Training Videos

Communities Rise offers training videos on a variety of legal topics related to nonprofits and small business. Materials and handouts related to each video are available upon request.

We currently offer:

  • Free Training Videos
    • These videos are free and available for anyone to access at any time.
  • On-Demand Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Training Videos for Attorneys
    • Each video is priced individually and lists the associated CLE credits.
    • Scroll down below for the list of CLE videos and how to purchase them.
Videos by Topic

Free Training Videos

Small Business Employment Law Fundamentals: Understanding Your Obligations as an Employer (2025)

  • Are you a small business owner? Does your small business pay people to carry out its work? If so, then you may technically have employees and be subject to numerous compliance obligations under federal, state, and local employment laws. Employment law issues are the biggest source of legal risk for most employers. Come join us for a webinar on employment law fundamentals for small businesses based in Washington State! This training is a tour through the various compliance requirements that small businesses must follow when hiring and managing paid workers.
    • Topics that will be discussed include:
      • Basic labor laws (minimum wage, overtime pay)
      • Nonexempt vs exempt employees
      • Recruiting and hiring (job postings, onboarding paperwork)
      • Employees vs independent contractors (W-2 vs. 1099-MISC)
      • Unlawful employment actions (retaliation, wage theft, discrimination)
      • Mandatory benefits (paid sick time, family leave, worker’s comp, etc)
      • Tax obligations (payroll taxes, income tax withholding, quarterly and annual tax forms)
      • Insurance considerations
        This training was made possible thanks to funding provided by the Seattle Office of Economic Development.
      • Video 1 of 1

Getting Ready: Legal Basics for Small Businesses and Preparing for Workplace Raids (2025)

  • This training provides an overview of key areas of Workplace raids and legal compliance for small businesses, including record keeping, governance, state and federal tax, employment. The first half focuses on what to do if federal agents visit your small business’s workplace. We’ll cover how to keep your employee documentation in order, like I-9 forms, and how to handle these situations calmly, confidently, and legally. The second half covers practical legal basics: the records you need to keep updated, how to maintain limited liability, and what steps are essential for taxes and employment. You’ll learn how to spot common legal risks and build strong business practices that support long-term stability. This training is especially helpful for small business owners with limited staff, those new to business ownership, and anyone looking for clear, trustworthy legal guidance.

Nonprofit Sustainability: Building a Solid Foundation for the Next Year, 5 Years, and 10 Years (2024)

  • Why do so many nonprofit organizations close down before achieving their goals? This webinar is a discussion of common internal problems that end nonprofits and how they can be avoided by laying down a stronger foundation for the organization. We discuss the following topics, such as: how our expectations around nonprofit leadership can cause problems, strategies for how to think about powerful roles in your organization, ideas for making your internal power structures match your values, and more.

Small Business Legal Health Checklist (2024)

  • The Small Business Legal Checklist training provides an overview of key areas of legal compliance for small businesses, including recordkeeping, governance, state and federal tax, employment, and intellectual property.
  • The training is especially focused on limited liability companies but also covers issues that address all entities (including state tax,employment, and intellectual property). Key materials developed by Communities Rise to accompany this training are attached and include the following:
    • A “Washington Small Business Legal Checklist” summarizing legal issues for small businesses to monitor
    • An “Explanation of the Washington Small Business Legal Checklist” that provides detailed explanations on the various legal topics covered in the Checklist. This is meant to serve as a reference document for the Checklist.
    • A question and answer document that provides written explanations of the questions asked at the May 30, 2024 legal training
    • The slides from the training

Small Business Service Contracts (2024)

  • This video covers what service contracts are, when to use them and common mistakes to avoid. We cover the importance of using clear and concise terms, why service contracts matter and benefits of well-crafted contracts. We will provide a sample service contract and an accompanying document that provides explanations on the key parts of the contract.
  • This video covers what the legal requirements are for the LLCs and corporations, how to maintain company records and common mistakes to avoid. We will cover the importance of maintaining legal paperwork, protecting your IP rights and basic employment law requirements. This training addresses legal requirements for small businesses generally, and does not cover specific legal requirements that may only apply to certain types of businesses. 

