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. Both sessions will occur in Pacific Tower in accordance to current "social distancing" requirements.

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:

Check back for future workshops, please.

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 are 3-6 hours long and cover topics such as staff retention, diversity and inclusion, cultivating empathy and emotional intelligence, building leadership skills, improving communication, and handling difficult conversations. All sessions are at Pacific Tower.

Upcoming workshop:

Check back for future workshops, please.

Virtual volunteering is work done by volunteers online, via computers, smartphones, or other devices. The service may be done virtually, but the volunteers are real! Explore how virtual volunteers can be integrated into your overall strategy by applying the basic principles of volunteer management. We will address overcoming resistance to online volunteer service; designing virtual volunteering assignments; interviewing and screening online volunteers; managing risk and protecting confidentiality; and utilizing technology to recruit, orient, train and recognize volunteers.

Virtual Volunteering for Success: May 12, 9:00 a.m. to noon (online via Zoom)

“Remote work” is now a new reality for nonprofits, both during the pandemic and afterward. This means it’s critical that our virtual meetings be as engaging and effective as possible. In this fast-paced interactive session led by Una McAlinden, an experienced nonprofit facilitator, you’ll explore (and experience!) tools and techniques that can make every online meeting more dynamic, meaningful, and productive.

Register Today

This interactive two-hour workshop packs a punch, so we hope you can be present for the whole session. Registration is limited to 30 people. This means if your situation changes, please cancel so we can open your spot to others. When you register through Eventbrite, you’ll receive a link to the Zoom meeting shortly before the workshop.

For a busy nonprofit professional, effectively managing volunteers can seem challenging– even daunting – but with a little time and intention, you can become highly effective at engaging volunteers. This webinar series (offered three different times) 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.

• April 5, 6, & 7 (2:00 to 5:00 p.m.)
• June 9, 10, & 11 (9:00 a.m. to noon)
• August 23, 25, & 27 (9:00 a.m. to noon)