EQUALITY CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE
Until the work is done.
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Programs and results
What we aim to solve
While recent years have seen significant advancements for LGBTQ+ civil rights, including marriage equality nationwide, the repeal of both Don't Ask Don't Tell and the Defense of Marriage Act, and the adoption in California of robust non-discrimination protections, LGBTQ+ people still experience great disparities in health and well-being compared to the broader public. LGBTQ+ people suffer higher rates of homelessness, violence, depression, suicide, arrest, incarceration, substance abuse, and poverty, and lower rates of insurance coverage. This is particularly true for LGBTQ+ people who sit at the intersection of one or more additionally marginalized identities – LGBTQ+ people of color; transgender, gender nonconforming and intersex (TGI) people; LGBTQ+ immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers; LGBTQ+ people with disabilities; the incarcerated and formerly incarcerated; people living with HIV; and LGBTQ+ young people just to name a few.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Safe and Supportive Schools
K-12 public schools have increasingly been the site of significant policy disputes and legal challenges related to LGBTQ+ issues, particularly transgender youth, access to facilities, and youth sports. This year, EQCA has revised and issued a third edition of The Safe and Supportive Schools Survey to better gauge and advocate for the successes and challenges that CA Unified School Districts face as they implement policies and best practices to ensure safe and supportive learning environments.
Accomplishments:
- Developed an advisory committee of 30 contacts across K-12 education stakeholders
- Presented our findings at Creating Change, The National Educators Association (NEA) LGBTQ+ Conference, at ACSAs Lead with Pride.
- $3 million secured in CA 2021 state budget to develop teacher training curriculum
- $1 million secured in CA 2023 state budget to support the overall program
Schools Climate Advocacy and Incident Tracking
In response to the pervasive incidents targeting trans and non-binary students, the EQCA Schools team, in collaboration with the ACLU and Public School Defenders Hub, has established an incident and advocacy alliance. The primary objective of this alliance is to systematically monitor and counteract endeavors that seek to inflict harm upon LGBTQ+ youth.
Accomplishments:
- Rallied staff and community members to speak at school board meetings.
- Developed a tracker to follow three specific issues affecting school boards and education: Censorship and Ethnic Studies education requirements, Civil Rights school district policies, board activities, Brown Act violations, and government transparency.
- Launched a dedicated Forced Outing Resource Hub for transgender, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming students and a social media toolkit encouraging self-advocacy.
LBTQ Health Equity and Health Resource Center
Equality California Institute keeps our online health resource center up to date, ensuring community members connect with the best services and resources. Furthering this goal, the LBTQ Health Equity project was officially launched in April 2023 with funding from the California Department of Public Health. This project seeks to close gaps in health disparities specifically among lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals. We serve as the main contractor for seven subgrantees, all of whom are providing needed holistic healthcare options for their local LBTQ communities.
Accomplishments:
- Welcomed subgrantee cohort, comprising Rainbow Pride Youth Alliance, North County LGBTQ Center, TransFamily Support Services, Pomona Pride, Trans Health and Wellness Center, The Source, and Imperial Valley LGBT Center
- Cultivated a diverse range of activities, such as enhancing access to gender-affirming care and establishing community support groups
LGBTQ+ Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Training
Ensuring healthcare and homeless service providers possess the necessary tools and information is crucial for serving LGBTQ+ communities and their respective populations. Equality Californias DEI training program empowers service providers with the tools to serve their LGBTQ+ clients in an inclusive and affirming manner. Our training includes multiple modalities, meeting providers where they are, giving them key takeaways that they can apply into their practice and daily work.
Accomplishments:
- Developed new curriculum with a specific focus on harm reduction and opioid use within LGBTQ+ communities.
- Launched a public education campaign to raise awareness about HIV prevention and LGBTQ+ homelessness, reaching a substantial 101,382 people via email and 9,931 people through social media.
- In 2023 we trained a total of 720 healthcare providers, homeless service providers, and other professionals, bringing the program lifetime total of individuals trained to 5,181.
