California is considered as one of the most active states in the Non Profit sector in the USA. Today I’m sharing with you numbers and statistics about the importance of this fast growing ecosystem.

Note: The “nonprofit sector” encompasses organizations that are defined as tax-exempt under section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code. This includes both public charities and private foundations [501(c)(3)] and other nonprofits such as civic league organizations [501(c)(4)]. 

 

 

I- All California Non Profit Organizations 144,728

  • 501(c)(3) PUBLIC CHARITIES (INCLUDES SOME RELIGIOUS
    ORGANIZATIONS) 105,876
  • 501(c)(3) PRIVATE AND PUBLIC FOUNDATIONS 10,000
  • OTHER 501(c) NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS : CIVIC LEAGUES, CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE, VETERANS ORGANIZATIONS, ETC 28,852

II- Economic impact of California’s Non Profit Sector:

  • Employs 900,800 – almost 7.5% of the state’s workforce
  • Generates more than $298.4 billion in annual revenues
  • Holds assets of $608.34 billion
  • California foundations annually give almost $7.25 billion
  • Californians give over $25 billion to charity each year, representing 2.79 percent of household income

III- Employment by Nonprofit Service Area

Nonprofit Service Area:

  • Human Services 31.5% of CA Nonprofits
  • Education 21.8% of CA Nonprofits
  • Mutual, public, and societal benefit 14.4% of CA Nonprofits
  • Arts, Culture and Humanities 13.9% of CA Nonprofits
  • Health 9.1% of CA Nonprofits
  • Environment 5.9% of CA Nonprofits
  • International 3.3% of CA Nonprofits

 

Public Charities and Foundations Benefit California Communities

  1. Deliver vital community services
    The United Ways of California are dedicated to helping families attain financial
    stability through financial literacy programs, establishing savings accounts, and
    long-term saving opportunities. One initiative is the Bank-On California that
    connects unbanked Californians to low-cost bank accounts and free financial
    services at locations throughout the state.
  2. Give voice to the people they serve
    Net Impact empowers young people to achieve social change on campus and
    through building “impact careers.” By providing a peer network and online and
    in-person career development resources, they have created a community of
    over 80,000 student and professional leaders from over 300 volunteer-led
    chapters across the globe working for a sustainable future.
  3. Contribute to vibrant communities
    2020 Mom, formerly the California Maternal Mental Health Collaborative, is a
    national non-profit that promotes the mental health of women before, during and
    after pregnancy. Up to 20% of women will experience a maternal mental health
    disorder, like postpartum depression.
  4. Advance solutions for challenges facing society
    In 2001, the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund became the first foundation to
    support marriage equality. Fourteen years later, with the Supreme Court’s
    Obergerfell ruling in 2015, the freedom to marry was extended to gay and
    lesbian couples in every state

 

Sources:
Employment Information
Best estimate based on available data from the following sources:
Number of nonprofit employees: Holding the Fort: Nonprofit Employment During a Decade of Turmoil, Lester
Salamon and S.Wojciech Sokolowski, Stephanie L. Geller, Nonprofit Employment Bulletin #39, Johns Hopkins
Center for Civil Society Studies, 2012 {Data is 2010, page 3}
Breakdown by Nonprofit Service Area
California Association of Nonprofits, Causes Count (based on 501(c)(3) public charities other than religionrelated
who are active filers of information returns) {August 2014}
Number of Nonprofits
Urban Institute, National Center for Charitable Statistics, State Summary reports
Asset and Revenues
Urban Institute, National Center for Charitable Statistics, “Registered Nonprofit Organizations by State
Foundation Giving
The Foundation Center, FC Stats: “Foundation Stats: Total Grantmaking Foundations” {Data are 2013}
Individual Giving
How America Gives, 2014. The Chronicle of Philanthropy. {Data are 2012}.
Nonprofit Examples:
The United Ways of California: https://www.unitedwaysca.org/our-work/income
2020 Mom: http://www.2020mom.org/about_2020_mom
Net Impact: https://netimpact.org/about-net-impact
Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund: http://www.haasjr.org/issues-impact/gay-lesbian-rights