There are 1.5 million nonprofits in the United States. They are tackling problems we all want addressed like hunger, youth suicide, and domestic violence; economic development, water policy, or emergency services; drop-out prevention, stronger reading skills, and college access. The staff, boards, and volunteers in these organizations are working hard but there is tremendous untapped potential in our nonprofits.

Because most of the funding available to nonprofits can only be used for programs, even large nonprofits have extremely limited budgets for planning, board development, operational improvement, and basic HR, technology, and financial systems. How can we unleash their potential to make the world a better place unless we provide nonprofits with affordable access to the skills and tools necessary to overcome operational and governance barriers and grow effective programs?

In Washington State, individuals, foundations, corporations, and government have come together to surmount this problem by supporting the development of 501 Commons.  501 Commons is a "management support organization" or MSO. We are one of the largest MSO's in the U.S. and provide the most comprehensive consulting, contracted services, and resources available.

Our home office is located in Seattle, Washington and the majority of our clients are from the Pacific Northwest but we serve organizations in 20-30 states each year.

Recognition from others

• A study done for funders in Chicago called "Point the Way" identified 501 Commons as one of three exemplary models for supporting nonprofit effectiveness.
• In 2014 501 Commons was chosen by Seattle Business Magazine as Nonprofit of the Year (shared with our partner City Club.)
• We were also honored twice by America's State Commissions for our Emergency Planning program for low-income housing sites and our Executive Service Corps program.
• 501 Commons has also received the Evergreen Award, an annual award recognizing outstanding commitment, innovation and contribution to the sector and a partnership award from the Minority Executive Directors Association.

One Gift Impacts More the 2000 Nonprofits Each Year

Over 75% of nonprofits have annual expenditures below $1 million.  Government and private funders usually provide funding only for direct services and programs, with no allocation for overhead or support costs and no way to build retained earnings. This means organizations doing the most important work in our society do not have access to the tools for organizational effectiveness: HR systems, technology, solid financial management, planning, coaching and leadership development and fundraising support.

Our business model depends on a mix of revenue generated from fees paid by nonprofits for our services, donated services provided by the skilled professionals in our Executive Service Corps, and contributions from individuals, companies, and foundations. Without the contributions of our volunteers, our funders, and donors, we would not be able to keep the other services we provide affordable to nonprofits.

A Partner for Philanthropy

501 Commons helps individuals, governmental agencies, and philanthropic organizations accomplish their goals. A gift to 501 Commons impacts more than 2000 nonprofits each year. Our innovative capacity building programs, make 501 Commons one of the most cost-effective and high-impact investments you can make to enhance the effectiveness of nonprofits and help people and communities flourish.

We are lucky to have had the support of more than 40 foundations and companies that understand the challenges that nonprofits face in accessing professional expertise, administrative support, fundraising and leadership development opportunities. Many of these funding relationships have included active partnerships that go beyond a funding relationship:

• The Boeing Company provided early support to start 501 Commons, originally the Executive Service Corps of Washington, and has provided more than $500,000 in support throughout the history of the organization, including support for the Springboard and Catalyst programs.
• Seattle Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Satterberg Foundation have provided significant levels of ongoing general operating support, allowing 501 Commons services to reach thousands of nonprofits.
• The Seattle Office of Arts and Culture, and 4 Culture have supported the Springboard for the Arts program since since its inception in 2010. Join them, the Boeing Company and the Nesholm Foundation in sustaining this proven program that preserves the cultural diversity of our community.
• The State Capacity Collaborative was formed because a group of foundations understood that without foundational services and capacity building resources organizations, particularly those emerging from BIPOC, LBGTQ and other marginalized communities, cannot find solid ground for their missions. The pooled funding group provided support to 501 Commons for 7 years until they stopped pooling funding.
• In addition to providing continuing general operating support, the Medina Foundation has underwriting the Pathways program for some of their rural grantees.
• Northwest Fund for the Environment contracts with 501 Commons to provide executive advisors and people with specialized expertise for their grantees.
• The Bullitt Foundation provided funding for executive directors from five grantee organizations to work with a leadership coach. The yearlong Compasspoint Coaching Study found that significant benefits in leadership and management resulted from coaching nonprofit leaders.
• We worked with the Campion Foundation to encourage nonprofit boards to be advocates for their organization's mission by becoming engaged in public policy and in shaping public opinion.
• The Murdock Trust gave us the capital to start our Human Resources program which is now creating positive impact on the workplaces of thousand of nonprofit employees each year.
• The City of Seattle has partnered with 501 Commons to provide a broad range of support services to its contracted early childhood education programs.
• Google and Microsoft supported the development of our Plan IT! technology planning program which has had support for implementation from over a dozen companies, including First Tech Federal Credit Union, REI Co-op, Columbia Bank, Avanade, Deloitte, Accenture, Mutual of Enumclaw.
• Volunteer Generation Fund - Serve Washington, our state's commission for national and community service has worked with 501 Commons under this federal grant. With the support of this fund, 501 Commons has developed emergency plans for low-income housing facilities housing thousands of low-income people, often with the support of  veterans and active-duty military personnel and increased the capacity of organizations to effectively recruit, engage and retain high-value volunteers.

United Way of King County's Volunteer Impact Partnership

One of our most enduring partnerships with with United Way of King County. Since 2009 the United Way’s Volunteer Impact Partnership (VIP) has increased organizational capacity to help nonprofits more effectively meet their missions through recruiting, engaging, and retaining high-value volunteers.

"VIP helped us to amplify our volunteer program. We are witnessing the results of a solid structure, enhanced coordination, and stronger leadership. Thank you for bringing these new skills and higher impact to Kindering." - Mimi Siegel, Executive Director, Kindering Center

95 organizations have participated in United Way's VIP 360 program between 2010 and 2015, each receiving an estimated $15,000 worth of services that enhanced their volunteer efforts at no cost to them. This is a great example of the value of our Executive Service Corps model, which leverages grant funds and professional volunteers to maximized services provided to nonprofit organizations. VIP Volunteer Management Consulting mobilized volunteers to help organizations develop the systems and processes needed to effectively engage, recruit and retain high-value volunteers.  See the impact of VIP 360 at Real Change.

Currently, we are providing consulting support and training on volunteer management through a contract with United Way.