future is Collective: Transforming Your Nonprofit Workforce
Wednesday, October 22, 2:30 - 4:00 pm, In-Person
Join us for an inspiring session with Nilou Khonsari, author of The Future is Collective. Together, we’ll explore one of the book’s central questions: how do nonprofit leaders create more meaningful ways for people to have a say in decisions that affect them the most?
As part of Thrive's Thriving Nonprofit Workforce Initiative, this event will draw from real stories, practical tools, and the lived experiences of BIPOC leaders and nonprofit workers. Nilou will share approaches for rethinking power, strengthening transparency, and fostering equity and care in our organizations.
Wednesday, November 5, 11:30 am - 4:00 pm, In-Person
Led by AI experts and MCed by Darian Rodriguez Heyman, the bestselling author of the new book, AI for Nonprofits, AI4NP Learning Labs are one-day, hands-on interactive workshops designed to help nonprofit and foundation professionals, consultants, and other changemakers harness the power of human-centered artificial intelligence—ethically, strategically, and effectively—to unlock AI’s potential for good.
Co-hosted by Thrive Alliance, JobTrain, and Center for Excellence in Nonprofits (CEN), this Learning Lab will convene mission-led leaders from across the San Francisco Bay Area. Each delegate will enjoy a full day of practical, tactical tips and tools plus networking opportunities, receive a complimentary boxed lunch, and take home a discounted, signed copy of AI for Nonprofits.
PLUS, meet our AI Genius team. Share a project idea, tool need, or communications challenge — and our experts will work behind the scenes throughout the day to build custom solutions just for you.
For Thrive members, please use the promo code THRIVE10 to receive a 10% discount.
Wednesday, November 19, 10:30 - 2:30 pm, In-Person
Join Thrive Alliance and Silicon Valley Council of Nonprofits for the Advocacy Series Launch Pad. This streamlined all-day session is a crash course in nonprofit advocacy, summarizing the 101 series and preparing you for the upcoming 201 deep dive. Whether you are brand new to advocacy or looking to sharpen your strategy, this session grounds you in the fundamentals, gives you hands-on practice, deepens your bag of tricks, and connects you with peers who are building power across our community.
This session will be taught by the experienced staff at Thrive and SVCN, listed below in more detail, who have been working hard to bring the Advocacy Series 101 curriculum in a clear and accessible format. Register to learn more.
Part 1: Nonprofits & Advocacy + Building a Campaign Learn how to frame your mission in advocacy terms, understand where your voice matters most, and map out a campaign step-by-step—from power mapping to media strategy.
Part 2: Charting the Legal Lobbying Waters Get clarity on what nonprofits can and cannot do in the advocacy space. This session covers lobbying rules, compliance basics, and space for your pressing legal questions. A concise session designed to get you the essentials fast.
Part 3: Coalition Catalyst + Community Organizing Discover how to turn shared values into collective power. Explore coalition dynamics, community-based organizing, and practical strategies for building sustainable alliances.
This workshop is a part of Thrive's and SVCN's Nonprofit Advocacy Training Series.
We’re excited to introduce Civic Threads, a new way to stay connected through quick updates and timely alerts about what’s happening in our community and how you can get involved. Think of it as your direct line to important civic news, opportunities to take action, and ways to stand in solidarity with nonprofits and community members.
This alert system is designed to keep you informed and engaged. We look forward to weaving our community together through Civic Threads and keeping you connected to the issues and opportunities that matter most to you.
If you have content that you would like to share with us through our Civic Threads, please send it directly to Yajaira Ortega.
If you'd like to stay informed and receive notifications in the future, simply click the link below to subscribe.
Apply to Thrive Alliance’s Translation Services Hub to receive free translation and interpretation support that your organization may not be able to provide independently. Our goal is a nonprofit sector where language is never a barrier—so every community member can access services and participate fully, regardless of the language they speak.
The Hub offers free translation and interpretation services in Spanish, Chinese, and Filipino for eligible nonprofits.
If you have any question, feel free to email Yajaira Ortega.
Saturday, October 18, 2025, 1:00 - 3:00 pm, In Person
Indivisible San Mateo will host “No Kings 2,” a community march and rally celebrating democracy and the rule of law. Participants will gather at Hillsdale Mall and march to Central Park for music, speakers, and solidarity in support of democratic values and peaceful civic action. RSVP here.
Investing Nonprofit Reserves
Tuesday, October 21, 2025, 10:00 am, Virtual
The Social Impact Advisor Network is hosting a webinar titled “Investing Nonprofit Reserves — The Smart Way and Right Way to Scale Funding” for nonprofit leaders and board members. The session will explore how to invest charitable reserves prudently—balancing mission alignment, donor expectations, liquidity needs, and long-term growth—and help organizations deepen fiscal sustainability. Register here.
Forum on Federal Actions
Wednesday, October 22, 2025, 11:00 am, Hybrid
Join U.S. Senator Adam Schiff, CalNonprofits CEO Geoff Green, and nonprofit leaders for a forum on the cascading impacts of federal policy on the nonprofit sector. Topics will include recent funding freezes, legislative threats, executive orders, and how nonprofits can adapt and advocate in this volatile environment. Register here.
Not Your Average GOTV: Using Civics to
Get Out the Vote
Wednesday, October 22, 2025, 2:00 pm, Virtual
From NonprofitVOTE, this webinar will explore the latest changes to voter registration, drive laws, and mobilization strategies. This session will provide nonprofit and civic groups with legal updates, practical tools, and peer insight for safe and effective get-out-the-vote efforts under evolving election rules. Register here.
Resources
Local Food Actions for a Cooler Future
Sustainable San Mateo County’s 2025 Indicators Report spotlights local food systems as a key to reducing emissions, noting that food consumption accounts for 17% of household greenhouse gas emissions. The report calls for reducing food waste, shifting diets, and adopting policies that promote sustainable local production and consumption. (Sustainable San Mateo)
2025 Economic Status of Latinas National Report
Coming from Hispanas Organized for Political Equality, the 2025 Economic Status of Latinas National Reporthighlights how Latinas drive a $1.3 trillion GDP and are central to the U.S. workforce, while still facing systemic barriers such as wage gaps, high childcare costs, and student debt. (HOPE)
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