This page provides guides, sample policies, state compliance resources, and checklists for nonprofits and community-based organizations of all sizes. If you do not find what you are looking for, please contact us and we will do our best to connect you with additional resources.
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: Please note the resources below are for reference purposes only. An organization should always consult tailor this information to their specific needs. If you need consultation with an attorney or subject matter expert, we may be able to help provide you with one (that’s what we do).
Full Toolkits
Communities Rise has created, or partnered with additional organizations to create, full toolkits on a range of nonprofit subjects.
- Washington State Nonprofit Handbook
- Starting a New Nonprofit Toolkit – Created in collaboration with Washington Nonprofits as a resource for anyone thinking about starting a NPO.
- Let’s Go Legal – A nonprofit law learning series, which includes 5 short videos and accompanying written materials on State Law, Federal Law, Fundraising, Employment and Intellectual Property.
- Washington State Tax Basics for Nonprofits – Created in collaboration with Washington Nonprofits explaining the state taxes that Washington nonprofits are subject to.
- Liquor, Cannabis, Gambling… and Your Fundraising Event – This tool that helps nonprofits navigate the complex rules of liquor, cannabis and gambling at events.
- Nonprofit Legal Checklist – helps nonprofits understand common legal obligations and highlights areas where greater inquiry should be made.
- Commercial Lease Toolkit – (coming soon!)
- Community Collaboration Toolkit – (coming soon!)
COVID-19 Resources
Communities Rise is providing a range of resources and support for organizations and small businesses during the COVID-19 crisis. Please check out these pages for more information about what you can find on our website or how you access additional support.
Founding Documents and Templates
- Sample Articles of Incorporation – Without Members for a Washington State nonprofit organization without members
- Sample Articles of Incorporation – With Members for a Washington State nonprofit organization with members
- Sample Bylaws – Without Members for a Washington State nonprofit organization without members
- Sample Bylaws – With Members for a Washington State nonprofit organization with members
- American Bar Association – Alternatives to Forming a Charitable Nonprofit article
- Washington Secretary of State – information on WA Nonprofits and information on WA Charities.
- IRS Resources – FAQs About Applying for Tax Exemption and Fee for Tax Exemption information.
- Washington State Tax Basics for Nonprofits – Created in collaboration with Washington Nonprofits explaining the state taxes that Washington nonprofits are subject to.
- Webinar on Bylaws – Bylaws is the governing document for the nonprofit and its board of directors. But what does that mean? What is the real purpose of the bylaws and what provisions should be in bylaws? This webinar is in partnership with Washington Nonprofits.
- Starting a New Nonprofit Toolkit– Created in collaboration with Washington Nonprofits as a resource for anyone thinking about starting a NPO.
Governance & Organizational Policies
- Nonprofit Legal Checklist – helps nonprofits understand common legal obligations and highlights areas where greater inquiry should be made.
- Webinar on Legal Checklist: This webinar goes over the Nonprofit Legal Checklist, which includes state and Federal legal compliance requirements for nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations as well as best-practices for nonprofit governance. In partnership with Washington Nonprofits.
- Let’s Go Legal – A nonprofit law learning series, which includes 5 short videos and accompanying written materials on State Law, Federal Law, Fundraising, Employment and Intellectual Property.
- Washington State Nonprofit Handbook
- Document Retention Sample Policy
- Conflict of Interest Sample Policy
- Webinar on Conflicts of Interest: Learn what exactly is a “conflict of interest” and what you should do if your nonprofit has a “conflict of interest. In partnership with Washington Nonprofits.
- Sample Terms of Use
- Sample Unanimous Consent Initial Meeting provides written consent for organizational meeting of board of directors.
- Nonprofit Management in Washington FAQ provides general information about a variety of topics including board meetings & members, voting and bank accounts.
Employment & Human Resources
- Harassment Sample Policy
- Social Media Sample Policy
- Whistleblower Sample Policy
- Independent Contractor Checklist – [description]
Intellectual Property
- Intellectual Property and Confidentiality Sample Agreement
- Sample Release of Intellectual Property Rights
- Photo Release Sample
Fundraising
- Raffle FAQs from the Washington State Gambling Commission
- Liquor, Cannabis, Gambling… and Your Fundraising Event – This tool that helps nonprofits navigate the complex rules of liquor, cannabis and gambling at events.
- The Special Occasion License, Banquet Permits and Catering Information Sheet from the Washington State liquor and Cannabis Board provides information on when you need a license for an event.
- Webinar on Gambling and Fundraising – Join Special Agent Brian Lane for a primer on raffles and other gambling-related fundraising activities. This will explain what is considered gambling and what nonprofits need to do and be aware of when using gambling-related fundraising activities. In partnership with Washington Nonprofits.
Additional Services & Resources from Partner Orgs
- 501Commons offers great board trainings and nonprofit leadership forums geared towards executive directors, board members, and potential board members.
- Washington Nonprofits (WN) is a Washington state-wide nonprofit association. WN offers trainings for nonprofits on a variety of topic areas throughout the state and online.
- Ventures is a nonprofit serving individuals in the Puget Sound region of Washington State that provides low-income business owners with training and education in areas of sales, marketing, finance and operations. Communities Rise partners with Ventures to put on monthly legal clinics for small business owners.
- BIPOC Executive Directors Coalition of Washington State (BIPOC EDs), a coalition created in 2020 to advocate for equitable funding to BIPOC communities and to create space for healing and wellness.
- Statewide Nonprofit Resource Directory for nonprofit specialists, tools and best practices, featured trainings, a venues map, and more.
- List of additional capacity builder organizations
- Delta Vision Project. The Delta Vision is a collaboration of BIPOC led and serving capacity building organizations working on creating a supportive network of capacity building services for BIPOC led and serving community organizations in Washington and working together to address inequities in the nonprofit sector. The Delta Vision researched and authored a “Paper of Color” on capacity building for BIPOC led and serving organizations.
- Delta Vision Project – Building Capacity for Communities of Color (2018) Full Report
- Delta Vision Project – Building Capacity for Communities of Color (2018) Executive Summary