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 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 or if there's a topic you'd like to see covered.

Upcoming ED Forums:

Our Board Leadership Series offers 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.

All sessions will be held 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 Greg Scully at greg@501commons.org.

Upcoming Board Trainings:

Strategic Board Recruitment – Friday, Apr. 8, 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.

Board EXCEL: Excellence in Community Engagement and Leadership – Thursday, May 12, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Boards on Fire! Inspiring Leaders to Raise Money Joyfully – Wednesday, May 18, 9:00 to 10:30 a.m.

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

Held online as a webinar, topics discussed at 501 Talks Tech include website maintenance, Google AdWords, social media, databases, search engine optimization, project management and collaboration tools, security & privacy, mobile, e-mail, and more. Our trainers are technology experts who bring years of practical experience using these tools for social good.

Upcoming workshops:

Developing a Website that Tells Your Story – Apr. 28, 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.

Search Engine Optimization for Nonprofits and Businesses – May 17, 11:00 a.m. to noon

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 workshops:

Conflict Happens! Skills for a Healthy Workplace – Apr. 20, 9:00 to 10:30 a.m.

Strong volunteer management practices can make a major difference in empowering your volunteers to have the best experience possible and helping your organization meet its goals. Register for these upcoming virtual (via Zoom) workshops taught by expert trainer Nancy Gaston.

Upcoming workshops:

It's a Zoo Out There: Embracing Change in Your Volunteer Program – April 18, 2:00 to 5:00 (PST)

Life Cycle of Volunteer Engagement Workshop Series – June 1, 8, & 15, 9:00 a.m. to noon (PST)

The 2021 King County Nonprofit Wage & Benefits Survey Report and Employee Engagement Survey Report will soon be released. Dive into the results of the surveys and learn tips and tricks for interpreting and using the data so you can build a stronger organization.

501 Commons will host two public briefing sessions with the Putting People First project team where you can get a deep-dive into the findings of both surveys, hear recommendations from our HR expert on implementing positive policy changes, and ask questions.

• Putting People First: Breaking Down the 2021 Employee Engagement Survey Report – Time TBA