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."
What Nonprofits Can Do to Take Cybersecurity Seriously
Having a stable and secure computer network is the first step in protecting your employee, volunteer, donor, and client data. Research has found that most nonprofits have few measures to protect against cyber-attacks – which is why our sector is being targeted.
Making the Most of the Nonprofit-Foundation Relationship
In 2020, the country’s estimated 108,000 foundations held more than a trillion dollars in assets and awarded more than $92 billion in grants to nonprofits. Working with these foundations—whether local or national—can be a powerful way to deepen your organization’s philanthropic impact.
3 Tips for Recruiting and Training Fundraising Ambassadors
Peer-to-peer fundraising is a tried and true way to deepen your nonprofit’s impact. With a well-designed peer-to-peer fundraising campaign, your organization can expand its reach, increase engagement, and boost your proceeds. Did you know there’s an easy way to take your peer-to-peer fundraising strategy to the next level?
What You Need to Know About WA's 2023 Minimum Wage and Overtime Increases
Most of you have probably implemented the overtime and minimum wage changes that went into effect on January 1, but we want to ensure that organizations are aware of all the provisions of these regulations and are not leaving themselves open to fines, back wages, or court cases by being out of compliance.
Rethinking Nonprofit Capital Campaign Feasibility Studies
Capital campaigns are major undertakings that have high stakes and potentially transformational benefits for your nonprofit and the community it serves. This is why it’s essential to conduct a thorough capital campaign feasibility study ahead of time to ensure you’re ready to launch such a large campaign.
A Quick Guide to Onboarding (part 2 of 2)
Starting a new job triggers feelings of excitement but also some level of anxiety. Haphazard or nonexistent onboarding can be detrimental. It may portray the organization negatively (as not caring about its employees) or just being lackadaisical in all its operations. However, an official onboarding plan can alleviate feelings of discomfort and point new employees in the right direction as they begin their association with you.
A Quick Guide to Hiring and Interviewing (part 1 of 2)
Most leaders will agree that the engines moving them forward are their people. So, making smart hiring decisions is critical. Although all businesses have recruitment challenges (especially in the current turnover environment), nonprofits often have unique staffing issues that make it more difficult for them to find and retain exceptional talent.
A Guide to Hosting a Successful Online Fundraiser
A lasting legacy of the pandemic has been the rise of virtual galas and other types of online fundraisers as a viable way to raise dollars. As one of the newer opportunities in the nonprofit world, online events generally have the most potential for improvement.
Get Ready for GivingTuesday on November 29, 2022!
It is now time to plan your GivingTuesday campaign!
Reduce Time on "Depleting" Activities to Prevent Leadership Burnout
As we move to address the various challenges brought upon by the pandemic and related economic burdens, let's take this as an opportunity to rethink how we run our organizations from the top to the bottom.