HCA: Help us raise awareness that Apple Health is Medicaid

Nearly 2 million Washingtonians rely on Apple Health, our state's Medicaid program, for essential health care. But many don’t know that Apple Health is Medicaid. We’ve created the Apple Health is Medicaid Communications Toolkit to help our partners, community leaders, and advocates share clear, consistent messages about Apple Health. More information HERE

KCRHA: Winter 2025 Shelter Info Survey

King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA) is gathering fresh winter weather sheltering information in advance of the cold and rainy season. We are asking service providers and open public spaces that operate during the colder months to fill out this survey so we can provide the most accurate information as quickly and accessibly as possible when we launch activations this winter. We categorize spaces into three groupings: Overnight Shelters, Daytime Spaces with Services (e.g., day centers, or libraries with additional services offered to people experiencing homelessness), Public Spaces (e.g., libraries, community centers, malls, religious gathering spaces, etc.) - spaces that are open to people experiencing homelessness, but do not offer additional services. Any agency, organization, or business that operates one of these spaces that is open to people experiencing homelessness during severe or inclement weather is welcome to have their information listed on our severe weather resources.

501 Commons: Changes to Services Starting Sept 30, 2025

To ensure that 501 Commons will continue delivering essential services to the Washington State’s nonprofit community, significant changes to our services and programs will start later this month. You can read more about the background of this decision and the extraordinary response from our community in our official announcement: 501 Commons Board Announcement. These changes include:

• Stepping away from Washington Gives (including the GiveBIG and GivingTuesday campaigns) as of September 30, 2025. The program has raised more than $85 million for Washington nonprofits, but declining participation and a 2025 financial loss have made it unsustainable. Stepping away will allow us to focus resources on 501 Commons’ 2026 development strategy.

• Sunsetting the Data Solutions program on September 30, 2025. This program has provided excellent services since 2011, but a decline in Salesforce projects has forced us to make the difficult decision to part ways with this program offering.

• Ensuring fairness and consistency in our services and staffing model. We are making intentional decisions about programs, roles, and organizational design to align with best practices and to apply resources where they have the greatest impact. Our aim is to create structures and processes that are transparent and accessible for both staff and the communities we serve.

• Building new partnerships with aligned funders and organizations. We will expand our reach and create shared solutions for the sector, showcasing how collaboration can be a powerful force for new and innovative services.

• Re-engaging clients and recommitting to contracts. We are actively reaching out to our impacted clients and discussing options to confirm an appropriate path forward for those affected by the dissolution notice.

BSK: 2025 Best Starts Workshops

• Attuning to the Fire’s Wisdom: Learning About Our Power (Virtual) Dec 19, 2025 Through the metaphor of fire, participants will engage in reflection about the recognition of their own power and the dynamics that can contribute to its use in ways that can heal or hurt.

Old Friends Club: Virtual Training Sessions Nov 5 & Dec 3

Is your organization concerned about the impact of dementia on families in your community? Then join us during a short 30-minute virtual OFC Information Session, where you'll learn learn how you can help individuals in your local area get the support they need. Register Today

Hopelink: Trauma Informed Community of Practice Sep 10, 2025 * Oct 8, 2025 * Nov 12, 2025

Join us for a meaningful conversation that will deepen understanding and inspire action! Upcoming session themes: October 8th: Self-care in a changing climate.

2025 Compensation and Benefits Survey Survey Open thru Nov 14, 2025

The Nonprofit State Associations of the Western States --Idaho Nonprofit Center, Nonprofit Association of Oregon, Nonprofit Association of Washington, Montana Nonprofit Association, The Foraker Group (Alaska), Utah Nonprofits Association and Hawai'i Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations (HANO)-- invite all exempt/nonprofit organizations in the region to participate in the 2026 Compensation & Benefits Survey! The data you submit will serve your organization and the broader nonprofit community. Getting more responses and more data gives us the opportunity to share the best and most complete information with you. Collectively, we will be better informed with accurate data points to guide compensation and benefits decision-making for and about our greatest assets – our employees.

WSCADV: November Gender-Based Violence Prevention Collaborative Meeting  November 24 @ 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm 

Join the WSCADV Prevention Team and preventionists from across WA state for the November Gender-Based Violence Prevention Collaborative! We’ll be hearing from Nikki Van Wagner (she/her pronouns), Program Consultant for the YES! Sexual Violence Prevention Program with the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). Nikki will be giving us an overview of the YES! Program, which aims to reduce rates of sexual violence among students in Washington middle schools. The YES! Program helps to ensure that all students are safe, supported, and free from all forms of abuse. Schools apply strategies that: create protective environments, build positive social norms and youth-adult partnerships, and center students’ needs and experiences.

