Executive Director Forums are a low-effort, low-cost, and high-impact way to gather with your executive director peers and learn from each other. Each forum gives you the chance to participate in three roundtable discussions led by an experienced executive director. Participants share problems and solutions and trade tips and resources. All sessions in 2021 will occur via Zoom.

For more than a decade, ED Forum participants consistently report that they left with actionable information and an extra bounce in their step from networking with others in our sector. Email nancy@501commons.org if you are interested in being a discussion leader.

Upcoming ED Forums

Our King County Board Training Series runs from September to May, offering more than a dozen well-reviewed sessions about governance and board development for staff and board members. Every class is taught by expert nonprofit professionals who bring years of experience working with and consulting to nonprofit organizations like yours.

During the pandemic, all sessions will be held online via Zoom. When you register through Eventbrite, we will send you the Zoom link before the day of the training. Cost is $45 per person and $40 for organizations that are 501 Commons members. Organizations with budgets under $1 million receive a $20 discount.

Please direct your questions to Kendra Demuth at kendra@501commons.org.

Upcoming Board Trainings:

Please check back for further updates

Technology is a crucial component for the success of nonprofits to serve their missions. 501 Talks Tech is a series of FREE monthly sessions that provide information on free and low-cost technology tools that are readily available to organizations of all sizes.

Held periodically at Pacific Tower or online as a webinar, topics discussed at 501 Talks Tech include website maintenance, Google AdWords, social media, databases, search engine optimization, project management / collaboration tools, security & privacy, mobile, e-mail, and more.

Upcoming workshops:

Microsoft Teams for Nonprofits – Wednesday, Sept. 29, noon to 1:00 p.m. (online)

Affordable in-depth classes designed to build up your professional skills and leadership capabilities are available through the 501 Commons Staff Development Coalition. These workshops improve how staff and executive directors work with each other and the communities they serve.

Sessions cover topics such as staff retention, diversity and inclusion, cultivating empathy and emotional intelligence, building leadership skills, improving communication, and handling difficult conversations.

Upcoming workshop:

• Working Successfully Across Multiple Generations in the Workplace – Part 1 (Aug. 26) and Part 2 (Oct. 21), noon to 1:30 p.m. (online)
• Why & How to Build Bullying-Free Workplaces – Sept. 14, noon to 1:30 p.m. (online)

For a busy nonprofit professional, effectively managing volunteers can be challenging, but with a little time and intention, you can become highly effective at engaging volunteers. This webinar series (offered twice) guides you through the critical components of setting a volunteer program up for success. This workshop is designed for volunteer managers with less than two years of experience or those looking to refresh their understanding of the basics. Attend one session for a mini boost or all three for maximum impact.

August 23, 25, & 27 (9:00 a.m. to noon)

Nonprofits play a vital role in educating the public about policy issues and actions that directly affect our communities. Knowing your advocacy rights – and strategies for effectively conducting advocacy – is crucial to doing it right.

501 Commons, Alliance for Justice’s Bolder Advocacy, Win/Win Network, and Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS) are teaming up to present our annual two-part advocacy workshop.

Part One: Advocacy and Lobbying 101: Legal Tips for 501(c)3 Nonprofit Advocates
Thursday, Sept. 16 | 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. | Online via Zoom

Part Two: Nonpartisan Advocacy in Partisan Times
Friday, Sept. 17 | 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. | Online via Zoom