Issaquah Resources for Nonprofits

DSHS: We are pleased to announce that beginning with benefits in March 2025, we are transitioning eligible COFA citizens from our state-funded programs, State Family Assistance and the Food Assistance Program, to the federal programs TANF and SNAP. On March 9, 2024, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, changed immigration rules providing that Compacts of Free Association citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Republic of Palau who lawfully reside in the United States are eligible for certain federal public benefits, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. A change to the coding parameters in our eligibility system is required and has delayed implementation of this change. In the meantime, eligible individuals have been issued assistance from Washington’s state-funded programs. Full announcement HERE

DSHS: Federal work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program require participants who are able-bodied adults without dependents aged 18-54 to either work, participate in approved state programs or meet specific exceptions to maintain eligibility for Basic Food. If they do not participate, they are limited to three months of Basic Food during a 36-month time period. Full announcement HERE

2025 Human Services Bus Ticket Program (HSBTP) Rolling Request for Proposal (RFP) Application is now LIVE.

This program, offered by King County’s Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) and King County Metro, provides discounted bus tickets to agencies supporting individuals experiencing homelessness and low-income populations. A total of $949,945 in allotment value ($94,994.50 in face value) is available, with applications reviewed monthly on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are expended. The submission deadline is September 2, 2025, at 5:00 PM. Full details, including eligibility requirements and application guidelines, are available in the RFP Guidelines. Apply now through ZoomGrants! Contact HS.BusTicketProgram@kingcounty.gov

WA Human Rights Commission: Join us for upcoming virtual co-learning opportunities

WA Dept of Commerce: Listening Sessions for Professionals from Various Community Sectors

Commerce is initiating a state-wide effort to listen to authentic viewpoints from our current, past, and potential customers to learn how we can better serve communities. This includes elected officials, key leaders in community, representatives from tribal nations and tribal non-profits, community-based organizations and non-profits, local governments, special districts, school districts, faith-based communities, sector focused organizations or entities, businesses, and folks that directly have received assistance from Commerce.  We would like to provide several options for professionals from various community sectors to share their experiences, with one option being virtual sessions. While we have some scheduled open for anyone (see below), we also understand that you may want to have your own virtual session with your organization and community. If that would be of interest to you, please contact community.engagement@commerce.wa.gov. Some more info can be found at our Community Engagement website. 

Join the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center (NADTC) for an engaging webinar: Team Effort: When Transportation Providers, AAAs, and Communities Work Together to Support Housing.  May 6 | 3:00 PM Eastern / 12:00 PM Pacific

Learn how cross-sector collaboration in Maui—between the County Office on Aging and Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc.—is helping older adults and people with disabilities access transportation and remain connected to vital services. The webinar will highlight how FTA 5310 funding can be used to support residents of local housing complexes. Featured Speakers: David Somers, Senior Research Associate, NADTC, Debbie Cabebe, CEO, Maui Economic Opportunity, Inc., Rowena Dagdag-Andaya, Director, County Office on Aging, Maui, If you need additional accessibility accommodations, please contact Meredith Bratton at mbratton@usaging.org as early as possible to ensure a smooth experience. Register here

WA Poison Center: Overdose Awareness Series - Proposals must be submitted by May 18.

With current uncertainties around funding, we recognize that many agencies are unable to fully commit at this time to presenting. In light of this, we've extended the deadline to submit a proposal to May 18. We encourage you to still submit even if you are not certain of your ability by May 18-- we would like to begin developing a schedule, recognizing it will be flexible as decisions come in. We are seeking speakers to lead sessions that explore unintentional and intentional overdose for our August Series. Session formats include presentations, workshops, panel discussions, or any other format you would like to propose. The following are guiding themes to consider for sessions. However, we welcome proposals for any valuable topics related to overdose. Potential themes: Evidence-based strategies to implement when resources are limited - Today’s current and emerging trends - Concerns and successes for priority communities - The policy landscape around overdose-related issues.

