SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /California Newswire/ — California nonprofits generate $260 billion in total economic activity every year, producing more jobs than the real estate, finance or construction industries, according to a first-of-its-kind analysis of the nonprofit sector in the Golden State announced today by the California Association of Nonprofits.
The groundbreaking report, titled “Causes Count: The Economic Power of California’s Nonprofit Sector,” was commissioned by the California Association of Nonprofits (CalNonprofits), the statewide policy alliance of more than 10,000 organizations. The study reveals for the first time the size, scope and economic significance of California’s nonprofits, relying on data that has never before been aggregated.
“While sometimes portrayed as too small to matter, this report shows that California’s nonprofit sector is too big to overlook,” said CalNonprofits CEO Jan Masaoka. “Not only do our state’s nonprofits uniquely represent the dreams and visions of California’s varied communities, but they are robust with human and financial capital.”
Nonprofit experts say the study is critical to understanding the role nonprofits play in the California economy. “I commend CalNonprofits for undertaking a project of this magnitude: the first-ever statewide study of the California nonprofit sector and its economic impact,” said Tom Pollak, Program Director at The Urban Institute’s National Center for Charitable Statistics.
The research, which will provide a baseline for future studies in California and nationwide, was conducted by Dr. Laura Deitrick of the Caster Center for Nonprofit and Philanthropic Research at the University of San Diego and was guided by an advisory panel of more than 30 leaders from throughout California.
The full report will be released August 1, 2014 at the CalNonprofits 2014 policy convention in Los Angeles, an annual gathering of nonprofit leaders from across California and considered by many as the premier nonprofit policy event in the state.
