Every nonprofit shares an overarching goal: To create a positive, lasting impact for the betterment of its community or area. However, as the needs of its beneficiaries evolve, nonprofit professionals must work to improve their programs accordingly.

Securing donors’ long-term support is critical for your nonprofit to continually fund its mission-driven initiatives. However, in recent years, the average donor retention rate across the nonprofit sector has hovered just under 35%.

Your board is the foundation governing body of your organization. 501 Commons offers a variety of learning sessions that can be customized specifically for your board and delivered online.

Nonprofits spend countless hours and resources acquiring new donors, only to see many vanish after a single gift. The key to long-term sustainability is monthly donors. They give more over time, provide steady revenue, and form the foundation of a thriving fundraising program. However, attracting these donors and keeping them engaged requires a strategic approach.

Assessing your nonprofit’s digital infrastructure is crucial to driving a high return on investment (ROI) with your online presence. We recommend auditing your nonprofit’s website at least once a quarter to identify opportunities for improvement and areas where you can drive a greater impact for your mission online.

Many organizations (sometimes spurred by board members) think they need to use an RFP to select a consultant. In cases of large government funded projects this may be the case.

The recent outbreak of COVID-19 is causing nonprofits to reevaluate how prepared they are for emergencies. We’ve been monitoring the situation closely and have assembled resources to help your organization adjust to this new reality.

This article provides advice for nonprofits still operating programs and links to coronavirus resources for King County/Washington.

The key to successful online fundraising during GiveBIG, Giving Tuesday, or other online campaigns is creating content that makes people stop scrolling and say to themselves, “Wow! What’s this?”

The 501 Commons staff and board members are inspired every day by the creativity and commitment we see in the people and organizations we serve.

2020 is ushering in new rules on the federal and state levels that define which employees are exempt from minimum wage and overtime pay.

A culture that engages everyone in supporting philanthropy is critical to fundraising success. As long as any staff or board member thinks fundraising is "not their job," the organization will miss opportunities to engage donors, tell its most powerful stories, and express its mission in a clear and powerful way.

Contrary to popular belief, the nonprofit and business worlds intertwine constantly. In fact, nonprofits rely substantially on businesses to fund their missions, and businesses often seek out partnerships with organizations to enhance their brands.

“Mindfulness” is the practice of focusing on your inner feelings and gaining a better understanding of how these feelings influence your thoughts, actions, sense of purpose, and interactions. It also serves a vital role in fueling our creative processes, taming anxiety, and effectively maneuvering through stressful situations in the workplace.

WordPress is a popular and powerful content management system that can do much more than just create blog posts; it powers 1/3 of all websites.