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- When Members of Their Community Weren't Getting Public Health Information, These Nonprofits Came Together To Change It
- How to Start a Nonprofit
- An Exercise in Active Listening
- Make Your Voice Heard This Legislative Session!
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"We can collectively regain our faith in the transformative power of love by cultivating courage, the strength to stand up for what we believe in, to be accountable both in word and deed." - bell hooks
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Nurturing a Better Future
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Dear Nonprofit Colleagues,
I am writing this on Thursday in preparation for our Tuesday edition of the Connector. It feels like a great deal might transpire between now and then, making it hard to know what to write. With Inauguration Day coming up on Wednesday and news reports that white supremacy groups are planning actions for Sunday, I am concerned that we could see additional racist or anti-government violence. I hope not. I hope this newsletter reaches you following a peaceful long weekend and a contemplative, inspiring Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.
The times we are living in are so challenging. Whether or not your nonprofit mission touches directly on politics, civil society, or nonviolence, your work and the people you serve are likely to be profoundly affected by this week’s news. And nonprofits and democracy are inextricably intertwined concepts — they go hand in hand in building resilient civil societies, so we must all commit to protect our democratic institutions.
While we journey through this hinge time, nonprofits and their positive work in the community are exactly the countervailing force that we all need to maintain hope and get through the radical challenges we are facing as a society. Please remember how critical your work is to our collective sanity and faith in humanity. You are healing our world and nurturing a better future.
I hope as you read this that you are safe, that our elected officials are safe, and that you feel hopeful for a brighter year ahead. With an optimistic heart, I commend to you this newsletter filled with helpful information and stories. We are in this together, so I urge you to connect via our network — it is what sustains me.
In solidarity,
Laura Pierce
Executive Director, Washington Nonprofits
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When Members of Their Community Weren't Getting Public Health Information, These Nonprofits Came Together To Change It
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By Christina Colón (Communications Manager)
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When it’s a matter of public health, getting information out is critical.
So, when Spanish-speaking residents of Grays Harbor County weren’t receiving timely information about the Coronavirus pandemic, nonprofits in the area came together to do something about it.
In the early months of the pandemic, nonprofits serving the Latino community in Grays Harbor found themselves working overtime to provide needed services and support.
“Probably the scariest thing was that there wasn’t a lot of information for the community members,” Astrid Aveledo, executive director of the Dispute Resolution Center of Grays Harbor & Pacific Counties (DRC) said. “A lot of us found ourselves in the role of having to be the provider of that information.”
Aveledo began hosting weekly Facebook Live videos through the DRC to answer questions and disseminate information coming from public health. After seeing the videos, a staff member from Grays Harbor Public Health connected Aveledo with other like-minded organizations and a partnership was born. Aveledo began meeting with the department and other nonprofit partners regularly to support information equity in the community.
“At the very beginning, it was really just sharing information [and] identifying needs,” Aveledo said. “I remember one of the first calls we were doing was making suggestions to the website about how those things should change.”
The partnership validated the need for a broader, formal coalition in the county to ensure that information was getting to all Spanish-speaking residents. Latino-identifying staff members from Grays Harbor Public Health, Catholic Community Services, Grays Harbor Community College TRIO, Molina Healthcare, and Firelands Workers United joined the DRC to form RISE – Red de Inclusion Solidaridad y Empoderamiento.
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Start the Conversation: Are You Listening?
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"If you say you’re focused on 'community building,' you may get as many questions as responses," writes Nicole Zerillo for Nonprofit Quarterly. "Yet community building remains critical for nonprofits in civil society to be effective partners with the groups that they often seek to partner with and serve."
One thing crucial to good community building is active listening. “Allies to any movement need to always be paying attention to when it is the right time to speak and when it is the right time to just listen, learn, and follow," Lisa M. Stulberg, an associate professor of sociology of education at New York University’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, told Global News.
