Do Work That Matters in a Place Worth Fighting For
California Civil Defense Institute is building a different kind of public-interest organization—one where talented people can take on practical fights that affect everyday Californians, take real responsibility, and help shape the institution itself. Our work is built around four connected areas: public records, social media, lawsuits, and policy. Each one strengthens the others, creating work that is exciting, fun, challenging, and rewarding. We want people who care about California, want their work to matter, and are excited by the opportunity to help build something capable of creating broad, lasting change in a state whose laws, policies, economy, and culture often shape what happens across the country.
Open Positions
There are many ways to help make California better—and many ways to build a future with us. Our opportunities range from volunteer and community roles to internships and law-school externships, and full-time careers across our four areas of work: public records, social media, lawsuits, and policy. Whether you are starting your career or looking for its next major chapter, we want people who want their work to matter. We are building a place where strong people can do the best work of their careers without getting trapped by hierarchy, bureaucracy, or internal politics. We work across functions, share information freely, challenge ideas openly, and organize around the mission rather than titles or departments. Being part of this team means making the whole organization stronger—because everything we do ultimately exists to serve everyday Californians and leave the next generation a better California.
California Is Worth Investing a Career In
California is one of the most consequential places in the world. It is the world’s fourth-largest economy, the center of American technology and venture capital, the nation’s leading agricultural state, a manufacturing powerhouse, a global center of research and higher education, and home to nearly 40 million people. What happens in California shapes what happens next in America. The businesses built here change industries. The technologies developed here change how people live. The ideas, laws, and policies adopted here are often tested, copied, challenged, and debated across the country. That makes working on California more than a local undertaking. It is an opportunity—and a responsibility—to help shape one of the most influential states in the country. We love California. We believe it should be an amazing place to live, raise a family, work, build, create, and thrive. And we believe talented people can spend their careers helping make it even better.
California by the Numbers
A state that shapes the future—through its economy, innovation, agriculture, trade, research, and influence across the country.
$4.25 Trillion
World’s 4th-Largest Economy
California produced $4.25 trillion in GDP in 2025—13.8% of the entire U.S. economy.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2025
62%
Of U.S. Venture Capital
California companies received 62% of all U.S. venture capital investment in 2025.
Source: PitchBook-NVCA Venture Monitor, 2025
33 of 50
Top Private AI Companies
California is home to 33 of the world’s top 50 private artificial-intelligence companies.
Source: Forbes AI 50, 2026
$385 Billion
Manufacturing Output
California is America’s leading manufacturing state, with $385 billion in annual economic output and 1.24 million workers.
Source: California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, 2026
$61.2 Billion
America’s Leading Farm State
California produces more than 400 commodities, nearly half of America’s vegetables, and more than three-quarters of its fruits and nuts.
Source: California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2024
$23.8 Billion
Agricultural Exports
California leads the nation in agricultural exports, shipping $23.8 billion in agricultural products in 2024.
Source: California Department of Food and Agriculture; USDA, 2024
31%
Of U.S. Containerized Trade
The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach handle approximately 31% of U.S. containerized international waterborne trade.
Source: Port of Los Angeles
10.2 Million
America’s Busiest Port
The Port of Los Angeles handled 10.2 million TEUs (shipping containers) in 2025 and has ranked as the nation’s busiest container port for 26 consecutive years.
Source: Port of Los Angeles, 2025
$158.9 Billion
America’s Largest Tourism Economy
Visitors spent a record $158.9 billion in California in 2025, supporting approximately 1.17 million jobs.
Source: Visit California, 2025
4 Nobel Prizes
A World Record in 2025
Four University of California faculty members won Nobel Prizes in 2025—the first time four faculty from one institution won in a single year.
Source: University of California, 2025
4.2%
Productivity Growth
California worker productivity grew 4.2% in 2025, making the state the largest contributor to U.S. productivity growth.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025
No. 1
In Solar and Geothermal Energy
California leads the nation in solar and geothermal energy and has more clean-energy jobs than any other state.
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration; E2
Frequently Asked Questions
What you need to know about working, growing, and building a career with California Civil Defense Institute.
Build a Career That Helps Shape California’s Future
California is worth fighting for, investing in, and making better. The work we do today can strengthen civil liberties, improve government, expand opportunity, and shape the kind of state future generations inherit. We are building an organization—and a team—for the long term. If you want your career to matter, help us build a California that is more free, more accountable, more prosperous, and better positioned to flourish.