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.

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 over a dozen well-reviewed sessions about governance and board development for staff and board members.  

Sessions are always held at Pacific Tower in Seattle but attendees from other counties are welcome! Cost is $45 per person and $40 for organizations that are 501 Commons members. Organizations with budgets under $1 million receive a $20 discount. Direct questions to Kendra Demuth at kendra@501commons.org.

Upcoming Board Training:

Check back for future workshops, please.

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:

Utilizing Spreadsheets to Power Your Work – Jan. 21, noon to 2:00 p.m., Pacific Tower

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:

Coaching Skills for Nonprofit Leaders – Feb. 12, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Help! I'm Invisible: Invisible Disabilities in the Workplace – Mar. 24, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

In 2020, both the Department of Labor and WA State Labor & Industries are changing the salary level required for employees to be classified as Exempt from overtime. Presenter Matt Aspin (501 Commons' HR and Learning Program Manager) focuses on the practical aspects employers need to consider to ensure compliance of these new regulations in this free webinar presented in partnership with Washington Nonprofits.

The New Overtime Rules – How to Update Your HR Practices – Feb. 19, noon to 1:00 p.m., online

Volunteers are the lifeblood of many nonprofits. This makes being able to effectively recruit, manage, and retain incredible volunteers all the more important. 501 Commons and United Way of King County are teaming up to present three workshops that will provide you the knowledge and tools for setting up a volunteer program for success (Mar. 10 and May 12) and know-how of engaging skills-based volunteers (Apr. 21).

All sessions are taught by Stephanie Heffner (501 Commons' Volunteer Initiatives Manager) at Pacific Tower.

• Life Cycle of Effective Volunteer Management – Mar. 10 and May 12
• Effectively Engaging Skills-Based Volunteers – Apr. 21

GiveBIG Washington, our state’s largest single philanthropic giving day, is on May 6, 2020. To prepare for a successful campaign, attend these in-person and online trainings led by Rebecca Zanatta, Principal at The Ostara Group. All in-person sessions are at Pacific Tower.

The Essentials of GiveBIG Success

• Online: Tuesday, Feb. 25, 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
• In-person: Wednesday, Mar. 4, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Creating Your Next Level GiveBIG Campaign

• Online: Wednesday, Feb. 26, 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
• In-person: Tuesday, Mar. 24, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.