– July 2020 Edition –

Serving nonprofit leaders since 1991
 

Working Toward Racial Justice

It Starts from Within

“Black Lives Matter. Period.
It is painful to many in our community that the need still exists to explain what has given rise to the Black Lives Matter movement. A too-popular reply of “all lives matter” or other similar language ignores the fact that Blacks are subjected to a systematic dehumanizing assault that results in a disproportionate number of murders based on the size of the Black Community.”

See more about Anti-Racism efforts at Cal Lutheran. A Letter to the Cal Lutheran Community

Our work at the Center for Nonprofit Leadership is anchored in responding to and growing with the changing landscape of our community’s needs. Although the mobilization toward racial equity has amplified in the past few weeks, it is important to remind ourselves this need is not new. We stand with our Black community and stand against racial injustice. We stand in support of Black communities across the country as they grieve and seek justice for the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and now Elijah McClain. The list of Black lives taken is too long. Now more than ever, we must look within ourselves as nonprofit leaders and work together to replace systems that exclude and oppress Black and Indigenous peoples and other communities of color with a society that is just and equitable for all.
 
We play a critical role in organizational and leadership development of the nonprofit sector in Ventura County, and beyond. As our region has been weathering the storm of a public health crisis and a social revolution, we aim to stay true to our mission and theory of change by equipping our sectors’ leaders with the tools, resources and community necessary to survive these pivotal moments.
 
This work cannot be done overnight. The journey toward racial equity for the Center for Nonprofit Leadership and the School for Professional and Continuing Studies demands self-reflection, conversation, discomfort, growth and healing. We’d like to share steps we’ve taken as an organization, while acknowledging the road ahead is long and there is much work left to do.
 

• Starting from Within: As the School for Professional and Continuing Studies reaches six months as an official school at California Lutheran University, we are developing our own diversity, equity and inclusion strategic plan. Acknowledging this strategy cannot be thought through until each staff and full-time faculty member does the work to understand the history of racism in this country and within higher education, staff and faculty are participating in an anti-racist reading group where we’ll unpack our individual understanding of the ways we benefit, perpetuate and are products of racist systems. Our first selection is Ibram X. Kendi’s How to Be an Anti-Racist.
• Program Highlights: On June 22, the Center for Nonprofit Leadership co-convened 75 individuals representing 21 organizations for our reimagined, virtual Nonprofit Leadership Institute Intensive with Pepperdine University and our excellent training partners:  Judy Guillermo-Newton, Lena Moran and Jarrod Schwartz, from Just Communities. The day was filled with new insights and action steps for strengthening diversity, equity and inclusion practices, particularly in the nonprofit boardroom.
• Continued Efforts to Advance Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: The Center for Nonprofit Leadership remains committed to building and supporting healthy pipelines of diverse leaders working within and supporting a vibrant and sustainable nonprofit sector. This will include readying and supporting traditionally under-recruited and under-represented leaders for future board service, training and lifting up emerging leaders of color for meaningful nonprofit service and finally, but perhaps most importantly, continue  to cultivate and support facilitators and volunteer leaders who reflect those we seek to serve.

 
As we continue this journey, we welcome open dialogue about the ways we are staying true to these efforts. We welcome your thoughts, ideas and partnership.
 
In Solidarity,

Dena and Jennelyn
 

Anti-Racism Resources

Scaffolded Anti-Racist Resources

National Museum of African American History & Culture’s “Talking About Race” Tool Kit
Racial Equity Tools’ Guidelines for Being Strong White Allies
NPR’s Starting List of Books, Films, and Podcasts About Racism
My Role in a Social Change Ecosystem
How Racism Affects Mental Health

Program Highlight

Policy Alerts

Donor Advised Fund Bill Heads to State Senate

Earlier this month, the California assembly passed AB 2936, a simple, modest transparency bill related to donor-advised funds (DAFs).

Even so, it is the first time that any regulation of donor-advised funds anywhere in the U.S. has been passed by a government body.  As such it is landmark legislation, and it’s important for us to get it past the finish line. To do that, we need to get it passed by two senate committees and the full senate, before it goes to the Governor to sign it into law.The donor-advised fund (DAF) bill:

• Establishes some definitions for donor-advised funds (not currently defined in California law)
• Affirms the authority of the California Attorney General to require reports from donor-advised fund sponsors

Please take a moment to sign this letter letting the California state senate know that nonprofits care about this issue.  DEADLINE: Friday, July 10, at 2pm.
 

Include Urgent Nonprofit Priorities in COVID-19 Legislation

Congress is expected to pass its last piece of COVID-19 legislation this month. It is urgent that nonprofits tell the House and Senate to include nonprofit policy solutions in the final package. Help ensure that federal lawmakers insert these bipartisan solutions in the legislation by signing your organization’s name onto the new Nonprofit Community Letter to congressional leaders.

Sign onto the letter.  DEADLINE: Friday, July 10.

Membership Corner

In Case You Missed It…

On June 16, the Center for Nonprofit Leadership hosted Jan Masaoka, CEO of CalNonprofits where she discussed new insights and data from the 2019 Causes Counts report on California’s nonprofit sector. She featured locally specific data for our own community of Ventura County and Santa Barabara County Nonprofits, and provided important COVID-19 policy updates.

If you missed the event, there’s no need to fret! Check out our YouTube for the webinar recording and the resources Jan shared with us below:

• The webinar recording
• Jan’s presentation slides
• The full Causes Count report
• Profiles for Ventura County & Santa Barbara County

This webinar was generously sponsored by Campbell & Company, First 5 Ventura County, Laura McAvoy & Sol Chooljian, Kate McLean & Steve Stone, Mustang Marketing and Interface Children & Family Services, and the Ventura County Community Foundation.

Upcoming Virtual Workshops

Other Cool Things Happening
at Cal Lutheran!

Cal Lutheran’s Fifty and Better (FAB) program offers university level courses and interactive seminars (all with no tests and no homework) to individuals 50 years of age and older, online via Zoom.  Our next session is July 27th through August 21st.  We have some exciting courses with fantastic instructors!  Courses for the new session include “The Beatles in the Studio,” “The Post-Impressionists,” and more!  Registration for our second summer session is July 9th (registration closes on July 22^nd).  Attend our first stand-alone lecture!  ​FAB Is  hosting a lecture with Dr. Haco Hoang on “Poverty and Politics: The Social Justice Implications of COVID-19” on Wednesday, July 15^th from 10am-12pm. 
 
Check FAB out on the web at Fifty and Better for more information about the lecture and course offerings.  ​If you want to be added to the email list for information on the Summer Session Two and the stand-alone lectures, email [email protected].  Read the Press Release.

Calling nonprofit leaders!  It’s never too late. 

It takes a serious commitment for working professionals to finish their bachelor’s degree. And it isn’t just about receiving a piece of paper — it’s about receiving an education that will help you become more accomplished personally and professionally. 
 
With our program’s accelerated format, you can take courses in the evening, year-round, and design your class schedule to fit your life.  With 8 majors to choose from, you will work closely with an academic counselor and your faculty.  The only thing you’ll regret is not having done it sooner. 

Learn more about the Bachelor’s Degree for Professionals

Charitable Giving Reached One of Highest Years on Record
Giving USA 2019

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