Highline: Let’s Engage Resource Fair May 12, 2025

We are seeking community partners, organizations, and businesses interested in tabling, speaking, engaging with students, and/or sharing valuable resources. We’re excited to invite you to our Let’s Engage event at Highline. It’s a resource fair designed to support students facing food insecurity, financial hardships, and housing challenges. It’s a great opportunity to connect, network, and make a real impact. Plus, we’ll have games, prizes, and giveaways to keep it fun! If you’re interested, let us know by May 7th—space is limited. We’d love to have you be part of this important event! Use this LINK to reserve a spot.

DSHS: May 2025 Family Resource Fair Table Sign-Up on May 15, 2025

Join us for our Family-Focused Resource Fair! We’re inviting all community partners who work with children and families to present at a display table. If your organization is involved in any way with supporting families, we would love to have you participate. Please use this form to indicate your interest in hosting a table the East King County LPA group's May 15th resource fair. Location:  Bellevue Library, 1111 110th Ave NE, Bellevue Time:  10:00 am - 1:00 pm

Renton Technical College Career Fair May 14 and 15, 2025

We are excited to invite you to participate in our upcoming Career Fair at Renton Technical College! This event is a fantastic opportunity to connect with talented students and job seekers eager to explore career opportunities in your industry. Event Details: May 14 – All industries (excluding Healthcare) and May 15 – Healthcare-focused. Location: Renton Technical College Campus 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM (both days). This is a great opportunity to showcase your organization, engage with potential candidates, and expand your talent pipeline.

BSK: Register for our Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Summit: May 16 – 18, 2025 

Best Starts’ Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) strategy invites all King County providers to enhance knowledge in community and solidarity. Centering the baby in all sessions and grounding our work in equity and social justice, we will present our IECMH Guiding Principles and promote social emotional development for our prenatal to five children in King County.  

WA Nonprofit Conference May 13 - 20, 2025 In-Person and Online Opportunities

Washington State Nonprofit Conference will be online May 13-14 with in-person regional WSNC locations in Spokane (Friday, May 16) and Tacoma (Tuesday, May 20).   We will explore the theme “Ready for Action” through online and in-person opportunities for learning, connection, and celebration. Actions are engaging, and can spark movements, excite donors, and lead to positive change. Actions can be small or large, visible to many or meant for oneself, taken on by an individual, team, or community. You will generate new ideas and discover resources that will help you leave Ready for Action!

Seattle King County Coalition on Homelessness: Medicare/Medicaid Training – Tues, May 20, 2025 9 am – 11 am.

This free, virtual training is geared towards frontline providers working with individuals experiencing homelessness, with very low incomes, or a disability. Come learn how best to support the people you're working with to apply for and maintain health insurance through Medicare or Medicaid. This training will cover an overview including, eligibility requirements, and how to apply for benefits. Plus learn tips on how to avoid benefit pitfalls that can result in losing benefits and hear about the hearing and appeals process. Providers will have the opportunity to ask question and discuss these program with experts.

Hopelink: A Community Resource Fair May 31, 2025 RSVP By May 5

We’re reaching out with an exciting opportunity to collaborate on an upcoming event that puts community connection, cultural celebration, and access to resources at its heart. On Saturday, May 31st from 2:00–4:30 PM at Bellevue College Cafeteria, Hopelink will host Bridging Communities: A Community Resource Fair, a dynamic event uplifting our local Asian and Latin American communities through: Live dance & music * performances *  Interactive art workshops * Direct access to vital community services. This event is part of the City of Bellevue’s Cross-Cultural Center Without Walls project, a broader initiative focused on creating welcoming spaces for all through community-driven, collaborative programming.Your partnership will help ensure that attendees walk away not only inspired, but connected to the services, tools, and support they deserve. To bring this vision to life, we’re seeking community partners to host tables and share resources that address key needs, including: - Legal support - Health and wellness services - Housing and food access - Employment, education, and financial assistance - Family, youth, and senior support - Essential Needs - Much more! Contact Catalina Gomez <CGomez@hopelink.org>

Communities in Schools: Annual Block Party Sunday, Aug 17, 2025 1pm - 3pm

CIS is looking for Community Partners that are interested in tabling at the Communities In Schools Annual Block Party. CIS is currently in the Issaquah, Renton and Lake Washington School Disricts. There is no cost for tabling we just ask the organization bring their own table, chairs, canopy and whatever swag they would like to hand out to the kiddos and families. There is just a vendor form that would need to be completed. Please contact Alba Cisneros at alba@cisgkc.org or call/text 915-861-4334. Location: Liberty Park In Renton

