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 Crash Course in Planned Giving
When nonprofits think of raising large sums of money, they usually think of major donors, corporate partnerships, or grants. Another way to raise funds is through planned giving, an often overlooked type of gift. Learn what planned giving is, its benefits, and some tips for getting started.
Washington Cares Fund: Paycheck Deductions Begin on July 1
Starting on July 1, nonprofits in Washington need to deduct premiums from their employee's paychecks to fund the Washington Cares Fund, a state-operated long-term care insurance program open to anyone 18+.
4 Strategies to Build Stronger Major Donor Relationships
Major donors likely provide a significant portion of your organization’s funding, and they’re essential to keeping the nonprofit sector running smoothly.
Understanding Legal Compliance for Nonprofit Text Messaging
Text messaging your supporters can have a lot of benefits for your nonprofit—from boosting donations to strengthening donor relationships—but only if you’re running a legally compliant campaign.
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.