Essentials First Holiday Fair 2025 December 5, 2025, 1-4pm RSVP Today

An opportunity for tabling slots are available to any non-profit or community group offering free resources, gifts, information, or services to community members. Please no sales or donation collection. Attendance is historically in the range of 250-300 community members, generally all low-income individuals and families. You can RSVP to table here.

Hopelink Mobility: Equip Your Staff to Navigate Transit Challenges Next: Nov 12, 2025 Online

Hopelink’s Travel Ambassador Program offers free, practical transportation trainings for staff at human service organizations, community groups, and agencies. These quarterly sessions equip your team with up-to-date knowledge about transportation resources—from public transit and reduced fare programs to private and volunteer-led services. Why attend? Transportation is often the biggest barrier between your clients and essential services like healthcare, employment, and education. By participating in a training, your staff will be better prepared to help clients navigate their options, problem-solve common issues, and access the mobility solutions that work best for them. Our next virtual training will be held November 12th from 10:00am -11:00am on Zoom. Register here!

New Guidance for WA Cares Providers - Provider FAQ Document

The WA Cares Fund has released an updated Provider Toolkit FAQ (Sept. 23, 2025) to support organizations and individuals interested in becoming registered providers. The guide covers everything from application requirements and background checks to contracting, payments, and rates. Providers can learn how to join the WA Cares Provider Directory, serve beneficiaries starting July 2026, and even explore options for paid family caregiving. The toolkit is designed to help providers navigate the process step by step and ensure they meet the qualifications to deliver services.  Access the full FAQ and additional toolkit resources here

Les Schwab Tires For A Purpose

We’ve found that one of the best ways to strengthen our communities is to give back to those driving positive change in them every day. Les Schwab’s Tires for Purpose awards local nonprofits that are making positive impacts in our communities with a set of free tires for their organization’s vehicle. It’s a meaningful way Les Schwab helps local organizations stay on the road to do more good. Know of a nonprofit organization that could benefit from a set of free tires? See our recipient qualifications and terms and conditions.

Nonprofit Association of Washington Survey: Responding to Today’s Political Climate

We want to better understand how current political developments — including immigration enforcement actions, ICE raids, and the introduction or discussion of major federal legislation such as the “H.R. 1 - One Big Beautiful Bill Act” — are affecting your organization and the communities you serve. Your feedback will help Nonprofit Association of Washington (NAWA) respond effectively, advocate on your behalf, and provide the resources and support you need. Your responses will remain confidential and will only be used in aggregate to guide our programming and advocacy.

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.

NAMI Eastside offers C.A.L.M. — Communicate, Assess, Listen, Mediate

CALM is a practical and compassionate training designed to equip individuals with the skills to de-escalate situations involving someone in mental health crisis—specifically in the workplace. This presentation helps participants recognize signs of distress, respond with empathy, and use de-escalation techniques that prioritize safety and respect. Whether you're in a leadership role, a team member, or part of a community organization, this training provides essential tools for supporting colleagues during challenging moments. Mental health crises can happen anywhere. Knowing how to respond calmly and effectively can make all the difference. Learn more or request a presentation: info@nami-eastside.org |  nami-eastside.org/calm

The Find a Ride Team: new blog post about the Find a Ride Communications Toolkit.

This post contains information to share on your social media channels and to promote Find a Ride’s Trip Planner throughout Puget Sound at in-person events. You may either copy these messages directly or customize them to reach your audience. The full toolkit pdf includes translated newsletter blurbs, translated 8 ½ by 11 flyers, and suggested social media posts. The trip planner is available in: Amharic, English, Chinese, French, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Mon-Khmer/ Cambodian, Punjabi, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Tigrinya, Ukrainian, Vietnamese, with more languages being added in the future. Email FindARide@hopelink.org for more information. Phone support is available. Visit our website to try our new trip planner!

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.

• SSI/SSDI Training – Tuesday, October 28 from 9-11 a.m. over Zoom

• Check out all the Coalition’s past trainings and meetings on our YouTube – https://bit.ly/homelesscoalition-youtube

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: 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

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.