The Foraker Group

As part of our work as Alaska’s nonprofit association, Foraker pursues nonpartisan or bipartisan public policy initiatives with local, state, and federal governments. The first session of the 34th Alaska Legislature adjourned on May 20, 2025, and Foraker was actively involved with several key issues. During the session, legislators had critical conversations about the importance of nonprofits in our state. Those conversations began with the first “Lunch and Learn” of the session, which featured a presentation on our report Alaska’s Nonprofit Sector: Generating Economic Impact, to comments at a hearing on the impact of federal funding on the sector. And importantly, several Foraker public policy priorities were introduced as legislation. Following is a summary of the legislative outcomes. Prompt Payment Parity For many years, Alaska nonprofits, municipalities, and tribal organizations… Read more »

We’re searching for a Bookkeeper/Staff Accountant! The ideal candidate will be collaborative and flexible, have excellent organizational skills and follow-through, and enjoy a fast-paced, highly varied suite of accounting duties. This position is responsible for processing payroll, accounts payable, and accounts receivable for nonprofits and tribal organizations across Alaska. Learn more at forakergroup.org/jobs… Read more »

Does your organization anticipate a leadership change in the coming months? A smooth transition from one leader to another will keep your organization focused on its mission. We can help you create a process for a successful leadership change by taking a realistic and thoughtful approach. We’ve created FAQs to help you assess if our Leadership Transition services are a fit for your organization. We are also relaunching our community class – Recruiting for the Long-Term: Finding Leaders that Stay – on June 12 from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm. If your organization is looking to be more thoughtful about leadership transition, this class is for you. You can learn more about our Leadership Transition services here…. Read more »

We Produce Our Own Energy A portrait poem by Na Mee (All the words that appear in this poem were heard at some point during The Foraker Group’s 2025 Leadership Summit, April 14 & 15, 2025. They have been lifted out of their specific context and written into this found poem, intended as a group portrait. You can watch the video of the performance here.) All of the leaders across Alaska owe at least eight people here an email. We did our list! It’s get shit done week How many hyper achievers are in the room?                      I don’t need to see hands. I know it’s over half of you   We know you’re wearing many hats. We’re all spread really… Read more »

Our Certificate in Nonprofit Management program is designed for Alaska nonprofit and tribal leaders to apply classroom teachings to their workplace, dive into issues facing Alaska nonprofits today, and build a network of fellow professionals. Courses will be held in the fall at the Foraker office in Anchorage. Applications are due June 13. Learn more here…. Read more »

This conversation between Laurie Wolf (CEO, The Foraker Group) and Senator Lisa Murkowski was held at the 2025 Leadership Summit on April 14, 2025, at the Dena’ina Civic Convention Center in Anchorage, Alaska. The Leadership Summit is a nonprofit leadership conference held every two years by The Foraker Group. You can watch a video of their conversation here.  Laurie Wolf: We are so incredibly grateful that Senator Murkowski has taken the time to be with all of us today. Just so much gratitude for you and your staff. You’ve been so wonderful taking all of our phone calls, all of our emails, all of our “Oh my goodness, what’s happening next?” moments. Thank you so much. I know you have an amazing staff as well. So an extra shout-out to… Read more »

The place where your child stays safe after school or plays soccer or learns an instrument The place where your niece or nephew adopted their dog, cat, or guinea pig The place where your neighbor gets a bag of groceries to make ends meet every few weeks The place where your sister learns how to sing, dance, and perform The place where someone you love seeks refuge The place where your parents or grandparents seek daily elder care The place you call in an emergency The place where you get well The place you tune in to stay informed, entertained, and up to date The place where your auntie draws hope The place where your community worships, explores, and connects with like-minded people The place you turn to after a… Read more »

Opening the 9th Foraker Leadership on April 14, President/CEO Laurie Wolf called for nonprofits to reach deeply and explore ways to better support their missions through collaborations. Below is a transcript of her remarks. To know Foraker is to know our Nonprofit Sustainability Model. This is not a recipe but rather a way of making the right decisions for your mission, so you keep moving toward success. We know this is a journey and not a destination, and as board and staff stewards of your mission, we hope that your collective decision making leaves your mission in a better place than you found it. As we look through the lenses of sustainability, we could have encouraged you to simply focus on your own core purpose and values and your own… Read more »

We invite you to read the letter below and sign on here. TO: Senator Lisa Murkowski Senator Dan Sullivan Representative Nick Begich RE: An Invitation to Stand with Alaska’s Nonprofit Sector DATE: April [11], 2025 As our Alaska representatives in federal policy we, the undersigned nonprofits, along with our partner The Foraker Group, request that you stand strongly with us as we endure an unprecedented amount of undoing of our vital programs and services that are designed to help all Alaskans. Looking past the rhetoric being used to defund and dismantle our programs, we invite you to look around and see that no matter where you live or how you move through your day, Alaska’s nonprofits are providing essential services like medical care, housing, fisheries management, emergency services, and utilities. We also bring joy… Read more »

As is my way, I am going to be honest. As a sector, we face a pretty difficult set of circumstances that are likely to get worse before they get better – and we are not alone. Hundreds of government agencies with which we partner are being dismantled without a strategic understanding of the impact on human life, our environment, or our economy. Simultaneously, we can see some who are incredibly hopeful about the possibilities of these changes. I am sure some would strongly disagree with both these views – such is the nature of democracy. We can do things that feel and impact people in diametrically different ways. Predominately, however, as I watch and listen every day to the stories of human impact and the depth of the legal… Read more »