Business Commons^™

Transformative Policies Supporting Equitable Workforce Progress, India Shiroma Perreira, Eo Hanabusa, Leaders 20/20

San Diego Regional Quality of Life Dashboard

As the need for Green Workforce jobs rises, it is essential that companies are transparent about pay. The California Pay Transparency Law (SB 1162) enforces job descriptions that explicitly outline employee compensation, which is also a step towards closing gender and race-based pay gaps. It also prohibits employers from using hiring practices that may be discriminatory against certain groups of people. SB 1162 builds honesty, trust, and equity in the workplace for job seekers today and for generations to come.

2023 San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative Annual Report, San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative

San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative

The San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative is a network for public agencies that serves the San Diego region to share expertise, leverage resources and advance comprehensive solutions to facilitate climate change planning. By partnering with academia, nonprofits, and businesses, the SDRCC also works to leverage the profile of regional leadership. This is the 2023 San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative Annual Report.

2023 State Of Nonprofits And Philanthropy Annual Report, Connelly Meschen, Emily Young, Tessa Tinkler, Laura Deitrick, Jon Durnford

State of Nonprofits in San Diego

San Diego County is home to a growing and dynamic nonprofit sector working on the frontlines to serve families and communities while also advancing innovative solutions to the region’s most urgent challenges. To support our community and regional leaders to be informed partners with the nonprofit sector, the 2023 State of Nonprofits and Philanthropy Annual Report provides relevant and current information on the health and impact of the sector. The report draws from over a decade of quarterly public opinion polling of San Diego residents and a survey of local nonprofit leaders, combined with the latest nonprofit data from the …

The Value Of Stem As An Educational Tool For Enhancing Cognitive Development, Alessandra Olmedo Robles, Leaders 20/20

San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative

STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. The focus of STEM education is to provide a holistic approach through hands-on, problem-based learning where students are able to take what they learn in the classroom and apply it to real world problems.

Why Reach Codes: Local Players Driving Statewide Building Standards, Gabriella Medina, Darbi Berry, Gabriela Yamhure

San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative

Reach codes are local energy ordinances that employ various technologies, strategies, and integrated systems that go above California Building Standards Code (CA Building Code, Title 24) standards and support greenhouse gas emission reduction efforts. A reach code is a mandated energy performance requirement for the built environment, typically incorporated as part of a city’s climate action plan, local hazard mitigation plan, or climate adaptation plan. Not only do reach codes help local jurisdictions remain in compliance with state mandates, they enable local climate leadership by signaling support for the future direction of state Building Code standards. This blog provides a …

Understanding The Green Workforce, Gladys Torres Olivarria, Darbi Berry, Leaders 20/20, University Of San Diego

San Diego Regional Quality of Life Dashboard

One initiative to improve environmental conditions is prioritizing the Green Workforce. The Green workforce is an economic approach to combating climate change. The Green Workforce refers to jobs that help us advance towards a more sustainable society and help us transition from the over-dependence on oil towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions. A Green workforce can bring in millions of new jobs and opportunities.

Understanding Urban Heat Islands And Impacts, Darbi Berry, Nicole Fassina, A-Bel Gong

San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative

Urban heat islands play a large role in aggravating climate impacts on water, electricity, and air pollutants, and affect vulnerable communities disproportionately. This blog calls onto historical redlining and disinvestment and urban development as direct contributors of socioeconomic disparities and includes a case study of one of our region’s most vulnerable communities.

Water And Agriculture In The San Diego Region, Olivia Frigyes, Darbi Berry, A-Bel Gong

San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative

The San Diego region is susceptible to drought with little annual precipitation. The rising temperature and changing precipitation is expected to affect the agriculture economy. Classified as having a mediterranean climate, San Diego has hot, dry summers and cooler, wet winters. In this blog, learn about how San Diego's climate shapes its agricultural communities' reliance on water supply.

2022 Annual Report, San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative

San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative

The San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative is a network for public agencies that serves the San Diego region to share expertise, leverage resources and advance comprehensive solutions to facilitate climate change planning. By partnering with academia, nonprofits, and businesses, the SDRCC also works to leverage the profile of regional leadership. This is the 2021 San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative Annual Report.