But how do you know if you're practicing active listening? UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center helped create a 10 minute active listening exercise to hone your skills and ensure that those who you're working to community build with will feel heard and respected during every conversation. And yes, it's possible (and even more important!) to engage in active listening on Zoom calls.
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Raise up the Voices of Nonprofits!
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By Daniel Parkhurst (Director of Policy and Communications)
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The 2021 Washington State Legislative session is underway! This session will be different than any before. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our Legislature will meet virtually this year as they debate our budget. While this does mean that fewer bills will be passed than in previous years, there are still some important issues moving forward, especially for nonprofits.
The state budget will have massive impacts on nonprofits across our state. Nonprofits depend on government grants and contracts for 32% of their revenue overall (second only to fees for services).
Moving into this session, Washington Nonprofits will be working to ensure that nonprofits are defended as they are Vital to our Recovery. We will also be helping nonprofits to meet with their legislators to ensure that we are supported in this budget. To learn more and help raise up the voices of nonprofits, please join us in February.
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We are here to help you make your voice heard. Anyone from your organization can participate — staff, board members, or volunteers.
- We’ll start February with a kick-off event where we will provide you with tips for telling your story, talking points about nonprofits, and materials to share and answer any questions you have about lobbying.
- You’ll get step-by-step instructions for how to set up a meeting and make it successful.
- Advocacy meetings are short — usually 15-20 minutes, and all the meetings this session will take place via phone or Zoom, so the time commitment is minimal.
- We can help you schedule meetings as needed or even come with you if it’s your first time meeting an elected official.
Please join us with this month of meetings and make nonprofit voices heard.
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Federal COVID Relief Includes More PPP Loans and a New Program for Performing Arts Venues
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Additional Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan opportunities were included in the Economic Aid Act, additional COVID Relief passed in late December. Nonprofits, including both 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(6) organizations, are eligible for first draw PPP loans. 501(c)(3) nonprofits that already received a PPP loan may be eligible for a “second draw” if they can show that they experienced reduced revenue in 2020 in comparison to 2019 (for the entire year or for any one quarter).
In addition, the Economic Aid Act allocated $15 billion for a “Save Our Stages” program to provide grants to “shuttered venues.” Some arts nonprofits will need to evaluate whether they are eligible for this program, and whether they would benefit more from a Shuttered Venue Operator Grant (SVOG) or a second PPP loan, as organizations can’t receive both forms of assistance.
Learn more via these avenues:
Washington Nonprofits is working with our partners to ensure that nonprofits have the information they need to decide what programs may be right for them and we expect to have more information and webinars available over the next few weeks.
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Nonprofit FAQ: How Do I Start a Nonprofit Organization?
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Each day, Washington Nonprofits' Administrative Assistant, Erika Bentley Holland, answers the questions you send to info@washingtonnonprofits.org. Here, she provides answers to some of your questions.
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Question: We need guidance in the legal processes of starting nonprofit and wanted to reach out to other nonprofits in order to get assistance. We were wondering if there is someone we can contact who can help us understand the process and answer our questions?
Answer: Since the pandemic started, several people per week have been asking me how to start a nonprofit. Often, they want to know how fast they can secure tax-exempt status. Your generous and empathetic responses to society’s increasing needs boosts my faith in humanity.
Of course, I direct them to our short course, “Starting a Nonprofit.” At this site, you’ll find a short video, a guide, and templates.
Here are a few things to consider before you begin:
Conduct an environmental scan. Are other nonprofits already serving your mission? Starting and maintaining a nonprofit requires a great deal of infrastructure, time, and money. You may find yourself competing for grants and donations with organizations you respect. Make sure you’re filling a niche, not crowding the field.
Consider other organizational structures, such as fiscal sponsorship. Fiscal sponsors allow several community-based projects to exist under one nonprofit umbrella. This arrangement can reduce administrative costs and employer requirements. It also alleviates the bureaucratic burdens of maintaining your status with the IRS and Washington State Office of the Secretary of State.
