GiveBIG Has a New Home in 501 Commons
We are excited to announce that 501 Commons will be the new home for GiveBIG, our region’s largest annual giving day that has raised more than $113 million for nonprofits since 2011. This past year alone generated $16 million from 31,000 donors for 1,600 organizations.
Pinpoint Your Organization's Priorities with Our Free Assessment
Unsure what to focus on in 2019? Take our free Five Elements of a Healthy Nonprofit Self-Assessment survey to find out!
A Technology Plan Can Help Your Organization Achieve Great Things
Apply today to join Plan IT, a high-value learning program that helps nonprofits make smart technology decisions.
Grant Opportunities – October 2018
Don’t let all things pumpkin spice distract you from securing funding for 2019. Check out these grant opportunities that are offered either on a rolling basis or have deadlines happening in the next few weeks or months.
Financial Education Can Help You Cultivate More Loyal and Productive Employees
While nonprofits try their best to promote a community-centric approach to achieving their missions, this approach can often neglect another important audience – their employees. Organizations that want to cultivate more loyal and productive employees can do so by offering a service that many of us don’t often think about: Financial education.
WA State Nonprofits Must Prepare for New Paid Family & Medical Leave Laws Starting in 2019
Washington will be the fifth state to require employers to provide paid family and medical leave (PFML) benefits starting in 2020. These benefits are crucial for anyone who is recovering from a serious illness or injury, or has a close relative who is.
A Sense of Belonging Forces Stronger Teams
The need to belong is considered an innate feeling among all human beings across all cultures. That also applies to the workplace! Employees who feel like they belong to a larger cause will be more engaged, better connected to the mission, and feel valued.
Update on Federal and Local Overtime Rule Changes
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is currently gathering feedback about changes to overtime compensation rules and the WA State Department of Labor and Industries is looking to change the overtime rules that apply to Executive, Administrative, and Professional (EAP) employee categories.
Fall Board Meeting Discussion Item: "What is Our Advocacy Agenda?"
The fall weather shift is a reminder to determine your public policy agenda and talk to your board about their role in advocacy. Get your staff and board members in contact with legislators before they head back to Olympia in January.
Transform Yourself Into a Data Superhero
If knowledge is power, then our Data Solutions team can help transform you into a superhero!
Visit 501commons.org/Learn for Resources to Advance Your Nonprofit Career
Exciting news for nonprofit professionals, executives, board members, interns, students, and volunteers in the Pacific Northwest!
Kick Off Fall With Executive Roundtables
Want the opportunity to talk through common challenges with sympathetic peers? Join us for the next Executive Director Forum on Friday, Oct. 5 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Pacific Tower (Suite #810).
Gain Peace of Mind by Outsourcing to 501 Commons
Working on your 2019 budget? Consider the benefits of outsourcing important back office functions to 501 Commons!
Advocacy is a Must for All Nonprofits and Board Members
In early August, 75+ people attended a workshop with Toren Lewis from the Alliance for Justice on the rules governing nonprofits being engaged in advocacy. The big takeaway was simple: Nonprofits and board members can and should advocate for the causes that matter most to them.
Helpful Resources: Methods for Advocating Effectively
While it may seem like well-funded special interest groups are drowning out citizens in the public policy advocacy space, nonprofits shouldn’t feel like they’re voiceless. With proper strategy and allies, creating lasting change at the local, state, and national levels is possible.
Increase Team Effectiveness by Building Trust
All teams will experience breakdowns in their effectiveness. These can be more easily and quickly resolved if you do some important work in advance. Building trust and establishing clear norms and expectations can reduce conflicts and increase accountability to organizational goals.
Know the Law...Before Incorporating Liquor, Cannabis, & Gambling Into Your Event
Nonprofits in Washington raise millions each year from fundraisers, auctions, and raffles. But – whoa Nelly! – before you plan your next event, read this helpful toolkit.
Vietnamese Friendship Association: Looking Ahead to a Changing Community
For 40 years, Vietnamese Friendship Association has proudly served the Vietnamese and refugee populations in South Seattle. The organization originally sought to help resettle refugees affected by the Vietnam War. As time has gone on, VFA shifted toward supporting education, economic self-sufficiency, and leadership development programs.
Helpful Resources: Understanding Microaggressions and Unintended Slights
A “microaggression” is a verbal or nonverbal cue (whether intentional or unintentional) that communicates hostility or bias toward a targeted group of people. These unintended slights may seem harmless on the surface, but they perpetuate the feeling of being devalued and viewed as “the other.”
Racial Microaggressions: Not All Offenses are Obvious
When we communicate with people from a racial or cultural background different from our own, there’s always the chance we might commit a “microaggression” – a verbal or nonverbal cue that conveys disrespect or bias.