Human Resources for Nonprofits 2 part series (2024)

  • In part one this video will help you learn how to build your Human Resources practices for your nonprofit. We will cover what you need to know on how to center and build employee relationships and create empowerment through HR.
  • Part two of our series is a tour through the various compliance requirements that nonprofits must follow when hiring individuals. This session will be useful for most nonprofits, whether you are thinking of hiring your first staff member or making sure you are up to date on the latest legal and regulatory changes.

Grant writing and Storytelling for Nonprofit (2023)

  • Learn from a master storyteller and experienced attorney what you should know about how to start writing a grant. Learn about the best ways to start and what to consider when grant-writing from a capacity building and legal perspective.

Nonprofit Legal Health Webinar (2023)

  • This webinar helps nonprofits understand common legal obligations and highlights areas where greater inquiry should be made

Independent Contractors and Hiring Entities (2023)

E-Commerce for Small Businesses(2022)

  • This webinar provides an overview of legal compliance when setting up an E-commerce space for your small business.

Trademark Basics for Small Businesses

The Washington Nonprofit Corporation Act and Membership (2022)

  • Changes to the Washington Nonprofit Corporation Act include a more comprehensive set of rules for membership corporations, comparable to other states. These provisions apply to organizations that provide in their bylaws for voting members who elect the board of directors or vote on one or more fundamental transactions of the organization. Join this webinar to learn about the detailed guidance outlined by the updated act.

The Washington Nonprofit Corporation Act and Youth on Boards (2022)

  • The Washington Nonprofit Corporation Act includes proactive language allowing for individuals under the age of 18 to serve on the Board of Directors for a Nonprofit. Washington Nonprofits hosted a webinar about these provisions and what nonprofit leaders need to know. Featuring Maha Jafarey and Jacob Ferrari from Apex Law Group.

What’s new with the Washington Nonprofit Corporation Act? (2021)

  • Check out this webinar about the changes to the Washington Nonprofit Corporation Act, featuring Maha Jafarey and Tara Vitale of Apex Law Group. It includes a breakdown of the new law and answers to questions from nonprofit leaders across Washington.

Nonprofit Fiscal Sponsorship (2020)

  • This webinar was hosted in November 2020 and explains what a fiscal sponsorship relationship is and what a fiscal sponsorship agreement should include. It includes a discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of a fiscal sponsorship structure. We explain when and why a nonprofit organization would enter into a fiscal sponsorship relationship, the key components of that relationship, drafting a fiscal sponsorship agreement, common pitfalls and misunderstandings of fiscal sponsorship agreements. Speakers share both legal requirements and practical tips on making a successful fiscal sponsorship relationship. Speaker: Madhu Singh of Foundry Law Group

Covid-19 Support (2020)

The New Overtime Rules: A New Perspective (2020)

  • 2020 is ushering in new rules on the federal and state levels covering employees who are exempt from minimum wage and overtime pay. Generally, employees must be paid minimum wage and receive overtime pay, but certain “white collar” employees (bona fide executive, administrative, professional, or outside sales employees) are exempt from those rules if they meet a minimum salary level and certain job duties tests. Both the federal and state labor agencies have made changes to the exempt employee rules that will be effective in 2020. Nonprofit and small business employers may be impacted by the new rules.

Social Media Best Practices for Nonprofits (2019)

  • Using social media is now almost a necessity in running a nonprofit. Everyone uses it and social media can be powerful tool in getting news about your organization out to your constituents. Social media is also used to promote events, post job postings, and advocacy. However, social media also brings risks that can compromise your organization. Because social media is powerful, mistakes can have significant consequences. Join us for this webinar to learn about the legal considerations and risks that every nonprofit using social media should be aware of. Learn also about best practices to make the most out of social media and avoid the potential hazards of using social media. Specifically, we will talk about potential for causing harm to others, misusing of intellectual property and policies around employees use of social media.

Essential Privacy for Nonprofits (2019)

  • Privacy, data protection, and data breaches are in the headlines almost daily. But what do you as a nonprofit need to understand about privacy, the legal and non-legal risks to your operations, and what you should be doing now about it? This webinar is focused on the importance of understanding what nonprofits need to know about privacy and what they should do regarding handling of personal data.

Bylaws Webinar Workshop (2018)

  • All nonprofits need 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 workshop is essential for all nonprofits. We will go over the Communities Rise Nonprofit Self-Assessment Legal Checklist, which includes state and Federal legal compliance requirements for nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations as well as best-practices for nonprofit governance.

