Assemblymember Ed Chau (D-Monterey Park) held a workshop on Thursday, July 30^th, to provide local service oriented nonprofits with a summary of California laws and ways to conduct fundraising and manage related activities.

“The non-profit sector plays a critical role in meeting the diverse needs of constituents,” said Assemblymember Chau.  “Many of the organizations in attendance today benefited from discussions around industry trends, best practices, and were given an opportunity to network.”

The workshop was conducted by Ms. Nancy Berlin, Policy Director for the California Association of Non-Profits, and Ms. Sarah Stegemoeller, the Senior Staff Attorney with Public Council’s Community Development Project.  The California Association of Non-Profits is an organization that works to unify its 10,000 non-profit members under advocacy and uses its voice to speak to government agencies and legislators. Public Council offers pro-bono legal services for over 30,000 groups, including nonprofit organizations, through impact litigation and policy advocacy.

With over 80,000 non-profit organizations in California, this sector is the third largest of all industries behind retail trade and manufacturing.  However, measures, such as California’s Non-Profit Integrity Act of 2004, set guidelines that non-profits may not be aware of.  This workshop was geared toward increasing that awareness and identifying services that are vital in bridging the gap between community and organizations.  In attendance were representatives from worship organizations, educational institutions, cultural outreach programs, healthcare providers, and athletic services.

Assemblymember Ed Chau represents the 49th Assembly District, comprised of the cities of Alhambra, Arcadia, El Monte, Monterey Park, Rosemead, San Gabriel, San Marino, Temple City and portions of Montebello, and South El Monte.