Mobilizing Regional Action: Insights From The San Diego Region Coastal Resilience Roadmap, Darbi Berry, Civicwell, Sdrcc

San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative

This case study details the process of developing the San Diego Region Coastal Resilience Roadmap with particular attention to how this process can be replicated in other regions throughout California – for coastal resilience, as well as other climate impacts and community priorities.

Understanding Binational Water Scarcity, Avery Aquino, Darbi Berry

San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative

Water scarcity has become a growing concern in many regions around the world, including the San Diego, CA and Tijuana, MX border region Water is a valuable resource that sustains all life on earth, and the San Diego/Tijuana border region is no exception. With increasing population growth, urbanization, and changing climate patterns on both sides of the border, the demand for water resources has significantly outstripped its availability in this region. As a result, it has become essential tounderstand the extent and impacts of water scarcity, and to develop innovative and sustainable solutions that can mitigate its effects.

Leading Climate & Environmental Action In The San Diego Region, Tessa Tinkler, Eo Hanabusa, Emily Young, Darbi Berry, Connelly Meschen

Environment

Leading Climate & Environmental Action in the San Diego Region presents the state of environment-focused nonprofits in the San Diego region and their legacies that position them to continue impactful climate action. Findings in this report are synthesized from quarterly public opinion pollings (San Diego Residents Survey), surveys of 30 local environmental nonprofit leaders (Nonprofit Leaders Survey), the latest nonprofit data from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and data on foundation grants awarded to local nonprofits (Candid). The environmental nonprofit sector in the San Diego region is relatively small, but it has worked on the frontlines for many years to …

San Diego County Childcare Landscape: An Analysis Of The Supply And Demand, Tessa Tinkler, Mehrnoush Jamshidi

Youth, Education, and Literacy

The COVID-19 pandemic has had significant impacts on the availability and demand for childcare. San Diego County, like much of the U.S., has historically had a much smaller supply of licensed childcare than there are children who need care. The pandemic has made this gap larger as the childcare supply has shrunk. Childcare providers have had to endure closures, new and constantly changing health guidelines, and uncertain revenue streams. On the demand San Diego County Childcare Landscape April 2022 ii side, parents’ conditions and needs have also changed. Parents have become unemployed, worked remotely, and kept their children home to …

Calgreen: California Green Building Standards Code: Blog 3, Gabriella Medina, Darbi Berry M.S., San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative

San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative

CALGreen encourages local governments to go beyond statewide Energy Code regulations to achieve greater building energy efficiency and cost savings, all while providing the necessary resources to do so. The currently enforced version of CALGreen is the 2019 CALGreen code. Mandates and voluntary provisions in the 2022 CALGreen update will go into effect January 1, 2023.¹ If both the 2022 Energy Code and 2022 CALGreen mandatory and voluntary standards were to be adopted statewide, the carbon reductions would be equivalent to removing 8,000 fuel-powered cars off the road for the first year and 24,000 fuel-powered cars by the third year.² …

An Equity-First Approach To Climate Adaptation, San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative, San Diego Association Of Governments

San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative

The Equity-First Approach to Climate Adaptation guidance document (Equity Guidance; document) serves as a general framework for local agency planners and transportation planning professionals. The Equity Guidance’s overall goal is to provide best practices for designing, planning, and implementing a climate adaptation process that supports equitable outcomes. This document identifies trends, assumptions, emerging practices, indicators, metrics, and implementation opportunities, that support and operationalize an equitable climate adaptation planning process.

