California State Protocol Foundation

A 2008 disclosure report revealed the names of several donors to the group including the University of Phoenix, the California Conference of Carpenters, the Capstone Turbine Corporation, the California State Council of Laborers, Western Union, AOL, Anheuser Busch, and the Alliance of Auto Manufacturers.  ¹

Background

California State Protocol Foundation was officially incorporated with the IRS in 2001. Reportedly, an old page on its website claimed the organization as formed in March 2004.

The Foundation has served as a pass-through financial vehicle for the California governor to pay travel and related costs during diplomatic trips taken to domestic and international locations. The entity has been used by multiple California governors, including former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R), former Gov. Jerry Brown (D), and Gov. Gavin Newsom (D).

As of 2024, California State Protocol Foundation’s physical address was registered at the Capitol Mall Suite of Sacramento, California, the main governmental street of the state’s capital city.

Activities

According to its stated mission, the California State Protocol Foundation claims to “lessen the burden of government by providing resources for the state of California to promote California in foreign countries as a place to do business.”  ¹

According to a 2008 report by Consumer Watchdog, the Foundation was used for funding expenses related to the Border Governors Conference in Los Angeles that year, including air travel and lodging for staff, a reception following the Conference, and “protocol projects and events at the State Capitol.”  ¹

Funding

A 2008 report released by Consumer Watchdog revealed the names of several organizations and companies that had donated to the California State Protocol Foundation prior to the Border Governors Conference held in Los Angeles that year. These included the University of Phoenix, the California Conference of Carpenters, the Capstone Turbine Corporation, the California State Council of Laborers, Western Union, AOL, Anheuser Busch, and the Alliance of Auto Manufacturers. General Electric, the parent company of Universal Studios, which hosted the conference, also donated to the Foundation for the purpose of “conference events and entertainment.”  ³

Between 2011 and 2019, during the administration of Gov. Jerry Brown (D), listed funders to the group included AT&T, Microsoft, Walmart, the lobbying arm of the California Association of Realtors, and the California State Council of Laborers.  ²

As of 2024, listed donors during Gov. Newsom’s administration include the Governor’s Inaugural Fund for “for inauguration expenses” and the Los Angeles Dodgers for funding Gov. Newsom’s “2021 state of the state speech from Dodger Stadium.”   ²

Spending

The California State Protocol Foundation has primarily spent funds on travel costs for the California Governor, the state’s First Lady, and the governor’s staff, according to various reports. There are also records of it using funds to pay for receptions following State of the State addresses, as well as various projects and events at the State Capitol in Sacramento. ¹

The CSPF paid for Governor Gavin Newsom’s (D) trip to El Salvador in 2019 and his trips to Israel and China in 2023. ²

In 2024, the CSPF spent $676,957 on “various ceremonial events for the governor’s office” including events with “visiting dignitaries to the state,” a “hall of fame induction ceremony,” the annual state capitol tree lighting, and receptions with various state leaders. That year it spent an additional $248,758 on “diplomatic activities” to “facilitate connections between the state of California and international partners,” including Governor Newsom’s visit to the Vatican Climate Summit in May 2024 and his attendance of the inauguration ceremony for Mexican President Claudia Shienbaum. ⁴

In 2024, CSPF spent $145,975 on renovations and repairs for the governor’s mansion and office in Sacramento. This sum also covered costs incurred by an event at the governor’s mansion as well as an arts exhibition at the mansion. ⁵