OUT Against Big Tobacco
For decades, Big Tobacco has preyed on the LGBTQ+ community, targeting us through their marketing campaigns, getting us hooked on their deadly products. The OUT Against Big Tobacco coalitions in Los Angeles County and the Central Valley are fighting for the institutional changes required to save our next generation from the predatory practices of Big Tobacco. Currently, we lead the Central Valley coalition in these efforts.
Accomplishments:
- Sub-granted $50,000 across ten organizations and awarded 11 sponsorships totaling $9,150 to support LGBTQ+ events in the Central Valley.
- Ten legislators signed the Kick Big Tobacco OUT of California pledge to refuse tobacco campaign contributions.
- 120 constituents signed a petition encouraging California legislators to refuse tobacco industry campaign contributions.
- Worked with Placer LGBTQ+ Center to make Placer Pride a tobacco-free event.
LGBTQ+ Leadership
Empowering skilled LGBTQ+ leaders to achieve electoral success, contribute to public boards and commissions, and hold key roles in elected officials' offices is essential for strengthening the political influence and overall well-being of the LGBTQ+ community. Our objective is to establish a robust pipeline of LGBTQ+ leaders who authentically advocate for and represent the community. This is facilitated through initiatives like the Comcast Fellowship, LGBTQ+ Leadership Academy, LGBTQ+ Leadership Summit, and LGBTQ+ Appointments Program. In 2023, our members and attendees achieved new levels of involvement, actively contributing to the drafting of legislation and participating in efforts leading up to an election year.
Accomplishments:
- 75 Comcast Fellows placed in Sacramento legislative offices
- 246 people trained in the LGBTQ+ Leadership Academy
- Dozens of LGBTQ+ leaders and academy alumni appointed to boards and commissions
- 11 LGBTQ+ Leadership Academy alumni elected to office
Racial Justice
Equality California Institute recognizes that systemic inequality disproportionately affects marginalized communities, especially Black and Brown communities. The truth of these disparities has become a core guiding principle in how we operate our programming, actively selecting BIPOC leadership candidates, empowering BIPOC voters, and subgranting to organizations that serve and are led by BIPOC individuals. We will continue to fight for a world that is healthy, just, and fully equal for all LGBTQ+ people.
HIV/AIDS
Advancements in science and medical knowledge have brought us a long way toward ending HIV and AIDS transmissions. But the work is far from done in getting us to ZERO: zero transmission, zero HIV-related deaths, and zero HIV stigma. In 2020, we pursued this through the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundations HIV Is Not A Crime campaign. Today our Nosotros VIHviendo program uplifts and supports local grassroots organizations working to destigmatize HIV in California and Nevada, providing capacity building and leadership training to Latinx community leaders, and supporting grantees efforts to educate and mobilize their communities to eliminate HIV transmissions, HIV-related deaths, and HIV stigma.
Accomplishments:
- Supported the modernization of HIV laws in five states (California, Illinois, Virginia, New Jersey, Georgia)
- Successfully conducted our second year of Nosotros VIHviendo programming, uplifting six grantees.
Stop The Hate
In 2023, Equality California Institute's Stop the Hate program marked its inaugural year, recognizing the significant impact of hate crimes and incidents on the LGBTQ+ community in California. The program underscores the critical need for safe, inclusive, and affirming resources for survivors of anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes.
Accomplishments:
- Collaboratively generated a Policy White Paper focused on broadening eligibility for state victims compensation
- The first convening took place at Plantiitas in Long Beach. This complimentary community event included the release of our Policy White Paper and a panel discussion with community leaders addressing the impact of hate on the trans community in California.
- Created specialized outreach materials to inform LGBTQ+ communities about their rights in case of a hate incident, offering practical guidance for bystander intervention to reduce harm that were disseminated at 7 pride festivals across California.
Trusted Messenger
In 2023, we unveiled an exciting partnership with the Governors Office of Community Partnerships and Strategic Communications (OCPSC). This collaboration is dedicated to providing public awareness and community outreach services for individuals grappling with significant health and social inequities. Throughout the grant period, our emphasis will revolve around critical topics including extreme heat preparation, water conservation, and ITIN numbers.