2022 State Of Nonprofits And Philanthropy Annual Report, Laura Deitrick, Tessa Tinkler, Jon Durnford, Thomas Abruzzo, Connelly Meschen, Emily Young

State of Nonprofits in San Diego

The 2022 State of Nonprofits and Philanthropy Annual Report presents findings from ten years of quarterly public opinion polling (San Diego Residents Survey) and nearly 250 survey responses from local nonprofit leaders (Nonprofit Leaders Survey) combined with the latest nonprofit data from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the California Employment Development Department (EDD). Taken together, these data provide a holistic snapshot of San Diego’s nonprofit sector in 2022, summarizing its social and economic contributions to our region, highlighting potential opportunities for greater impact, and drawing our attention to trends which could threaten the nonprofit sector in the future. This …

Understanding California's 2022 Energy Code: Blog 1, Gabriella Medina, Darbi Berry

San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative

When thinking about the built environment, it is easy to overlook the influence structures have on our communities' quality of life. Buildings are relics of the past or symbols of modernity. They are tangible evidence of our society's investment in people's health, the environment and a resilient economy. Buildings play a crucial role over energy usage, urban heat impacts, and overall greenhouse gas emissions.

Quick Guide To The 2022 Energy Code: Blog 2, Gabriella Medina, Darbi Berry

San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative

There are a wide range of updates to the 2022 Energy Code; however, there are four categories of top priority for industry professionals and end-use stakeholders as California strengthens compliance standards: electric heat pump technology, electric-ready requirements, solar photovoltaic systems and battery storage standards, and strong ventilation standards.

Laying The Groundwork For Equity-First Climate Adaptation, Michelle Robidas, Darbi Berry

San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative

SDRCC is excited to share the first post of our 2-part Climate Adaptation Blog Series "Laying the Groundwork for Equity-First Climate Adaptation." This blog post gives a high-level introduction to SDRCC and SANDAG's Equity-First Approach to Climate Adaptation guidance document. Readers will learn strategies to identify social equity communities, build community capacity, and link adaptation planning efforts to the four dimensions of equity.

2021 State Of Nonprofits And Philanthropy Annual Report, Laura Deitrick, Tessa Tinkler, Jon Durnford, Tom Abruzzo, Nallely Manriques, Mehrnoush Jamshidi

State of Nonprofits in San Diego

The 2021 State of Nonprofits and Philanthropy Annual Report presents findings from ten years of quarterly public opinion polling (San Diego Residents Survey) and nearly 250 survey responses from local nonprofit leaders (Nonprofit Leaders Survey) combined with the latest nonprofit data from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the California Employment Development Department (EDD). Taken together, these data provide a holistic snapshot of San Diego’s nonprofit sector in 2021, summarizing its social and economic contributions to our region, highlighting potential opportunities for greater impact, and drawing our attention to trends which could threaten the nonprofit sector in the future. This …

Reconnecting And Reengaging In 2021: Building Strong Nonprofit Teams For The Future, The Nonprofit Institute At The University Of San Diego

Nonprofit Sector Issues and Trends

Prepared on behalf of The Nonprofit Institute by Nonprofit Leadership and Management graduate students.

Nonprofit organizations often operate within a good deal of uncertainty, even in good times. During a crisis, organizations may need to quickly implement changes. Nonprofit employers have had to retract, restore, and in some cases, reinvent their human capital management systems and processes to align with the new normal. This document, created by University of San Diego students studying LEAD 505: Developing Human Capital, offers some basic considerations and strategies for nonprofit organizations related to managing their workforce in times of crisis.

2020 Culture Shift: Measuring Covid-19 Impact On San Diego Arts And Culture Nonprofits, Thomas Abruzzo, Laura Deitrick, Christine Jones, Jonathan Glus

Arts and Culture

To better understand the impacts of the pandemic on City-funded arts and culture nonprofits and their workforce, The Nonprofit Institute at the University of San Diego – on behalf of the City of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture – conducted a survey of arts and culture organizations funded by the City in fiscal year 2020. In that year, the City invested $11.4 million in arts and culture organizations. In fiscal year 2021, the City was forced to reduced annual funding to approximately $5.7 million due to drastically reduced tax revenues. Eight months into the pandemic, many City-funded arts …

2020 Annual Report: State Of Nonprofits And Philanthropy In San Diego, Laura Deitrick, Tessa Tinkler, Jon Durnford, Thomas Abruzzo, Taylor Funderburk, Connelly Meschen

State of Nonprofits in San Diego

The year 2020 has become one of reckoning – as a time for reflection and hindsight about how we got to this point of crisis, as well as one for envisioning a new path forward. As the pandemic shows no sign of abating, the disruption wrought by COVID-19 is broad and deep for nonprofits, their leaders, and constituents.

