Public Funding Leadership Series

Sponsored by WSDA FA

Guidance from WSDA

Who is required to take this training?

If an agency has received WSDA FA funding and is not getting an audit or is not required to (for example by an organization’s own policies, board, or other funders), then the organization must attend each training in the Public Funding Leadership Series provided by WFC. This includes:
- Organizations and tribes that have a current direct agreement with WSDA FA and are not already getting an audit for all fiscal years they are/were under agreement with WSDA FA.
- Organizations and tribes that have a current Sub Agency Agreement with an organization that has a direct agreement with WSDA FA and are not already getting an audit for all fiscal years they are/were under sub agency agreement.
If required to attend, at a minimum, one person from each agency in a Leadership role and/or providing fiscal oversight must attend the Public Funding Leadership Series “ a four-part training series” such as the Executive Director, Fiscal Director, accountant, or bookkeeper.
It is highly recommended that at least one board member complete the separate Board & Public Funding Trainings that will be released later this year.

Who is not required to take this training?

This does not apply to organizations and tribes, that are required to have a Single Audit, obtain audits for their own purposes, or are required to by other granters/funders.

If an agency does not receive any Food Assistance funds or pass-through funds and receives only food (state or federal) through FA programs, they are not required to attend.
If an agency is not required to attend, we still highly recommend attending this training series.

What are the timeframes required for taking the training?

Contact your Lead Agency, Regional Representative, or Resiliency Grants contact if you have questions about whether you need to take this training.

About the Series

This four-part series fulfills the WSDA training requirement for agencies not obtaining an audit and is designed for Executive Directors, board members acting as staff, and other nonprofit staff in leadership roles who steward public funds.

The series combines interactive sessions with a practical workbook you can use during the sessions and take back to your organization. Each session focuses on real-world scenarios, guided discussion, and hands-on reflection—helping you apply requirements directly to your organization’s systems, roles, and responsibilities.

You’ll build a practical understanding of the four core areas required for effective public funding stewardship:

The four-part series covers:

Leadership – Clarifying roles, responsibilities, and oversight related to public funding
Compliance – Understanding state, federal, and funder requirements and how to navigate them
Finance – Strengthening financial systems, internal controls, and documentation
Risk – Identifying, assessing, and managing organizational and financial risk

By the end of the series, you will be able to:

Identify your leadership responsibilities related to public funding oversight
Navigate key state, federal, and funder compliance requirements
Strengthen financial and documentation systems that support accountability
Recognize and proactively manage financial, operational, and organizational risk
Engage your board and staff in shared, mission-aligned stewardship of public funds

Across six hours of learning, you’ll strengthen the systems, habits, and conversations that support responsible public funding stewardship.

Registration Information and Session Dates

Creating an account with the Washington Food Coalition’s member platform, GrowthZone, makes registration quick and easy by saving your information for future sessions. Click here to create an account. If you already have an account, you’ll be prompted to log in during event registration.

You can also view all trainings on our WFC Training Calendar.

Topic	Tuesday series	Friday series
Time	8:00-9:30am	9:00-10:30am
Leadership	February 17 Register here	February 27 Register here
Compliance	March 3 Register here	March 13 Register here
Finance	March 17 Register here	March 20 Register here
Risk	March 31 Register here	March 27 Register here

Optional Board Training Information

Boards & Public Funding: Roles and Responsibilities

Board members play a critical role in ensuring nonprofit organizations use public funds responsibly, remain compliant with regulations, and manage risk effectively. This session helps board members understand their roles and responsibilities when it comes to public funding. This includes how governance connects to financial stewardship, compliance, and organizational oversight. You will explore the legal duties of board service, the board’s role in overseeing financial systems and internal controls, and how boards partner with staff to safeguard the organization’s mission and public trust.

By the end of this session, you will be able to:
Describe the governance role of nonprofit board members in relation to public funding.
Explain the legal duties of care, loyalty, and obedience.
Identify the board’s role in ensuring compliance with federal and state requirements.
Recognize signs of financial health, compliance concerns, and potential risk.
Ask informed governance questions that strengthen accountability and organizational resilience.

This session is offered as an optional workshop for board members as part of the Public Funding Leadership Series.

Register at the links below:

Wednesday, March 25, 2026 (4:00 PM - 5:00 PM)

Tuesday, April 21, 2026 (7:00 PM - 8:00 PM)

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