501 Commons: Employee Engagement Survey (open until May 25, 2025)

Employees are asked to share what factors (including their paycheck) impact how they feel about their job. Participants will be asked to anonymously rate things such as work culture, supervisory support, factors that lead to job satisfaction, diversity and inclusion in the workplace, and more. All full-time and part-time employees are eligible to participate, as well as employees who work at a nonprofit elsewhere but reside in King County. To help encourage participation, we recommend you: Distribute this flyer to your employees. Use these key talking points and sample email text. Allow staff to complete the survey during work hours, which will encourage higher levels of participation and honesty. If your staff has questions about the survey (including wanting to be reassured that it's truly anonymous), send them this list of FAQs.

501 Commons: Stay updated on executive orders affecting nonprofits

In recent weeks, a series of executive orders has been signed, addressing a broad range of issues, including DEI initiatives, federal funding, civic engagement, immigration, and others. Since this is a quickly-moving news story, we recommend you bookmark this PDF created by the National Council of Nonprofits that provides frequent updates of how these EOs affect nonprofits. Please note some of these orders haven't gone into affect yet, or are being challenged in the courts. NCN is also inviting organizations to share their stories of how these executive actions may affect their work.

Disability Empowerment Center is offering an increasing array of Consulting Services to businesses, government agencies and organizations. If your company has a goal of increasing accessibility in 2025, consider one of our services

Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness: Public Benefit Trainings

In partnership with Solid Ground’s Benefits Legal Assistance and REACH, we are pleased to host the Public Benefits Are Key! training series. This series is geared towards case managers working with people experiencing homelessness – both new case managers as well as experienced providers who have questions and would like additional support in navigating these resources. You will learn what you can do as a case manager to help your client navigate the benefits process, hear key tips for avoiding barriers, and learn when to contact an attorney. This will be a practical, hands-on training.

BSK: Culturally Responsive Measurement Tool – Protective Factors Information Session 

The Culturally Responsive Measurement Tool – Protective Factors (CRMT-PF) is a survey with 22 questions measuring five protective factors: family resilience, knowledge of parenting & child development, social supports, concrete support, and caregiver/practitioner relationships. Watch the videos below to learn about the tool and visit the CRMT-PF blog post to learn more.  Use the links below to access each training video: 

  1. Introduction to the CRMT-PF

  2. How to Administer the CRMT-PF

  3. How to Score the CRMT-PF

  4. How to Understand + Use CRMT-PF Scores

501 Commons: A Compliance Notice from the 501 Commons Human Resources Program

Starting on January 1, 2025, Washington State’s minimum wage will rise to $16.66 per hour, a 2.35% increase from 2024. The pay threshold for an employee to be exempt also increases. In Washington, this is a factor of the minimum wage and will increase to $1,332.80/week (or $69,305.60/year) for small employers (1-50 employees) and $1,499.40/week ($77,968.80/year) for large employers (51+ employees). Anyone paid below these thresholds must be nonexempt and paid overtime regardless of their title or job duties. Check out the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) website for a salary threshold implementation schedule. As always, in addition to meeting the pay threshold, an exempt employee must meet a duties test and be paid the same amount weekly regardless of hours worked. Seattle, SeaTac, Tukwila, Renton, Bellingham, and Burien have (or will have) higher minimum wages than the state requires. 
If you need guidance, tap our HR Quick Consults service by sending an email to hrconsults@501commons.org. You can receive assistance for only $25 per 15-minute increment. We can generally respond within 72 hours. Need HR assistance on a deeper level? 501 Commons team of HR experts worked with more than 150 organizations in 2024. We provide HR Consulting Services and an HR Partners program. The partners program provides ongoing support for hiring, employee relations, HR policies, compensation, performance management, and more. The program starts at $1200/month and is much less expensive than hiring internal HR staff. Begin a conversation with us today.

