WHEREAS, One of the great strengths of California is the presence of vigorous nonprofit and philanthropic organizations that provide a private means to pursue public purposes outside the confines of either the market or the state; and

WHEREAS, Residents of California have joined together to form over 144,000 nonprofits, including more than 107,000 active charitable nonprofits under Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, 6,200 charitable foundations, and 50,000 religious groups, that employ over 950,000 people and receive and spend over $175 billion per year; and

WHEREAS, Nonprofit and philanthropic organizations touch the lives of every person in California by serving people from all walks of life, socioeconomic groups, political orientations, ethnicities, ages, genders, and cultural backgrounds; and

WHEREAS, Embraced within the nonprofit sector are some of our state’s premier universities, hospitals, symphonies, museums, theaters, and grassroots groups, as well as thousands of community organizations that channel our impulses for charity, justice, and compassion to serve the common good and support, and empower those in greatest need; and

WHEREAS, More than one-half of all hospital care, most human services, a significant share of higher education, and low-cost housing, almost all arts and culture, and the majority of social justice and environmental programs are provided by nonprofits; and

WHEREAS, Over 15 million California residents volunteer three to five hours per week with nonprofit organizations; and

WHEREAS, The 6,200 independent foundations, including 20 of the nation’s 100 largest charitable foundations, more than 100 corporate foundations, and 29 community foundations, including five of the nation’s 25 largest community foundations, with assets totaling more than $77 billion, annually give $4.1 billion in grants to nonprofits; and

WHEREAS, Nonprofit social service and philanthropic organizations have helped millions of Americans get back on their feet, enabling them to become active, productive citizens; now, therefore, be it