Year: 2019

Blog

Washington Nonprofits Membership Update

December 20, 2019 Laura Pierce

Coming in January of 2020, Washington Nonprofits membership dues will be slightly adjusted. As the nonprofit sector in Washington grows, we are updating and simplifying our membership program so it can better serve you. Membership dues will still be on a sliding scale, with dues for small nonprofits starting at $50 a year. You can see a chart below outlining those changes. Our members are the foundation of our organization. It’s because of you that we offer affordable trainings, online and in person, designed to lead to meaningful action. Our public policy advocacy creates a positive climate for you to […]

Blog

Member Spotlight: Morningside – The Transforming Power of Work

December 16, 2019 Julia Hunter

How many times have you been asked at a party, “So what do you do?” Work is a central connector to your community. For individuals with disabilities, having this connection can be especially meaningful to their lives. This month’s member spotlight is special. Beyond offering insights into nonprofit success, member organization Morningside also offers a challenge to nonprofits: “Be open to hiring a person with a disability.” Employers report that their employees with disabilities are dedicated, hardworking, and always enthusiastic to be at work. Plus, their presence creates a more positive work culture for everyone. What’s not to love? Since […]

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Blog

7 Perfect Reasons to Budget for Professional Development

December 13, 2019 Erika Robertson

Take a breath and think about your strategic priorities for 2020. What would you like to accomplish? Is there a skill you need to move your mission forward? You may need to justify professional development expenses to your boss or your board (or just yourself). Let us help you advocate for yourself. Here are 7 tried-and-true reasons attending a conference or a workshop is a smart use of your limited time and resources. […]

Policy Updates

What Do Washington State’s New Overtime Pay Rules Mean for Nonprofits?

December 11, 2019 Laura Pierce

Employees, including those working for nonprofits, who earn salaries under this threshold must earn overtime for any hours worked over 40 in one week. I know this change presents a challenge to most of us, particularly outside the Seattle metropolitan area. We face rising labor costs and funding levels that are not keeping pace. On the positive side, this could move us toward better compensation in the sector and less burnout. […]

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Blog

Resources for Leaders

November 19, 2019 Laura Pierce

Our partner the Community Consulting Partnership (CCP) is offering two types of support to nonprofits: Consulting support for nonprofit organizations in the Puget Sound region Free executive coaching for executive directors, focused on Washington Nonprofits members outside King County Read more about the results of our first coaching pilot below or go here to learn more about either coaching or consulting from CCP available now. Our first round of coaching was a big success Being an executive director (ED) is a hard job and can be lonely at times. There are unique challenges in leading a nonprofit organization and reporting […]

Photo of second-hand, hard cover books by Dewang Gupta on Unsplash
Blog

What Makes People Care?

November 19, 2019 Erika Robertson

Think about the last, great novel you read. For me, it’s Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson. I would describe it as a space opera, political thriller, and environmental treatise all in one. Two out of three of those are not my jam, but I was riveted through all 572 pages. When I run into interpersonal conflict, I now understand it through the lens of Red Mars. It helps me imagine the different factions complexly—I empathize with their internal and external motivations. Reading Red Mars changed how I act and move in the world. What if your nonprofit could change […]

Blog

Member Spotlight: Port Townsend Marine Science Center – How sea stars and abalone create community engagement

November 14, 2019 Julia Hunter

The Port Townsend Marine Science Center (PTMSC) protects endangered species, advocates for marine life, provides education through school programs and events, connects the community to the local environment—and they continually inspire conservation of the Salish Sea with an attitude of hope. What fuels them? Two key strengths: volunteers and partnerships. Janine Boire, Executive Director, talks about how these two strengths work in tandem to fulfill their mission. She named two successful partnerships that have been powered by volunteers in their Citizen Science Program. The first is the Pinto Abalone Recovery project, led by the Puget Sound Restoration Fund. The pinto […]

Action Alert
Action Alerts

Action Alert: Fundraising Tax Exemption Close to Expiring – Write Your House Members Today

November 14, 2019 David Streeter

Picture this scenario: Your nonprofit is hosting a gala with a silent auction. You and your fellow staff members are overwhelmed with all the craziness of working the event while your guests are having a good time. Then, at the end of the night, it’s time to announce the silent auction winners. The winners are ecstatic and riding high about the fun items they’ve won. Then, reality sets in: you have the unfortunate task of breaking it to the winners that they owe an additional sales tax on their prizes. Thankfully, this is a hypothetical situation. But it could become […]