Winter 2019 Top of Mind Newsletter

Directory party is a “must attend” biz dev event

RSVP now for April 9 networking affair at Wing Luke Museum

“[We] so enjoyed last evening’s 7th Annual Directory Networking Party! The location was great, the speakers were spot-on, the food and beverage sublime and what a wonderful opportunity to network! – 2018 Directory Networking Party attendee

It’s not often that those serving the same sector get to network, at a catered event, and at no cost to them. But our annual Directory Networking Party promises that and much more. This year, we’re returning to a larger space in the beautiful Wing Luke Museum. Plus, guests will have access to the Worlds Beyond Here special exhibit. Attendees will also have the chance to win prizes.

Directory Networking Party
Tuesday, April 9, 2019 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Wing Luke Museum – Ford Foundation Community Hall

Don’t miss this always fun and free opportunity to grow your network and business. RSVP today.

And if additional company exposure – before, during, and after the event – appeals to you, consider underwriting this popular, celebratory event. Contact Nancy Long at nancy@501commons.org to learn how your company can benefit from sponsoring and join these other excellent 2019 Directory Networking Party sponsors: Columbia Bank; Beneficial State Bank; Greenwood, Ohlund & Company, LLP; Hagel & Company; First Financial Northwest Bank; Non Profit Insurance Program; and Peterson Sullivan.

We need your help today to make GiveBIG a success

501 Commons is now the new home for GiveBIG, our region’s largest single giving day that has raised more than $113 million for nonprofits since 2011. GiveBIG is May 8, 2019.

News that’s important to know:

Tax–exempt nonprofits that have a headquarters or service location anywhere in Washington State can participate – not just those in King County (read Eligibility for more information).

Encourage organizations you work with to register now. Once organizations register and pay the registration fees (which are providing most of the funding for the campaign) the fundraising training and assistance programs we are providing are FREE. We are offering:

In-person trainings and a webinar. Ariel Glassman of The Ostara Group is leading four trainings in March.
Fundraising Accelerator, an email subscription service that provides recommendations every two weeks to guide organizations in getting ready.

There are two new features this year:

Peer-to-peer campaigns — Board members, donors, and supporters can create a personalized peer-to-peer campaign page and solicit their network.
Companies campaigns — Companies can encourage employees to give and match their contributions through the platform.

Support GiveBIG

Taking on GiveBIG in November left us with little time to raise the $700,000 needed to mount this campaign and prepare for next year. We have a few sponsors, including Seattle Foundation, but need additional support to secure the media campaign. Can you help?

Become a sponsor! Sponsor levels range from $100,000 to $5,000. Email Kajsa Puckett at KajsaP@encoremediagroup.com to learn more.
Make a donation to the campaign now or on the GiveBig platform beginning April 23. The option to support the campaign comes up as you are checking out.
Sign up to become a marketing partner. We will send you updates and sample copy to include in newsletters, outreach to clients, and social media. Email Tim Takechi at timt@501commons.org for more information.

Want to keep in the know? Sign up to receive timely email updates about GiveBIG.

Participate in the 25th annual WA State Nonprofit Conference

This year is the 25th anniversary of the Washington State Nonprofit Conference and a great program is planned. That means it’s also a great year to get involved! Here are some ways you can be a part of it:

Attend: The conference is on May 21, 2019 in Bellevue. Be there or be square!

Exhibit or Sponsor: The Washington State Nonprofit Conference is the largest gathering of nonprofit leaders from a variety of fields. Promote your business – and support the nonprofit sector – by sponsoring or exhibiting at the conference. Learn more here.

Share Your Expertise: “The Doctor is In” is an opportunity for interested conference attendees to network with Washington Nonprofits (WN) business members, many of whom provide services to nonprofits. There will be several tables where WN business members can sign up for a 30-minute window to meet interested participants informally and answer nonprofits’ questions about their area of expertise. If you’d like to participate, make sure your Washington Nonprofits business membership is current and register for the conference. Washington Nonprofits will be sending out more info on how to sign up for slots closer to the conference date.

The conference has a lot of other new features to promote learning and interaction. Learn more by visiting the conference website.

Event planners…meet the Northwest Nonprofit Venues Map

Board retreats, fundraisers, program events… whatever the occasion, nonprofits are always looking for great venues. Consultants and others who put on trainings and workshops also need places to hold their events.

Enter the newly improved Northwest Nonprofit Venues Map. With more than 300 venues and detailed listings of each, the Venues Map is a “go to” for venue options. And now, these venues can be filtered by 10 categories, such as Community or Cultural Center, Conference Center or Event Space, Educational Center, Performing Arts Venue, and more.

Currently, most of the spaces on the Venues Map are located across Washington State. Over time, we plan to expand this tool to locations in Idaho and Oregon too. Another recent improvement: an online application for a venue to get listed on the map. So spread the word to Northwest nonprofits and venues alike! There’s currently no charge for venues to be listed; although, certain information is required and we strongly encourage venues to offer nonprofit discounts.

Welcome new Resource Directory specialists!

We’d like to welcome the following organizations to our popular referral network.

Accounting Solutions Partners (ASP) – From start-ups to well-established nonprofits, ASP provides a range of bookkeeping and accounting services, such as bank reconciliation, payroll, and tax reporting. Plus, there’s flexibility on the number of hours you can hire the company (e.g., a few hours per day, a few days per month) and whether their staff works at your office or virtually. The company also supports all major accounting software.

CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen) – With over 50 principals and nearly 2,000 professionals nationwide working with nonprofits, CLA has what it describes as deep industry specialization. This comes, in part, from staff being on several nonprofit accounting standard-setting bodies. The company serves nonprofits of any size and services include audits, reviews, compilations, tax preparation, board and governance training, state and local tax, and consulting.
GFS Events – A full-service event management company, especially focused on fundraisers, GFS Events supports nonprofits in several key areas. They range from event production, management, and sponsorship to mission messaging to volunteer management. GFS Events is also experienced in conference and retreat planning, and the company was won four awards and been nominated two more times for events it organized.

Sector news: what's on our radar?

Proposed overtime changes pose challenges for nonprofits

Washington Nonprofits released a report outlining how organizations will be affected by the Washington Department of Labor & Industries’ proposed overtime rule changes. The biggest takeaway is people in the nonprofit sector generally support raising the overtime threshold, but a majority of respondents are concerned that these proposed increases will result in layoffs and program reductions that negatively impact the people and communities they serve.

Findings include:

21% of respondents say the cost of delivering services will increase by 10-19%
If the overtime threshold rises, 75% predict they will adjust by converting salaried staff to hourly
63% say they’ll reduce staff hours, 28% will raise program fees, 24% will have to reduce the number of people they serve, and 25% will have to resort to laying off staff
70% say executive, administrative, and professional staff will be impacted the most (such as reclassification, overtime caps, reduced hours, etc.)
35% say front line/direct services staff will be most affected

L&I received many public comments that will be incorporated into the official proposal. Thanks to Washington Nonprofits for engaging the social sector to make our voices heard! For more information, contact David Streeter at (855) 299-2922 or david@washingtonnonprofits.org.

Train the Trainer series returns on Feb. 26 and Mar. 26

Washington Nonprofits’ Train the Trainer series helps consultants who serve the nonprofit sector strengthen their training practices. Adult learning experts Guila Muir and Tracy Flynn lead this two-part series on Feb. 26 and Mar. 26 at 12^th Avenue Arts (Pike/Pine Room) on Capitol Hill in Seattle. Join them to discover:

How to create an excellent workshop
Tips and tools for increasing engagement
How to know if you’ve made a difference

Get ready for a hands-on experience with homework between the sessions. The goal is to give you what you need to deliver an excellent workshop that moves people to action. Leave with greater knowledge, skills, and confidence as you join a supportive cohort of people committed to the practice of teaching and learning. Participants will have the option of doing individualized observation and coaching, since learning happens best when you can reflect on your practices with others.

“Never Fail” Course Design
February 26, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Learn the structure of planning a successful workshop. You will leave with a draft document with the main elements of a workshop.

How to Turn Learning Into Action
March 26, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Refine your plan in consideration of effective engagement strategies, barriers, and feedback.

Register today. The cost to attend is $190 for Washington Nonprofits Members and $232 for non-members. Learn more about membership.

Quick Hits

Promote your upcoming trainings and workshops in Learning Connections!

Do you offer trainings, workshops, professional development services (like coaching or networking), networking events, conferences, or internships? If so, list them in Learning Connections. Simply create an account and add or update your listings. The searchable catalog complements our Featured Training & Networking Events calendar. So it’s additional exposure at no additional cost! Plus, a check mark – alongside a promoted offering – denotes when it’s offered by a Nonprofit Resource Directory partner – a nonprofit specialist, like you, who comes “recommended by their clients.”

You can list upcoming events or just list your capacity to provide customized services, such as on-site trainings, coaching, or presentations on topics that showcase your expertise. You can also see what is being offered by others in the community and identify gaps in topics, audiences, or geographic areas that you might fill. So explore and make the most of this free online tool.

A shout out to those newly “recertified”

Thank you to the nonprofit specialists below that have been recertified after being in the Resource Directory for more than 5 years. During this process we conduct new reference checks and encourage specialists to update their listings. The review allows us to recommend listed providers with confidence and ensures that everyone is “in good company.”

Recertified specialists include:

Refer these 501 Commons trainings to your clients:

Executive Director Forum
Friday, March 1
8:30 to 10:30 a.m.
Pacific Tower, Seattle

At the next Executive Director Forum, Raleigh Watts, Executive Director of Country Doctor Community Health Centers, will lead one of the three discussion groups on the topic of “handling hierarchy in an organization with a social justice focus.” Plus, with Julie Zeigler, Executive Director at Humanities Washington, will lead “Staying fresh: How to keep your programming and communications relevant.” Note: Organizations with an annual budget under $1 million can attend for free.

Composed: The Heart and Science of Leading Under Pressure
Thursday, Feb. 28
9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Pacific Tower (1^st floor), Seattle

Keeping your composure under pressure is the hallmark of every great leader. Discover the specific strategies you can use to be a better version of yourself when it matters most. Presenters Dr. Rob McKenna and Dr. Daniel Hallak of WiLD Leaders offer a roadmap for standing firmly in who you are while staying connected to those who matter most to you – especially during high-pressure moments.

Effectively Engaging Skills-Based Volunteers
Friday, Mar. 8
2:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Pacific Tower (Room #810), Seattle

Volunteers with specialized skills, credentials, or experience can help you take on important work and advance projects that would otherwise languish on the backburner.

This half-day session guides you through the basics of successfully recruiting skills-based volunteers, planning projects they can do, and integrating them into your organization.

Facilitating Group Dynamics for Boards and Executives
Tuesday, Mar. 12
9:00 a.m. to noon
Pacific Tower (Panoramic Center), Seattle

The work of a nonprofit is done in meetings: board meetings, retreats, committee meetings, brainstorming sessions, strategic planning and budgeting. Learn how to lead these sessions to impactful, actionable outcomes at this Board Training workshop led by Annie Paulson.