Deep Dive Into the Form 1023 (2017)

  • Attorney Lorri Dunsmore, Perkins Coie, walks through the IRS Form 1023 application for 501c3 tax-exemption. Ms. Dunsmore explains the application process, what the IRS is looking for, and on-going compliance issues that are raised in the Form 1023.

This is a video recording of a session held at the Nonprofit Law Institute 2017 on November 2, 2017 at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in Seattle, Washington.

Fiscal Sponsorship: Compliance and Best Practices (2017)

  • Attorney Madhu Singh, The Foundry Law Group, explains what is the nature of a fiscal sponsorship relationship, what should be addressed in a fiscal sponsorship agreement, what the IRS looks for when assessing a fiscal sponsorship relationship, and best practices for a successful fiscal sponsorship relationship.

This is a video recording of a session held at the Nonprofit Law Institute 2017 on November 2, 2017 at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in Seattle, Washington.

State and Local Law Tax Rules for Nonprofits (2017)

  • Tax Accountant/Attorney Bob Heller, Clark Nuber explains the local and state tax rules that apply to nonprofits.

This is a video recording of a session held at the Nonprofit Law Institute 2017 on November 2, 2017 at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in Seattle, Washington.

Speed-Reading Form 990 for Non-Accountants (2017)

  • In “Speed-Reading Form 990 for Non-Accountants”, Tax Accountant Howard Donkin of Jacobson Jarvis, explains the purpose of the Form 990 and how to read and understand it and spot red flags.

This is a video recording of a session held at the Nonprofit Law Institute 2017 on November 2, 2017 at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in Seattle, Washington.

Private Foundations Deeper Dive (2017)

  • Nonprofit Attorney David Lawson, Davis Wright Tremaine, explains how a “private foundation” is different from other charities under the section 501c3 of the tax-code and what the specific compliance requirements are for private foundations.

This is a video recording of a session held at the Nonprofit Law Institute 2017 on November 2, 2017 at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in Seattle, Washington.

Proposed Revisions to the Washington State Nonprofit Statute (2017)

  • Attorneys Judy Andrews and Jessica Breitbarth give you preview of the proposed new Washington State Nonprofit Statute. Both Judy and Jessica are members of the WSBA Business Law Section Nonprofit Committee who are helping to draft the new statute. The statute is expected to become law in 2019.

This is a video recording of a session held at the Nonprofit Law Institute 2017 on November 2, 2017 at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in Seattle, Washington.

Internal Controls for Nonprofits (2018)

  • This is a recording of the Internal Controls for Nonprofits presented in Seattle in September of 2018. The presenters are attorney Peter Smith, Apex Law Group and CPA Candi Avery, Clark Nuber. They discuss how to prevent financial mismanagement and fraud and what to do after financial mismanagement and fraud are discovered.

Advocacy and Lobbying for Nonprofits (2018)

  • Elaine Rose, David Lawson, and David Streeter discuss the do’s and dont’s around advocacy and lobbying for nonprofit organizations in Washington State.

This is a video recording of a session held at the Nonprofit Law Institute 2018 on November 8, 2018 in Seattle, Washington.

Preventing #Metoo: What Nonprofits Need to Know (2018)

  • Presented by Kerry Robinson, Foster Pepper, Bob Howie, Fox Rothschild

This is a video recording of a session held at the Nonprofit Law Institute 2018 on November 8, 2018 in Seattle, Washington.

Current Developments in the Law for 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Organizations (2018)

This is a video recording of a session held at the Nonprofit Law Institute 2018 on November 8, 2018 in Seattle, Washington.

Exciting Updates in Accounting and Tax for Nonprofits (2018)

  • Presented by Jennifer Becker Harris and Deby Macleod, Clark Nuber

This is a video recording of a session held at the Nonprofit Law Institute 2018 on November 8, 2018 in Seattle, Washington.

Data Security for Nonprofits (2018)

This is a video recording of a session held at the Nonprofit Law Institute 2018 on November 8, 2018 in Seattle, Washington.

  • Facilitated by Ken Miller, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Maja Larson, Allen Institute, Rather Atherton, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

This is a video recording of a session held at the Nonprofit Law Institute 2018 on November 8, 2018 in Seattle, Washington.

