NextGen California Action is a California policy advocacy organization related to NextGen Climate America (NextGen Policy). It supports policies and initiatives that promote left-of-center issue areas such as climate change, expanded voter registration, support for illegal immigrants, economic equity, and racial and gender justice. ^{1 2}

Background

NextGen California Action was established in November 2022. ³ Its initial filing document states that the organization’s purpose is to “fight for progressive policy change to address environmental, social, racial, and economic inequities in California through justice-centered legislative advocacy, grassroots partnerships, and democratic civic engagement.” ⁴

NextGen California Action is a related organization to NextGen Climate America (NextGen Policy) according to NextGen Climate America’s 2022 and 2023 tax returns. ¹ Founded by billionaire climate activist Tom Steyer in 2013 as part of a broader initiative called NextGen Climate, NextGen Policy is now an independent organization focused on California-based policy advocacy. ⁵ It partners with left-of-center organizations such as the California Association of Nonprofits, the Student Debt Crisis Center, Improve Your Tomorrow, and the Silicon Valley Community Foundation on projects and policy initiatives related to left-of-center social policy issues in California. ⁶

NextGen California Action supports policy advocacy and initiatives that “promote prosperity and protect the rights of Californians.” ² Its priorities include left-of-center issue areas such as climate, expanded voter registration, support for illegal immigrants, economic equity, and racial and gender justice. ^{7 8}

Funding

NextGen California Action’s 2023 tax returns reported $0 in revenue and $17,135 in expenses with net assets of $45,104. Its 2022 tax returns reported $80,000 in revenue and $17,761 in expenses with next assets of $62,239. As of July 2025, ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer reported the organization was no longer listed in the Internal Revenue Service list of tax exempt organizations. ⁹

Past donors to NextGen Policy include the Energy Action Fund, the United States Energy Foundation, the Tides Foundation, the San Francisco Foundation, and the Silicon Valley Community Foundation. ¹⁰

Leadership

Adriana Sanchez-Ochoa is president and chair of NextGen California Action. ¹¹ She is also on the executive leadership team of NextGen Policy focused on immigration, digital equity, and environmental justice. She is a liaison to the ethnic, women’s, and LGBT caucuses of the California State Legislature. Previously, Sanches-Ochoa worked for the California legislature in various positions. She is a graduate of the University of California, Davis with a major in international relations and political science. ¹² She is on the board of the California International Relations Foundation, ¹³ a nonprofit foundation that assists the California State Senate with meetings and programs for international delegations. ¹⁴

Stacey Smith is secretary of NextGen California Action. ¹¹ Smith has been on the executive leadership team of NextGen Policy since 2019. Previously, she was a director for NextGen America and a deputy state director for former U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) for 15 years. Smith earned a bachelor’s degree in government journalism from California State University. ^{15 16}

Arnold Sowell Jr. is the executive director of NextGen Policy. Sowell has had several roles with the California State Assembly and with other state and local government organizations for over 20 years. In 2019, he was the policy director for Tom Steyer’s 2020 presidential campaign, and then he joined NextGen Policy. He has been with the organization for almost 10 years. He is a Sloan Foundation fellow, a board member of the VetFund Foundation and the Opportunity Institute, an advisory board member of Swords to Plowshares, and a member of the Statewide Leadership Council for the Public Policy Institute of California. ^{17 18 19}

1. NextGen Climate America Inc. Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tex. (Form 990 – Schedule R.) 2022, 2023.
2. NextGen California Action. Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990EZ – Part I). 2023.
3. “NextGen California Action.” California Secretary of State Business Search. Accessed July 5, 2025. https://bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov/search/business
4.  State of California Office of the Secretary of State Articles of Incorporation. Filed November 10, 2022. Link from “NextGen California Action.” California Secretary of State Business Search. Accessed July 5, 2025. https://bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov/search/business
5. “About Us.” NextGen Policy. Accessed July 5, 2025. https://www.nextgenpolicy.org/our-team/
6.  “NextGen Community Partnerships.” NextGen Policy. Accessed July 5, 2025. https://www.nextgenpolicy.org/partnerships/
7. “2024 NextGen Legislative Package.” NextGen Policy. Accessed July 5, 2025. https://assets.nextgenpolicy.org/9b54c34b-2024_ngp_legpackage_9.0.pdf
8. “Top Issues.” NextGen Policy. Accessed July 5, 2025. https://www.nextgenpolicy.org/our-focus/#more-issues
9. “NextGen California Action.” ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Accessed July 5, 2025. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/882057452
10. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer search. Accessed July 5, 2025. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/full_text_search?form%5B%5D=IRS990ScheduleI&q=46-2525580&sort=best&submit=Apply&year%5B%5D=2022&year%5B%5D=2023&year%5B%5D=2024
11. NextGen California Action. Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990EZ – Part IV.) 2023.
12.  “Adriana Sanchez-Ochoa.” NextGen Policy – Our Team. Accessed July 5, 2025. https://www.nextgenpolicy.org/team/adriana-sanchez-ochoa/
13.   “Board of Directors.” Senate Office of International Relations. Accessed July 5, 2025. https://soir.senate.ca.gov/relatedprograms/welcome/board-directors
14. “Statement of Purpose.” California International Relations Foundation. Accessed July 5, 2025. https://soir.senate.ca.gov/relatedprograms/welcome/statement-purpose
15. “Stacey Smith.” NextGen Policy – Our Team. Accessed July 5, 2025. https://www.nextgenpolicy.org/our-team/
16. LinkedIn – Stacey Smith. Accessed July 5, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacey-smith-509b0661/
17. LinkedIn – Arnold Sowell Jr. Accessed July 5, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/arnold-sowell-jr-b465762b8/
18. “Arnold Sowell Jr.” Swords to Plowshares. Accessed July 5, 2025. https://www.swords-to-plowshares.org/team/arnold-sowell-jr
19. “Arnold Sowell Jr.” Public Policy Institute of California – About – Statewide Leadership Council. Accessed July 5, 2025. https://www.ppic.org/person/arnold-sowell-jr/