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Little Hoover Commission adopts report urging institutional support for public-philanthropic partnerships
Summary
The commission adopted recommendations to institutionalize liaison roles, expand agency liaisons, create a legislative central point of reference, and establish independent monitoring and evaluation for public-philanthropic partnerships.
SACRAMENTO — The Little Hoover Commission on May 29 unanimously adopted a report urging the state to strengthen infrastructure for public-philanthropic partnerships, recommending institutionalizing a liaison role, expanding agency-level liaisons, creating a legislative point of reference and establishing independent monitoring and evaluation.
Crystal (staff member) summarized the study, noting the commission identified 107 public-philanthropic partnerships since 2019 involving more than 27 state agencies and roughly $13.6 billion from the state and $4.2 billion from foundations. "Our witnesses told us that they felt like they're being treated like partners and not just an ATM," she said, summarizing testimony from foundation representatives.
The report's four recommendations are intended to make partnerships more durable and transparent: (1) make the governor's partnership liaison permanent, (2) expand liaison positions across major agencies, (3) create a centralized legislative contact for philanthropic partnerships, and (4) locate formal monitoring and evaluation outside the governor's office and collect demographic beneficiary data.
Commissioners who served on the subcommittee — Commissioner Sidley and Commissioner Hernandez — both backed the report and praised staff work. Commissioner David Beyer noted the state's experience with government-private sector partnerships at the regional level and urged the commission to encourage such models.
The commission voted to adopt the report as submitted; staff said the paper will be transmitted as part of the commission's regular reporting to the Legislature and Governor. The commission also signaled it will follow up with implementation questions and release related survey results on state contracting with nonprofits in an upcoming hearing.
Ending: The commission scheduled follow-up hearings on electricity costs on June 26 and July 24 and said it will present implementation updates and bill-tracking at the June meeting.