501 Commons: OMB makes updates to federal grantmaking rules Effective Oct 1, 2024

The federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) recently published revisions to rules governing federal grantmaking to charitable nonprofits (as well as state, local, and Tribal governments) that will go into effect on October 1, 2024. The goal is to make the process of nonprofits receiving federal funding easier and more straightforward to manage. See these slides from a presentation delivered by the National Council of Nonprofits for more details. These changes should make it easier for smaller organizations and projects to receive federal funding, ensure the funds reach communities most in need, and reduce burdens on requirements and reporting for organizations seeking federal funding, as well as those already receiving federal grants. Under the current rules, organizations of all sizes have the same or similar requirements.

Find a Ride: New Trip Planner and Engagement Opportunities!

Our focus over the coming months is engaging with organizations who support King County travelers in their mobility and trip planning decisions. We are particularly interested in connecting with organizations and agencies who provide phone support and referrals for transportation. Using Find a Ride's trip planner in your day-to-day operations will provide a more accurate referral experience for your clients. As part of our "no wrong door" approach, we want to facilitate thoughtful handoffs between organizations and agencies. To arrange a demonstration and presentation of Find a Ride for your organization, please contact Laura Loe, Program Manager. Please email FindARide@hopelink.org or call 425-943-6760 and press 3. Find a Ride's service discovery website and trip planner contain transportation services across Pierce, King, and Snohomish counties.  Visit www.FindARide.org for more information.  Learn about our multi-phase roadmap and project updates at https://www.kcmobility.org/ococ. 

Washington State Regional Outreach Representatives

Regional Outreach Representatives serve as the primary liaison between the Office of the Governor, local communities, and tribal governments statewide. They develop strategic relationships with and provide assistance to community organizations, elected officials and residents on regional and statewide issues. For King County, contact Jennifer Wood jennifer.wood@gov.wa.gov

Department of Health FREE Test-&-Go 24/7 Accessible Kiosks

NEW Kiosks across the state will offer free COVID-19, flu tests, and healthcare supplies, 24/7. Accessible kiosks are in food banks, transit stations, churches, schools, and libraries. GENERAL INFORMATION for kiosks in your community/non-profit.  REQUEST FORM for kiosks in your community/non-profit. Tests include COVID-19 rapid antigen tests, multiplex rapid antigen tests (detect flu types A and B and COVID-19), and self-swab PCR tests. Learn more: DOH COVID-19 Testing.  DOH website.  Public Health Connection Blog Sign-up. 

Good Food Exchange

Good Food Exchange is an online marketplace dedicated to keeping good food on plates and out of the landfill. This platform creates a space for farms, distributors, and other organizations with surplus or recovered food to find recipients who can use it to its highest value. Food businesses and food security organizations alike can use this resource to find and share offers for edible, free or low-cost food which may have otherwise gone to waste.

BSK: Home-Based Services strategy Community Meetings

We’re launching community meetings across the county to help us create a continuum of services for our Home-based Services strategy.  Our Home-based Services strategy focuses on creating systems that provide parents with resources that support healthy births, parents’ knowledge and confidence, parent-child attachment, positive childhood development, and school readiness. Learn more about our Home-based services strategy by reading our one-pager here.   Starting in October we will host meetings with community organizations in different King County regions to support cultivating a collaborative and coordinated approach prior to the release of the Home-Based Services Funding Opportunity. We hope to invest in ways that inspires organizational cross-collaboration, rather than competition so families across our communities benefit and organizations have a strong referral system with one another.   Register here for upcoming community meetings! Providers located and serving children and families in North and East King County will meet beginning October 14. Providers in Seattle and South King County will meet beginning October 21.   

King County: Technical Assistance and Capacity Building Services Available for Nonprofits

King County and the Office of Equity and Social Justice are committed to investing in capacity building and infrastructure for community-based organizations awarded federal COVID-19 grants and contracts. To provide technical assistance and capacity building, King County has allocated $400,000 through 2022 to contract with organizations and businesses that have the expertise to provide services to potential applicants and grantees. If you’re interested in applying to receive services from one of our partners, please fill out the one page application form. Services include: • Grant-writing and grant budget development • Accounting • Grant Management • Designing data collection methods • Strategic planning • Long-term budget development • Governance structures • Standard operating policies and procedures • Staff structure • Technology solutions. For questions on eligibility, services provided, program timeline, and our partner organizations visit our website at kingcounty.gov. For further questions, contact us at oesjgrants@kingcounty.gov. I want to apply for technical assistance

