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."
A Look Back at 2015
2015 ushered in a tremendous amount of growth for 501 Commons. We raised more money than ever to support free and affordable services to nonprofits across our state. Through our contracted services, action-based cohort programs, consulting projects, and free resources on our Nonprofit Resource Directory, more people than ever are being touched by our organization. We'd like to thank the volunteers in the Executive Service Corps for making 2015 an impact year!
VIP Management Corps: Want to Grow Your Volunteer Program?
Apply by February 15 to join the 2016 VIP Management Corps (VMC) cohort program so that your organization can receive a temporary boost in staffing to help you more effectively recruit, engage and retain high-value volunteers. The program runs from June through October. At the end of the process, your nonprofit will receive the resources, training and support necessary to become stronger stewards of volunteers.
Youth Voice, Youth Choice Offers Seattle Youth the Opportunity to Make an Impact
Civic-minded youth ages 11 to 25 have the opportunity to make an impact in their communities through "Youth Voice, Youth Choice," a new City of Seattle initiative that allows youth to decide how to spend $700,000 of the City’s budget that is allocated toward community-building grant opportunities. The first of seven gatherings is Jan. 28 at Meridian Center of Health at 10521 Meridian Ave. N.
Treasury and IRS Withdraws Proposed Nonprofit Gift Substantiation Rule Change
After receiving more than 38,000 comments from the general public, the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service decided to withdraw a proposed rule change that would have permitted, but not required, nonprofits to file a return that would include the social security numbers (and other information) of donors who contributed gifts worth more than $250. Congratulations on making your voices heard!
Wishing You Success in the New Year!
Nonprofits in the state of Washington that made a New Year's resolution to strengthen their organization in 2016 can count on 501 Commons to provide a broad range of expertise and hands-on assistance to make that a reality. We will offer a diverse lineup of cohort programs, direct services, consulting help, and free resources this year that can help make 2016 your most successful year yet!
The Case for Writing Your Own Documentation
Documentation is important when planning, implementing and improving upon a technology project. Unfortunately, both process and technical documentation tend to get pushed to the side by organizations. We provide a compelling case for why you should write your own documentation, how you can use it for maximum benefit, and helpful tools to get you started.
DemandTools: The Swiss Army Knife for Salesforce
DemandTools is a data quality and data cleansing tool that is free for any 501c3 nonprofit organization that uses Salesforce for their database needs. Able to handle just about any database management task you might have, DemandTools is free to download if you provide them your 501c3 letter. We recommend, however, you consult a Salesforce expert to ensure you are able to use the tool properly. Learn more!
The IRS Needs to Hear From Nonprofit Board Leaders
We are passing along a message from BoardSource, an online resource for nonprofit board leaders. We are asking that you provide the IRS valuable feedback about a drastic new rule change that would require some nonprofits to collect their donors' social security numbers. Our position is that this change will make donors more hesitant to give and would cost nonprofits heavily in the need for additional cyber-security measures.
Mark Your Calendars: The Next King County Executive Director Forum is on Dec. 18
The Executive Director Forum is a unique opportunity for nonprofit EDs/CEOs to connect with their peers, share ideas, and learn from each other in a supportive environment. In each session you will visit three discussion groups facilitated by an outstanding leader. This round includes Sallie Neillie from Project Access Northwest, Jake Weber from FamilyWorks, and Sharonne Navas from Equity in Education Coalition.
The Relationship between the Executive Director and Board Chair Affects Organizational Success
In any nonprofit organization, no relationship is more crucial than the one between the executive director/CEO and the board chairperson. However, it takes time and commitment to create a relationship that works. An investment in an expert facilitator who can help set the groundwork for an effective working relationship will pay dividends for everyone at the organization. Read what Sherry Jennings (Sound Governance) has to say about this topic.