Southern California Association of Nonprofit Agencies

Southern California Association of Nonprofit Agencies
Name	Southern California Association of Nonprofit Agencies
Abbreviation	SCANA
Formation	1970s
Type	Nonprofit association
Headquarters	Los Angeles, California
Region served	Southern California
Leader title	Executive Director

Southern California Association of Nonprofit Agencies is a regional membership alliance that connects nonprofit organizations across Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, and the Inland Empire. Founded amid the growth of service networks in the late 20th century, the association convenes providers, funders, and civic institutions such as California Community Foundation, United Way of Greater Los Angeles, LA County Board of Supervisors, City of Los Angeles, and local chapters of The Salvation Army to coordinate social services, workforce development, and community health initiatives. Its work intersects with philanthropic entities like the W. K. Kellogg Foundation, policy centers like the Public Policy Institute of California, and universities including University of Southern California and UCLA.

History

The association traces roots to regional coalitions that emerged in the aftermath of social movements associated with Civil Rights Movement, War on Poverty, and urban redevelopment programs in Los Angeles County during the 1960s and 1970s. Early collaborations involved agencies connected to Community Action Programs, faith-based networks tied to Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles, and immigrant-serving groups from communities represented by leaders linked to Dolores Huerta and César Chávez. Over subsequent decades the association adapted through periods shaped by federal policy shifts such as the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the Affordable Care Act, aligning with regional initiatives promoted by entities like the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority and coordinating with emergency response networks associated with California Office of Emergency Services.

Mission and Programs

The association's mission emphasizes service coordination, capacity building, and advocacy for nonprofits working on issues highlighted by partners such as The California Endowment, The Annie E. Casey Foundation, and Kaiser Permanente. Program areas include workforce training modeled after efforts by California Workforce Development Board, affordable housing projects connected to Los Angeles Housing Department, immigrant legal assistance similar to programs run by International Rescue Committee, and behavioral health services aligned with County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency. Training and technical assistance draw on models from Stanford Social Innovation Review contributors and curriculum developed in collaboration with USC Price School of Public Policy and UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs.

Membership and Governance

Membership comprises nonprofit CEOs, executive directors, and program managers representing organizations of sizes similar to PATH (homelessness nonprofit), Habitat for Humanity, and local community clinics affiliated with Community Health Center Network. Governance is overseen by a board with representatives from nonprofits, philanthropy, and academic institutions such as Pepperdine University and Cal State LA, and follows bylaws influenced by nonprofit law precedents from cases heard in California Supreme Court and administrative guidance from the Internal Revenue Service. The board structure has included former nonprofit leaders connected to networks like National Council of Nonprofits and funders linked to Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Advocacy and Public Policy

The association participates in policy coalitions that engage with the California State Legislature, Los Angeles City Council, and federal agencies including Department of Housing and Urban Development and Department of Health and Human Services. Advocacy priorities have mirrored campaigns led by Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights and California Partnership to End Domestic Violence, focusing on funding parity, regulatory relief, and contracting transparency issues similar to those litigated in actions involving ACLU of Southern California. The association also files comment letters and joins amicus briefs coordinated with statewide networks like California Association of Nonprofits and national advocacy groups such as Independent Sector.

Funding and Financials

Revenue streams include membership dues, fee-for-service training, grants from foundations like Ford Foundation and The James Irvine Foundation, and government contracts with entities such as Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health and California Department of Social Services. Financial management aligns with practices advocated by Council on Foundations and auditing standards recommended by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board. Annual budgets reflect program priorities similar to grant portfolios of California Wellness Foundation, with periodic fundraising events that attract corporate partners including regional affiliates of Wells Fargo and Bank of America.

Partnerships and Impact

The association partners with civic organizations including Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, health systems such as Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and education providers like Community College Districts. Collaborative initiatives have produced coordinated service directories modeled after systems used by 2-1-1 San Diego and cross-sector pilot programs with agencies like LA County Department of Public Health that mirror innovations from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Impact evaluations have been conducted in partnership with researchers from USC Schaeffer Center and UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, documenting outcomes in housing stability, employment placement, and access to behavioral health.

Awards and Recognition

The association and its member organizations have received recognition from philanthropic and civic institutions including awards presented by California Wellness Foundation, citations from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, and programmatic honors featured by Philanthropy California. Individual leaders associated with the association have been recognized by institutions such as Nonprofit Times and honored in regional lists compiled by Los Angeles Business Journal and San Diego Union-Tribune.

Category:Nonprofit organizations based in California