Our Blog of News, Tips & Insights
Welcome to The Commons, 501 Commons' blog, where we share:
- How-to's, tips, and tricks from nonprofit tech, finance, HR, and other areas
- News and updates about upcoming events, programs, and services
- Thought-provoking pieces around topics, such as skills-based volunteerism, nonprofit management, and more
- Stories from clients about the impact of 501 Commons' programs and services
Plus, we invite your comments! Add your thoughts to these posts, so our blog truly becomes "The Commons."
3 Income Streams to Diversify Your Nonprofit's Revenue
Major events, such as galas and auctions, bring in vital revenue for your nonprofit. However, in between these major fundraisers, you should look to diversify your organization’s revenue streams. By doing so, you can earn more revenue, remain afloat in the event a fundraiser falls through, and give supporters more ways to engage.
5 Tips for Successfully Hiring a Major Gifts Officer
Every major gift your nonprofit receives represents hours of careful research, thoughtful stewardship, and meaningful solicitation work. As the largest contributions your nonprofit receives, these gifts have the power to truly drive your mission forward.
Charitable Giving has Been Hijacked and We are Losing Millions of Donors
501 Commons encourages nonprofits to engage in GiveBIG, GivingTuesday, and the year-round Washington Gives program to reconnect with donors amid declining year-end giving trends. We're seeing the largest drop in donors, including those who donate less than $500 (which comprises 80% of donors).
Cybersecurity Essentials for Nonprofits: Identity and Access Management
Written by Vonnita Jones & Kai Dailey
Plan IT: Make Technology Your Ally
Technology is foundational to helping nonprofits raise money, improve their productivity, measure program effectiveness, and communicate. Our newly revamped Plan IT program can empower you to make technology a more reliable partner in achieving your mission.
10 Do's and Don'ts of HR Assessments for Nonprofits
A human resource (HR) assessment is a tool used to analyze and identify critical areas in HR for improvement. It ensures that the delivery of HR services is aligned with the organization’s mission and values. An HR assessment is conducted by reviewing written policies, interviewing stakeholders, and observing behavior to analyze how HR is functioning throughout the organization.
A Guide to Nurturing Member Relationships
A successful nonprofit membership program depends upon one thing: its members! As the lifeblood of your membership program, it’s vital to keep members satisfied, engaged, and invested. Ultimately, the most important metric when determining a membership program’s success is your relationships with your members.
Personalizing at Scale: AI for Tailored Donor Communications
There’s a lot of buzz about artificial intelligence in the nonprofit space, and for good reason. This technology has diverse on-the-ground use cases that can improve nonprofits’ workflows and reduce menial tasks.
4 Tips to Train Your Volunteers for Your Upcoming Gala
Running a fundraising gala is no easy task. Between marketing your event, getting your technology in place, and setting up your event space, you’ve got your plate full. Luckily, you don’t have to plan and lead your gala alone!
Starting January 1, 2024, WA is Raising the Minimum Wage and Overtime Salary Threshold
Starting January 1, WA’s minimum wage will increase to $16.28 per hour for employees ages 16+. This represents a 3.4% increase from this year. This new rate applies to nonprofit employers of all kinds.