Protecting the Public: How the State Regulates Nonprofits (2018)

  • Presented by Scott Douglas, Office of the Secretary of State, Corporate and Charities Division, and Dave Horn, Office of the Attorney General

This is a video recording of a session held at the Nonprofit Law Institute 2018 on November 8, 2018 in Seattle, Washington.

Ethics of Board Service & Representing Nonprofits (2018)

  • Presented by Jeanne Marie Clavere, WSBA; Judy Andrews, Apex Law Group; Lorri Dunsmore, Perkins Coie; facilitated by David Lawson, Davis Wright Tremaine.

This is a video recording of a session held at the Nonprofit Law Institute 2018 on November 8, 2018 in Seattle, Washington.

Nuts and Bolts of Nonprofit Law Part 1 (2017)

  • Communities Rise’s signature nonprofit legal training is everything you need to know to create a new Washington nonprofit and obtain 501c3 tax-exemption. In the 2017 Edition, we focus on using the IRS Form 1023EZ, which is the application for tax-exemption for nonprofits with smaller budgets. Attorneys Judy Andrews, Apex Law Group and Tony McCormick, Perkins Coie, bring years of experience practicing nonprofit law here in Washington. Judy will talk about creating a nonprofit under Washington State Law and Tony will walk you through applying for 501c3 tax-exemption using the Form 1023EZ and discuss key requirements of 501c3 tax-exempt organizations, under Federal tax law.

Nuts and Bolts of Nonprofit Law Part 2 (2015)

  • Nonprofit organizations do great work in our communities. Nonprofit founders and board members work hard to make their vision a reality and then volunteers and staff focus on the day-to-day programs of fulfilling their mission. There’s often very little time to think about the on-going details that keep your organization is in compliance with state and federal tax laws.
  • This is Communities Rise signature nonprofit seminar will review the state and federal tax compliance requirements and issues Washington nonprofits and 501c3 tax-exempt organizations face on an ongoing basis, that are often overlooked. Topics will include: fiduciary duties of directors and officers, Charitable Solicitation Act, governance policies, Form 990 reporting, private inurement and private benefit (executive compensation), lobbying and political activities, charitable contribution issues, unrelated business income and other issues.
  • This seminar is ideal for attorneys and nonprofit staff who have already taken Communities Rise’s Nuts and Bolts of Nonprofit Law, Part 1 seminar or have some experience working with nonprofits.

Serving Nonprofits from the Inside Out (2016)

  • This series of videos was recorded at the first annual Nonprofit Law Institute on October 28, 2016 at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in Seattle, Washington. The Nonprofit Law Institute is a collaborative project of the WSBA Corporate Counsel Section and Communities Rise (formerly Wayfind).

Private Foundations (2015)

  • There are many private foundations in Washington State and we have had several requests for a legal training on this topic. This training will cover the following questions: What is a private foundation and how is it different from a charitable nonprofit? What are the special tax rules that govern private foundations? Join us and learn about the legal ins and outs of private foundations in Washington State.

The New Form 1023EZ (2015)

  • In this 2 hour recorded training, you will learn about the new IRS Form 1023EZ, which is the shorter online application for 501c3 tax-exempt status. Speakers David Lawson, Davis Wright Tremaine and Nathaniel Taylor, Ellis, Li & McKinstry discuss considerations on whether you are ready to apply for 501c3 tax-exemption, eligibility to use the Form 1023EZ, and how to apply using the Form 1023EZ.

Microenterprise 101 (2014)

  • Communities Rise’s signature microenterprise legal training is designed for attorneys who want to volunteer at Communities Rise’s Microenterprise Legal Clinics. In this 4 hour recorded training, speakers Rodger Kohn, Toulsey, Brain, Stephens, Jennifer Jolley, Perkins Coie, and Kyle Flindt, Aeon Law discuss the common legal issues that micro-enterpreneurs face and that arise at the legal clinics: choice of entity, contracts, intellectual property, patents, general advising at the microenterprise legal clinic.

On-Demand CLE Accredited Videos

How to Purchase CLE Videos

  1. Email contact@communities-rise.org with the name of the CLE videos you wish to rent
  2. Communities Rise will email you an invoice via Stripe for the rental fee. (Fees vary depending on the length of the CLE video, and are listed below.)
  3. Once the invoice is paid, we will email you a link to the CLE video, as well as the training handouts and a link to our feedback survey.
  4. Rented CLE videos are available to watch for 30 days –the link will expire 30 days from the date purchased.