Accomplishments:
- Conducted an educational campaign sharing resources and information to raise awareness whereas it reached a substantial audience, with 31,106 people reached via social media channels and 4,521 people reached through email.
- Facilitated 1,211 interactive phone engagements and 4,818 direct outreach engagements with community members.
- Awarded an extension by an additional 3 months, accompanied by a 25% increase in funding.
Where we work
External reviews
Photos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of coalition members
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
LGBTQ people
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Number of convenings hosted by the organization
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
California LGBTQ+ Leadership Summit; Fair Share for Equality; Advocacy Day
Number of public events held to further mission
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
Public Education and Advocacy Events
Number of briefings or presentations held
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
Presentations to community leaders regarding disparities in LGBTQ+ health and well-being
Number of people trained
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
LBTQ Health Equity and Health Resource Center
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Individuals trained in LGBTQ+ Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Number of grassroots organizations supported
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
Organizations provided with sub-grants and resources to conduct public education and outreach in LGBTQ+ issue areas.
Number of training workshops
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
Trainings include work done through our LGBTQ+ Cultural Competency Training program, the Leadership Academy, Comcast Fellowship, and Equality California Mentorship Corps.
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Equality California Institute brings the voices of LGBTQ+ people and allies to institutions of power in California and across the United States, striving to create a world that is healthy, just, and fully equal for all LGBTQ+ people. We advance civil rights and social justice by inspiring, advocating, and mobilizing through an inclusive movement that works tirelessly on behalf of those we serve. Equality California Institute, along with its affiliate 501(c)(4) Equality California, are the nation’s largest statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights organizations, with 900,000 members, and California’s only LGBTQ+ civil rights organizations working at the local, state, and national levels.
We are a diverse organization, accountable to California’s diverse LGBTQ+ community. We define “LGBTQ+ issues” broadly and are fighting for full, lived equality for all LGBTQ+ people and the diverse communities to which we belong — centering those in our community most at-risk of discrimination, including LGBTQ+ people of color, TGI people, immigrants, young people, women, and people living with HIV. For more than 20 years, Equality California Institute has been fighting for LGBTQ+ equality, and we will keep fighting until the work is done.
Our priorities areas are:
• Health & Well-being: Reducing disparities in LGBTQ+ health and well-being
• Leadership: Empowering LGBTQ+ elected, appointed and community leaders
• People Power: Increasing civic participation and building political power within the LGBTQ+ community
Through these and other channels, Equality California Institute is seeking to create change in our communities and public systems and to reduce disparities in LGBTQ+ health and well-being.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Advance Cutting-Edge Legislation
• Continue to advance LGBTQ+ civil rights and social justice legislation in California, including legislation to protect the most vulnerable among us.
• Promote California’s pro-equality legal landscape as a roadmap for states across the country.
• Advance LGBTQ+ civil rights and social justice legislation at the federal level.
• Expand programs to assist LGBTQ+ organizations in other states to adopt LGBTQ+ civil rights and social justice legislation.
• Create affiliate infrastructure in other states where existing capacity is weak or nonexistent.
Enhance Our Electoral Clout
• Build the bench of openly LGBTQ+ elected and appointed officials to fuel the LGBTQ+ movement in California and beyond.
• Mobilize voter turnout for pro-equality candidates at the state and national levels.
Address Disparities In Health & Well-Being
• Continue to invest in programmatic work that focuses on vulnerable communities to which LGBTQ+ people belong, including communities of color and faith, immigrants, people living with HIV, elders, youth, people with disabilities, women and members of TGI communities.
• Improve LGBTQ+ competency in institutions that support the public in times of need and crisis, including healthcare providers, schools and universities, faith organizations and law enforcement.
• Expand programming focused on implementation of California’s pro-equality laws, including healthcare access programming and the Safe & Supportive Schools Initiative.
