Resource for Nonprofits

Torie's Top Ten Tips for Nonprofits to Become Change Agents This resource guide by social change leader Torie Osborn offers practical advice on how nonprofits can participate in social change advocacy. It includes websites and other resources to consult for further information, and is based on Osborn's recent keynote address to the 2008 California Association of Nonprofits annual conference. To download a free copy, click Torie's Top Ten.

Valley Nonprofit Policy Network

To provide a "community voice" for staff and board of nonprofits in the Valley, VNR each year conducts several activities that bring together nonprofit leadership with policymakers (including elected officials and their staffs) and community leaders, to discuss issues, policy decisions and legislation that affect the Valley nonprofit sector. One such activity is a major annual conference—in 2008 it was the First Annual MENDing Poverty Conference.

Photographs courtesy MEND from the June 18, 2008 MENDing Poverty conference. Counterclockwise from the right: Moderator Thomas E. Backer, speakers Andy Goodman and Frank Gilliam. Speaker Councilmember Richard Alarcon and moderator Alicia Lara. The audience of more than 150.

A smaller networking event is being planned for early 2009 and will be conducted in partnership with the CAN Nonprofit Policy Council and Regional Partners Network. Details will be presented here as they become available.

California Association of Nonprofits Policy Collaborations

The California Association of Nonprofits has three statewide collaborations to influence the legislation, regulations and public policies that impact California nonprofits.

The CAN Policy Council is an independent advisory group that brings together 35 community, grantmaking and academic leaders to shape public policies.
The CAN Regional Partners Network is a coalition of local advocacy organizations across the state that shares knowledge and resources for local advocacy. VNR is a member of this Network.
The CAN Advisory Body to the State Attorney General includes attorneys and accountants who represent nonprofit organizations and leaders, and address nonprofit concerns in proposed regulations with the staff of the Charitable Trust Division of the State Attorney General’s Office.

Further information on CAN’s policy activities can be found at:
www.canonprofits.org/advocacy/accomplishments.html.

Periodically, CAN provides a list of current state policy issues of interest to California nonprofits. These issues include workplace issues, advocacy, state contracts and programs, charitable giving and permanent tax break proposed to promote giving. A listing of current issues is available at www.canonprofits.org/advocacy/currentissues.html. CAN's roster of current California legislation relevant to nonprofits may be downloaded here (396KB PDF).

Links to Elected Officials

To reach elected officials representing your area in the San Fernando Valley, please e-mail or call:

State of California Assemblymembers

Assemblymember Julia Brownley (41st District) e-mail (818-596-4141)
Assemblymember Felipe Fuentes (39th District) e-mail (818-504-3911)
Assemblymember Mike Feuer (42nd District) e-mail (818-902-0521)
Assemblymember Paul Krekorian (43rd District) e-mail (818-240-6330)

State Senators

State Senator Sheila Kuehl (23rd District) e-mail (310-441-9084)
State Senator Tom McClintock (19th District) e-mail (805-494-8808)
State Senator Alex Padilla (20th District) e-mail (818-901-5588)
State Senator Jack Scott (21st District) e-mail (818-558-7940)

City of Burbank

Mayor: Marsha Ramos e-mail (818-238-5751)
Vice Mayor: Dave Golonski e-mail (818-238-5751)
Council Member: David Gordon e-mail (818-238-5751)
Council Member: Anja Reinke e-mail (818-238-5751)
Council Member Gary Bric e-mail (note: no "mail" in address) (818-238-5751)

City of Glendale

Mayor and Council Member: Frank Quintero e-mail
Council Member: Gus Gomez e-mail
Council Member: Rafi Manoukian e-mail
Council Member: Dave Weaver e-mail
Council Member: Bob Yousefian e-mail

Los Angeles County Supervisors:

3rd District Zev Yaroslavsky e-mail (818-901-3831)
5th District Michael D. Antonovich e-mail (818-993-5170)

Los Angeles City Council Members

2nd District Wendy Greuel e-mail (818-755-7676)
3rd District Dennis P. Zine e-mail (818-756-8848)
4th District Tom Labonge e-mail (818-755-7637)
5th District Jack Weiss e-mail (818-756-8083)
6th District Tony Cardenas e-mail (818-778-4999)
7th District Richard Alarcon e-mail (818-756-9115)
12th District Greig Smith e-mail (818-701-5253)

For information on elected officials of the City of San Fernando, visit www.ci.sanfernando.ca.us.

For information on elected officials of the City of Hidden Hills, visit www.hiddenhillscity.org.