Some people benefit from for-profit models, such as a social purpose corporation or set their sights on becoming a certified B Corporation. Some start-ups prefer this because you don’t need to create a governing board immediately.
Think long-term. Once you’ve made a business plan, fulfilled all the legal requirements, and filed as a nonprofit corporation in Washington state, you have a nonprofit. Applying for federal tax-exempt status, which is required in order for donations to be tax-deductible and to receive foundation grants, is a separate process. It may take 3-12 months to receive your determination from the IRS. If your goal is to get resources to people in need as quickly as possible, starting a nonprofit is not the fastest way to go about it ...
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Got a question? Send it to info@washingtonnonprofits.org
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Learning Log: What We Learned This Month
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By Tom Lang (Director of eLearning) and Jennifer Chang (Director of Learning)
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This month, the three nonprofit networks in Eastern Washington came together for a joint meeting. Among the networking and updates, Washington Nonprofits Executive Director, Laura Pierce, shared a “State of the Sector” that addressed observed and reported challenges facing nonprofits, as well as the bright spots.
Challenges: We know the challenges facing nonprofits are many, even in the best of times. University of Washington research completed in 2020 showed that funding decreased by 30% across nonprofits, while service demand increased almost 30% for health and human service nonprofits. Many nonprofits have volunteer shortages, especially those that rely on older volunteers who are more vulnerable to COVID-19.
Bright Spots: As the challenges and uncertainties continue, we want to shine a light on the bright spots. We are finding new, creative ways to adapt, connect, and work remotely. Connecting with state-elected officials to share your story and advocate for nonprofits can be done virtually and does not require travel to Olympia – we are here to help you make your voice heard.
In 2021, let us focus on deepening our connections and embracing the breadth of perspectives, experiences, and wisdoms that make our nonprofit sector strong. We look forward to seeing you soon at one of our many virtual learning opportunities!
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Save the Date: Washington State Nonprofit Conference!
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One of the many ways we support the work of nonprofits across the state is by hosting the annual Washington State Nonprofit Conference. The 2021 conference will be held virtually May 17 - 21.
We are excited to explore concepts of place, space, and time—inviting in different cultural perspectives, uplifting innovative and adaptive stories from the field, and pushing our collective thinking and creativity.
Early bird registration is open now! Also, we hope you take advantage of the chance to learn as a team with our organizational rate. We cannot wait to share more details with you soon.
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Funding Opportunity: Economic Mobility
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The Bank of America Charitable Foundation works to advance pathways to economic mobility in order to build thriving communities. The Foundation provides grants to nonprofit organizations that serve specific states and regions in the United States. In Washington, nonprofits in Seattle and Spokane are eligible to apply.
In 2021, the Foundation will issue two requests for proposals that address the following focus areas: The Economic Mobility Focused on the Needs of Individuals and Families category provides support for workforce development, education, and basic needs. Applications will be accepted from January 25 through February 19, 2021. The Economic Mobility Focused on the Needs of the Community category provides support for affordable housing, neighborhood revitalization, and small businesses. Applications will be accepted from May 31 through June 25, 2021.
Visit the Foundation's website to learn more about the funding priorities and application procedures.
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Wellness Workshops for BIPOC Community Members
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Communities Rise and RVC are collaborating to bring a monthly series of Wellness Workshops to our BIPOC Community Members and Essential Workers! Each month, a new facilitator will lead a 45 minute - 90 minute gathering, focused on healing and practicing self-care.
To find out about the next workshop and get added to the Wellness Workshop mailing list, please email Brianna Jones at brianna@communities-rise.org.
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Brain Break: Deliiiiiiilaaaah 
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"The radio host Delilah has been on the air for more than 40 years. She takes calls from listeners across the United States, as they open up about their heavy hearts, their hopes and the important people in their lives," writes Bianca Giaever in The New York Times. "She tells callers that they’re loved, and then she plays them a song."
In this podcast, Delilah, who lives on a farm outside of Seattle, shares how she created a show that "became a haven for the lonely" and where she's finding hope in this moment.
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