• Advocate for increased government resources to meet the needs of all LGBTQ+ people and people at risk of, or living with, HIV.
Educate, Mobilize & Engage Our Community
• Maintain a robust, comprehensive communications strategy to mobilize and engage the community at the local, state and federal levels.
• Increase Equality California’s earned media platform to become one of the go-to organizations in the nation for issues and stories relevant to the LGBTQ+ community.
• Maintain and strengthen Equality California’s role as the statewide convener and leader of the California’s LGBTQ+ community regarding health, electoral, legislative and policy issues.
• Increase and strengthen collaboration with LGBTQ+, labor, business and progressive partners to advance the community’s priorities.
• Optimize technology infrastructure to improve programmatic effectiveness.
Serve As A Talent Engine For The LGBTQ+ Movement
• Recruit and train the next generation of LGBTQ+ community leaders, enhancing their understanding of LGBTQ+ civil rights and social justice issues and community priorities.
• Invest in training and career advancement for staff through professional development opportunities that expand and refine skill sets that can be used to advance priorities in the public and private sectors.
• Mentor smaller organizations in the movement to build LGBTQ+ movement capacity at the local and state levels.
• Expand mentorship opportunities for volunteer leadership at Equality California.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Equality California Institute, along with its affiliate 501(c)(4) Equality California, are the nation’s largest statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights organizations and California’s only LGBTQ+ civil rights organizations working at the local, state, and national levels.
Our size lends itself to our strong communications and mobilization capacity, allowing us to reach large numbers of LGBTQ+ and allied individuals to conduct outreach, public education, and mobilization. As a leader in the fight for marriage equality, Equality California Institute is well known in the LGBTQ+ community and has a reputation for being leaders in the fight for LGBTQ+ equity and inclusion. We have positive relationships with LGBTQ+ and allied social justice organizations and non-profits across the state, are well-respected among our peer organizations and elected and appointed officials, and have an engaged and loyal board of directors, staff, and volunteer base.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Equality California Institute, along with our affiliate 501(c)(4) Equality California, was established in 1998 as the California Alliance for Pride and Equality (the name Equality California was adopted in 2003) with a mission to ensure the dignity, safety, equality and civil rights of all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Californians.
Today, Equality California is the largest statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights organization in the nation. Our programs cover a wide range of topics that impact the diverse LGBTQ+ community, including healthcare, immigration, education, HIV prevention, TGI (transgender, gender-nonconforming and intersex) visibility, mental health, religious acceptance of LGBTQ+ people and leadership development for LGBTQ+ youth and adults.
We have achieved historic firsts in California—protecting LGBTQ+ youth from so-called “conversion therapy,” expanding access to life-saving HIV prevention medication, protecting transgender students from discrimination, and guaranteeing healthcare for transgender youth in foster care. We have launched innovative programs to support LGBTQ+ students in the Central Valley, empower the next generation of LGBTQ+ leaders to pursue elected and appointed office, and ensure healthcare professionals and homeless service providers have the tools and training they need to care for the LGBTQ+ community. Through these and many other efforts, we have also paved the way for the rest of the nation to follow—creating a roadmap and helping our partners in other states replicate our success. We have built California into a beacon of hope to LGBTQ+ people around the world, and we will not stop fighting until the work is done.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
EQUALITY CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE
Board of directorsas of 03/13/2024
Juan Camacho
21st Century Fox
Juan Camacho
Jeff Freitas
Rabbi Barbara Zacky
Laurie Hasencamp
Katherine M. Forster
Mark Gonzalez
Hon. Dan Arriola
Hon. Lena Gonzalez
Hon. Dallas Harris
Hon. Rafael Mandelman
Hon. Abigail Medina
Hon. Lisa Middleton
Hon. Steve Padilla
David Ambroz
Alberto Bautista
Beth Collins
David Cruz
Mark Gonzalez
Ryan Harlow-Nakano
Alberto Nodal
Amy C. Quartarolo
Amy Schneider
Laura Zagar
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
No data