The Foraker Group

The early imagining of Foraker took shape within a strategic plan at United Way of Anchorage, envisioning a suite of shared services for nonprofits and tribes. That vision grew into a deeply collaborative relationship with Cook Inlet Tribal Council (CITC)—and together, we have been innovating our way forward ever since. CITC created the original startup version of the IT and financial shared services that laid the foundation for Foraker. In 2009, several CITC staff formally became Foraker staff, launching a new chapter in our financial shared services program. As Foraker expanded, our growth was made possible by the consistent and expert support of CITC’s IT team and systems. Together, we have each grown and deepened our work, grounded in our organizational strengths. As technology evolved and our needs shifted, we… Read more »

Have you checked out the Alaska Funders Directory lately? The Alaska Funders Directory is a curated list of over 200 foundations, corporations, and other entities that have an interest in supporting Alaska nonprofits and projects. We’ve added nearly 30 funders to the site in the last three months. Check it out and contact us if you need support…. Read more »

On July 1, 2025,  the minimum wage increased to $13 per hour, following the approval of Ballot Measure 1. Under this same measure, the minimum wage will continue to rise, reaching $14 per hour in 2026 and $15 per hour in 2027. Additionally, beginning July 1, 2025, employers who do not already have a paid time off policy that meets the elements of the ballot measure are required to provide paid sick leave. If an employer has 15 or more employees, each employee can accrue up to 56 hours of paid sick leave per year. If the employer has fewer than 15 employees, each employee can accrue up to 40 hours of paid sick leave per year. Ballot Measure 1 Regulations have been published along with an updated FAQ from the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Do you… Read more »

Many organizations are facing increased uncertainty due to recent federal government changes. Our Rapid Response Convenings are designed to help you navigate this evolving landscape by creating a network of support. These one-hour virtual sessions provide a safe and collaborative space to share current challenges, exchange ideas and solutions, and learn from the collective wisdom of your peers. Thanks to the generous support of the Rasmuson Foundation and the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, we’re offering these free convenings specifically for: Fundraisers (This session is for Executive Directors, Development Staff, Board Members, or anyone who is involved in fundraising at your organization) October 13, November 3, December 1 from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Nonprofit HR professionals October 14, November 13, December 11 from 12:00 – 1:00 pm Nonprofit Finance professionals… Read more »

Right now, as the nonprofit sector, and as individual leaders, we are doing our best to navigate the twisting turns that lay in front of us. There are lions, and tigers, and bears, and a lot of “oh my” every day. That is, if lions are impoundment, tigers are rescission, and bears are the threat to nonprofit nonpartisanship, and the are all sitting against the backdrop of executive orders, that makes us exclaim another “oh my!” This journey is sometimes loud, often confusing and even dizzying, and a lot to take in on any given day regardless of whether you agree with the actions or not. Honestly, it is so much all at once, one could just get overwhelmed without a full understanding of the whole story. Let’s take impoundment,… Read more »

Since our founding, we’ve had the honor of partnering with tribes and tribal organizations across a wide range of activities—from strategic planning and organizational development to finance and governance support. As part of deepening that work, we’re launching a new page on our website to highlight just a few examples of how we collaborate with tribal leaders in ways that reflect their values, priorities, and visions for the future. How might we work with your tribe? Here are just a few of the ways that partnership has taken shape: — A regional Alaska Native education foundation invited us to help bring their board and team into deeper alignment with their mission—asking what it truly means to steward resources for future generations. How might their existing structure support more meaningful opportunities… Read more »

As the result of a Trump executive order, the U.S. Department of Education is considering changes to the rules for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program including one that would exclude some 501(c)(3) nonprofits. Once the rule is announced, the public will have 30 days to comment on it. Information is available in this webinar from the National Council of Nonprofits…. Read more »

National Voter Registration day is September 16. Is your organization working to get out the vote? Our Alaska Nonprofit Voter Engagement Guide is here to help nonprofits navigate election activities while remaining nonpartisan. Nonprofits are uniquely positioned as trusted, credible, nonpartisan messengers for people who are often overlooked, under-served, and under-resourced.  Many Alaska nonprofits already encourage voting through nonpartisan action including holding registration drives, providing information on where to vote, hosting candidate forums, providing translation services, giving staff time off to vote, and more. We know there is room for more nonprofits to engage. Your action means more people will exercise their right to vote and have their voices heard in our democracy. This is the time to inspire action…. Read more »

In November 2022, when the world seemed to be emerging into a new pandemic-intense reality, I spent some time talking about the decisions we make every day or more specifically, what tools we can access to make those decisions just a little bit easier. Today, in a very different world, one where some in political power see our sector as “a problem” instead of part of a “solution” as we were in the pandemic, the impact of the choices we make feel a little heavier. That said, right now we are noticing what I am calling the “eye of a storm.” Metaphorically, I have been trying to put my finger on the strange energy I have felt and heard our team reflect on recently. I hear words like “stuck” and… Read more »

We know that year-end fundraising might be the last thing on your mind right now—but trust us, your future self will thank you for planning ahead. Now’s the perfect time to commit to a successful giving season. And we’re here to help you do it in a fun, creative, and cost-effective way. Our refreshed virtual intensive, The Year-End Giving Game Plan, will not just guide you through a year-end giving campaign, it will set you up on a successful path to better engage with your donors in the long-term. You will leave this three-part intensive course with the following:  More organized donor data that segments out certain donor groups A custom donor report (relationship-building tool), drafted for your audience A campaign calendar to map out your request timeline Custom ask language to be used in all request… Read more »