Orange County Living Wage announced on Monday that it will end its operations on December 31.
The nonprofit certifies local businesses that pay their employees a living wage in Orange County, which in 2024 is $17.65 per hour. Since the organization was founded by members of the Orange County Democratic Party in 2015, it has certified 385 employers.
According to the press release, Orange County Living Wage was unable to secure funding to continue operations because governments and philanthropic organizations are putting grants towards more direct services that address similar problems.
Susan Romaine, the organization’s founder and board chair, said direct services might include affordable housing, child care and mental health services. She said the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted economic, social and health disparities and the need to redirect resources to close those gaps.
“As those important programs and services get prioritized – as they should be - funds for other nonprofits naturally get squeezed out,” Romaine said.
Because the organization also served as a catalyst for local economic development, in past years Orange County helped fund it, Romaine said. She said funding from the County peaked a few years ago, when they awarded the nonprofit a $36,000 grant.
Romaine said the organization has scrambled to try to fill the revenue gap with fundraising events and sponsorships with employers.
“We just weren't able to raise sufficient funding to keep just sort of our bare bones operations going,” she said.
For at least a year, Orange County Living Wage plans to keep its website and directory of living wage employers operational, Romaine said.
