Local Patterns and Dynamics: The Nonprofit Sector in Los Angeles County

Local Patterns and Dynamics: The Nonprofit Sector in Los Angeles County has been published by the Center for Civil Society at the UCLA School of Public Affairs.

This Publication is an annual examination of the state of nonprofits in LA County.  Topics that are discussed include: the growth of nonprofits, numbers of nonprofits in L.A. County, nonprofit assets, average wages of nonprofits, nonprofit expenditures per 10,000 of the population in the county and per service planning area (SPA), foundations in L.A. County, a profile of needs and capacity for each SPA and for the county, distribution of poverty relief nonprofits, education and youth nonprofits, and health services nonprofits across the county, the relationship between nonprofits and the fiscal environment (federal, state and local government), and more.
Selected Findings:

• L.A. County has almost 40,000 registered nonprofits and community organizations. The majority of these (32,800) were registered as 501(c)(3) organizations including about 4,300 foundations (pg. vii).
• From 2000 to 2003, nonprofit expenditures in L.A. County increased 18%, compared to an increase of 2% in the period 2003 to 2006 (pg. 7).
• Nearly three quarters, or, 73% of L.A. County nonprofits have 20 or fewer employees (pg. 17). 
• SPA 5 (West L.A., Malibu) has the highest total nonprofit expenditures per capita in L.A. County ($4,338)-almost double that for the county on average ($2,238); SPA 1 (Antelope Valley) has the lowest total nonprofit expenditures per capita ($781) (pg. 24).
• SPA 6 (South L.A.) has the highest poverty rate for SPAs (29.4%), but has the second lowest nonprofit poverty relief expenditures per persons living in poverty (pgs. 23, 30).
• Health agencies were the largest share of expenditures in 2006, comprising 41% of nonprofit expenditures (pg.. 11).