501 Commons

After 37 years of serving nonprofit organizations throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond, 501 Commons is no longer offering services to our community. We are currently transitioning programs to other nonprofits, finishing some remaining project work in a responsible manner, and beginning the process of shutting down by the end of this calendar year.

However, we are honored to recognize these three remarkable partners that will carry on our legacy:

Upic Solutions will carry forward Washington Gives, GiveBIG, IT Services, and Financial Services.

The Commons Promise, led by our very own Danielle Lyda, will continue our legacy of HR Services, Management Consulting Services, and stewarding the Executive Service Corps.

Nonprofit Association of Washington will provide a welcoming home to our Nonprofit Resource Directory, Venues for Northwest Nonprofits Map, and Nonprofit Advisory Services.

Reach out to [email protected] to contact us moving forward. If you have any questions about invoices and payments, please email [email protected].

Please consider helping 501 Commons’ legacy live on by making a donation to support the transition of all our services to other nonprofit organizations. Click this link to donate through the end of the year: https://www.wagives.org/501-commons

You are invited to “The Future of 501 Commons,” a community meeting happening today, Monday, August 31 at 1:30 p.m. (PST) via Zoom.

You will meet with leaders from 501 Commons, Upic Solutions, The Commons Promise, and Nonprofit Association of Washington (NAWA) to discuss the transition of our organization's core programs and services, ask questions, and learn about how this will affect the Pacific Northwest nonprofit community. If you are unable to attend, we will post relevant information on our website shortly afterward.

Attend the meeting: https://501commons.zoom.us/j/81155292263

Seattle University Nonprofit Leadership (MNPL) program invites nonprofit organizations to host a second-year graduate student for their 2026-2027 Practicum. You can select an area of leadership and management that this student can assess and make recommendations for improvement. This hands-on experience enhances students’ leadership development while offering valuable insights and capacity-building for your organization.

Complete this application by Sept. 11: https://bit.ly/MNPL26-27

Also, MNPL is hosting an informational session on Wednesday, Sept. 2 (noon to 1:00 p.m. PST) for the Master of Nonprofit Leadership and Graduate Certificate in Fundraising Leadership programs. Learn about the programs, connect with faculty, and explore how graduate education can support your leadership and fundraising work.

Register: https://bit.ly/4zJM2aG

What makes a grant program truly successful? Is it just about the nonprofit spending the funds and launching initiatives, or does real success mean continuing to make an impact long after the grant has ended?

More and more, the answer comes down to “sustainability.” To help your organization deliver impact past the grant funding period, read this blog article that explains what sustainability looks like in grant funding, why it matters to funders, and how you can plan for it from the start.

https://www.501commons.org/blog/nonprofit-grant-sustainability

Across greater Spokane County, wildfires have damaged nearly 900 structures and forced 65,000 people to evacuate their homes, scorching 10,000+ acres of land.

It’s up to us to support our friends, family, and neighbors who have been harmed by this ongoing tragedy. We’ve created a page that lists nonprofit organizations providing direct relief efforts to communities affected by the wildfires.

Whether you give a little or a lot, every donation helps our Spokane community recover!



https://www.wagives.org/spokane-fires

Due to a combination of factors, including salary competition and burnout, nonprofits are facing workforce shortages that make strategic hiring more important than ever.

The key to successful, sustainable recruitment is finding ways to improve the candidate’s experience without straining your already-limited time and resources. While a competitive pay package can go a long way toward catching a potential applicant’s eye, how you engage with them during the hiring process will ultimately make or break their decision to join your organization.

This blog article explores 5 tips for efficiently maximizing candidate engagement.



https://www.501commons.org/blog/maximize-candidate-engagement

Did you know that nonprofits can still fundraise on Washington Gives all year long, not just during or (December 1, 2026)?

Whether you’re new to the platform or haven’t joined yet, you’re invited to our free webinar on Tuesday, August 11 (noon to 1:00 p.m. PST) to learn more about the fundraising features of the Mightycause platform and how to maximize the benefits of being listed on the website.

Whether it's pulling donor reports, analyzing trends over time, demonstrating the ROI of participating in GiveBIG, encouraging your supporters to create a peer fundraising page, or maximizing the effectiveness of your profile page, the experts at Mightycause will walk you through all the features available to you.



https://bit.ly/4wgetL6

For small and mid-sized nonprofits that need access to foundational HR tools, training, and ongoing support but have limited budgets…look no further than our Shared HR Model! This program allows multiple organizations to be grouped into a “shared HR services pod” so that you receive high-value resources and experienced HR guidance at a significantly reduced cost.

Peruse through our July e-newsletter to find out why you should outsource your IT to our experts, attend our webinar on Aug. 11, and RSVP for an important volunteer conference on Sept. 25.

https://mailchi.mp/501commons/july2026nexus

Every nonprofit shares an overarching goal: To create a positive, lasting impact in the lives of the communities served. However, how do you improve your programs as the needs of your organization’s beneficiaries evolve? And how do you do this without compromising the integrity of your mission?

Read this blog article that lists 3 best practices your nonprofit can follow to improve its programs and maximize their impact.

https://www.501commons.org/blog/improve-programs

The key to building a productive and cohesive staff is to ensure their concerns are properly addressed by leadership. However, your executive team needs a trustworthy method for gathering honest, anonymous feedback that truly captures how employees feel.

Contact 501 Commons today about conducting a Staff Climate Survey! These surveys are a structured and confidential process designed to help you better understand your employees’ experience. Our HR team can create a customized survey that allows your staff to share thoughtful feedback in areas such as internal communication, pay and benefits, technology, work relationships, supervisory support, culture, and more.

Want to improve staff morale? Learn more about Staff Climate Surveys!

https://www.501commons.org/services/human-resources-services/nonprofit-climate-survey