ELAP: Recommended CLE for Pro Bono Attorneys: Trauma-Informed Advocacy

Many legal aid clients have experienced some form of trauma. We believe all pro bono attorneys should understand how trauma affects client-attorney interactions, which will make you a more effective advocate.  Practicing Law Institute’s 1-hour CLE program “Trauma-Informed Lawyering: Strategies and Best Practices” is a must-watch for attorneys providing pro bono legal aid. It addresses how trauma can manifest in client relations and offers best practices for building trust with your clients. Read more about how to access this CLE on our blog.

3E Behavior Solutions - Professional Workplace Violence Mitigation and De-Escalation Education for Your Entire Staff

We reframe your staff's experience about workplace violence and teach them how to navigate acutely stressful situations in order to provide your organization with the safest and most positive environment to serve your communities. Reach out for more information on customized trainings, pricing options, and more.

Tesfa Program’s Ethiopian Outreach Guide

The Tesfa Program, developed this web-based toolkit to increase the capacity of providers, organizations, and decision-makers to better connect and serve local Ethiopian communities.

  1. Share the guide with your colleagues, friends, and community!

  2. Share your feedback — we want to continue to build on this resource! Please email Selam Misgano at smisgan066@gmail.com to tell us what you think. Do you know of similar projects? Who should we reach out to get this toolkit more widely utilized?

  3. Invite us to present! To further spread the word of the resources and knowledge within the Outreach Guide, and our experiences serving community during the pandemic we are giving presentations to interested community members, public health and policy students, and health focused organizations, and coalitions, in and around Washington State. Email Selam Misgano at smisgan066@gmail.com to begin the conversation!

Sound Generations Geriatric Mental Health Specialist Workshops

Sound Generations has taken on the coordination of Geriatric Mental Health Specialist Workshops. These workshops have previously been coordinated by Karen Kent, LMHC, GMHS and more recently by Terri Haaga, MSW, LICSW, GMHS. These six-hour workshops held once a month provide licensed professionals with the opportunity to earn Continuing Education Units (CEU) and stay up-to-date on best practices in the geriatric mental health field. The classes offered qualify for the 100 hours of training required by the State of Washington for the Geriatric Mental Health Specialist certification.

Connect2Community Network Building the Foundation for a Healthier, More Equitable Community

We’re building a unified community information exchange (CIE) to enable care coordination between health, behavioral health, tribal, community and social service organizations in King County, WA. It will enable organizations to send, receive and follow up on electronic referrals, increase access to resources via a shared directory, and provide visibility of other organizations providing care. Find more information here. Check out our video!

InterConnection: Computer grants

are awarded to organizations that deliver necessary and valuable services to underserved communities like technology training, health care, education, and job training, but need upgraded computers to better manage their organization and improve their capacity to deliver those valuable services. Interconnection reviews nonprofit grant applications 4 times a year. Please read the eligibility information to make sure your organization is eligible.  APPLICATION DEADLINES:  February 28, May 31, August 31, and November 30

Communities Rise: Announcing a new Lease Amendment Toolkit for small businesses and nonprofits

Created in collaboration with the City of Seattle Office of Economic Development and Perkins Coie The Lease Amendment Toolkit is designed to give small businesses and nonprofits information and template documents so they can successfully negotiate payment plans with their landlords before the moratoriums are lifted.

WA State Surplus Program  State Program Flyer - Federal Program Flyer - Veteran Program Flyer

 Through the Dept of Enterprise Services (DES), all cities, counties, school districts, and most non-profits all qualify for the State Surplus Priority Program. These entities can take advantage of additional benefits available through Surplus Operations by requesting certain items before they become available for auction to the public. They also have a Federal Surplus Program as well. Small veteran owned business, educational nonprofits, nonprofit health institutions, nonprofit programs for the elderly, and veteran organizations are all eligible for the Federal program. Finally, for Veteran-Owned Small Business Programs they have a program where these small businesses can apply to receive federal surplus property through the Small Business Administration. For questions about these programs, you can reach out to agencysurpluspurch@des.wa.gov – a general mailbox that connects with the team at DES that supports this program.