Communities Rise volunteer attorneys are given free access under the following conditions:

  • Have signed up for 3 of our legal clinics (access to 1 free video).
  • Have accepted one extended legal matter (access to 1 free video).

If you qualify for a free video based on the above, please let us know when you email us at contact@communities-rise.org.

The Basics of Representing Nonprofits

$75.00 Attorneys with 1.25 CLE credits Law and Legal

This training covers the essentials of state and federal nonprofit law. It first covers the two critical formation documents under state law, the articles of incorporation and bylaws, and key provisions and drafting issues in both, including corporate purposes, board procedures, and fiduciary duties of directors and officers. Then it moves to basics of federal nonprofit law. This includes an overview of the process for filing for 501(c)(3) status as well as an explanation of key 501(c)(3) compliance issues, such as private inurement, business activities, and lobbying.

Speakers:
Kate Reddy, Principal Attorney, Wingspan Legal PLLC;
David Lawson, Partner, Perkins Coie LLP.

This is a recording of a live presentation that took place on January 29, 2025.

My Health My Data Privacy Act Training

$75.00 Attorneys with 1.5 CLE credits Law and Legal

This session provides an overview of the Washington My Health, My Data Act (MHMDA) which was passed by the Washington Legislature in 2023 and provides information on the basics of what should be contained in a privacy policy of a small business or nonprofit and also how to integrate the requirements of the MHMDA into such a privacy policy. 

Speakers: Maddie Haller, attorney at Ogden Murphy Wallace; Jeff Brennan, Associate General Counsel & Chief Privacy Officer at ESO Solutions, Inc. 

This is a recording of a training session presented online on April 25, 2024.

Washington’s New Nonprofit Corporation Act

$63 Attorneys with 1.25 CLE credits Law and Legal

This session will give a general overview of the new Washington Nonprofit Corporation Act. Speakers will give a deeper dive into relevant topics such as compliance, fiduciary duties, charitable assets, and enforcement from the Attorney General’s Office.

Speakers:
David Lawson, Davis Wright Tremaine;
Judy Andrews, Apex Law Group.

This is a video recording of a session held at the Nonprofit Law Institute 2021 on November 10, 2021 in Seattle, Washington.

Membership Ins and Outs

$25 Attorneys with .5 CLE credit Law and Legal

This second session on the new Washington Nonprofit Corporation Act will discuss relevant topics as they apply to membership-based nonprofit organizations. This will include new information on articles of incorporation and bylaws, updates around member admission and termination, meetings and voting rights, and more.

Speakers:
Nat Taylor, ELM Law;
Andrea Templeton, K&L Gates.

This is a video recording of a session held at the Nonprofit Law Institute 2021 on November 10, 2021 in Seattle, Washington.

Power, Privilege, and Service

$50 Attorneys with 1 CLE credit Ethics

Attorneys hold various types of power and privilege that can impact their work when serving communities of color and other under-represented groups. Our keynote presentation aims to discuss those power and privilege dynamics, focusing on how we can overcome systemic barriers to better serve and collaborate with clients from all walks of life. We will review some of the historic moments within the United States that are still impacting the legal system today, and the role and responsibilities attorneys have within these contexts to ensure that the law does not continue to unfairly impact disenfranchised communities.

Speaker:
Andrea Caupain, CEO of Byrd Barr Place.

This is a video recording of a session held at the Nonprofit Law Institute 2021 on November 10, 2021 in Seattle, Washington.

The Ethics of Representing Community-Based Nonprofits

$50 Attorneys with 1 CLE credit Ethics

How can attorneys ethically serve communities from diverse backgrounds? In this interactive session, panelists will discuss relevant RPCs as they apply to working with community-based nonprofits and underserved groups. The audience will be put into breakout rooms to work through a series of hypotheticals, followed by a large-group discussion of their findings.

Speakers:
Kyle Richard, Foster Garvey;
Andrea Caupain, Byrd Barr Place;
Aneelah Afzali, Executive Director of the American Muslim Empowerment Network at the Muslim Association of Puget Sound (MAPS-AMEN).

This is a video recording of a session held at the Nonprofit Law Institute 2021 on November 10, 2021 in Seattle, Washington.

If you have any questions about our training videos, please contact us.