The 2020 State of Nonprofit and Philanthropy Report synthesizes findings from three nonprofit leader surveys (including COVID-19 impacts surveys), public opinion polling, and other sources of nonprofit data to provide the most up to date and holistic picture of this essential sector. …

2020 Thrive Outside Asset Map, The Nonprofit Institute At The University Of San Diego

San Diego Regional Quality of Life Dashboard

With the support of the Outdoor Foundation’s Thrive Outside grant, San Diego’s network partners have worked to identify gaps in services, increase outdoor experiences for youth and families, and expand the capacity of partner organizations to better serve the community. By highlighting outcomes associated with outdoor engagement, San Diego hopes to leverage the Thrive Outside funding to raise additional funds to improve the quality of life for San Diego children and families.

Regional Adaptation Needs Assessment, San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative, San Diego Association Of Governments, Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve, The San Diego Foundation

San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative

The Regional Adaptation Needs Assessment (NA) was designed to inform regional and local planning efforts and to strengthen the linkage between existing mitigation and adaptation planning efforts. The NA is multi-disciplinary, addressing multiple climate impacts to best identify cross-sectoral needs and future opportunities for collaboration. Funding for the NA was awarded to SANDAG via a Caltrans Senate Bill 1 (SB 1) adaptation planning grant, with SDRCC as a sub-recipient.

Unprecedented Disruption: Covid-19 Impact On San Diego Nonprofits, Laura Deitrick, Tessa Tinkler, Emily Young, Connelly Meschen, Colton Strawser, Taylor Funderburk, Tom Abruzzo

Nonprofit Sector Issues and Trends

Nonprofit organizations are often on the frontlines of crisis, serving as a critical partner to government in sustaining our community safety net and quality of life. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, many local nonprofits are experiencing increased demands for services, yet have been hindered or completely cut off from responding due to stay at home orders, revenue loss, and physical distancing.

In an effort to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on local nonprofits’ ability to meet their communities’ needs, The University of San Diego’s Nonprofit Institute has been surveying nonprofit leaders since March 2020.

This report …

Nonprofit Sector Response To Covid-19, Laura Deitrick, Tessa Tinkler, Emily Young, Colton C. Strawser, Connelly Meschen, Nallely Manriques, Bob Beatty

Nonprofit Sector Issues and Trends

In an initial effort to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on local nonprofits’ ability to meet their community’s needs, The University of San Diego’s Nonprofit Institute issued a survey to nonprofit leaders on March 18, 2020. The aim of this report is to provide real-time data to government officials, foundations, and other decision-makers about the current economic conditions facing nonprofits and the need for immediate and long-term support in order to ensure the ongoing provision of critical services in the San Diego region.

Equinox Ten Year Trend Analysis: Waste, Michelle Jones, Christopher Holguin

San Diego Regional Quality of Life Dashboard

This report summarizes the plans and initiatives of the City and County of San Diego for reducing waste disposal and examines 10 years of data to analyze waste disposal trends over time. Various county and city-level estimates are provided for context. This report was prepared for The Nonprofit Institute by the Center for Sustainable Energy.

Equinox Ten Year Trend Analysis: Housing, Michelle Jones, Christopher Holguin

San Diego Regional Quality of Life Dashboard

This report was prepared for The Nonprofit Institute at the University of San Diego by the Center for Sustainable Energy. This is a ten year trend analysis (2010-2020) on housing in San Diego County.

Equinox Ten Year Trend Analysis: Transportation Choices, Michelle Jones, Christopher Holguin

San Diego Regional Quality of Life Dashboard

San Diego County offers residents and visitors a variety of transportation modes to meet their travel needs. Within the county, several organizations are dedicated to improving regional mobility, including the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) and North County Transit District, offering intercounty train and light rail travel options, and first/last mile mobility alternatives like Uber, Lyft, LIME, Bird and others providing car-sharing and bicycle and scooter rentals. Despite the numerous options available to residents, most San Diegans continue to commute by car. According to the American Community Survey, the number of residents driving a car alone to work in …