The Foraker Group

Celebrate with us! Celebrating anniversaries, unlike birthdays, are often fraught with date possibilities. In new or young love, an anniversary may be marked by the month rather than a year, and in other relationships there are a number of possibilities – the first date, the date of the engagement, or the date of a marriage. Nonprofits don’t differ as we have so many date options to call our anniversary. We have the moment the idea was conceived, the date the mission was drafted, the first official board meeting, or even the date of federal recognition. These dates for some, including Foraker, have almost a decade from conception to formal recognition, so picking one perfect date is in the eye of the beholder. We have chosen this moment to mark our… Read more »

We asked our friends to share stories of Foraker’s impact as we turn 25. Here is what they had to say. Paglaġivsi, Greetings, Aarigaa! Happy 25th Anniversary to The Foraker Group! To everyone who has been a part of Foraker’s journey – to all the board members, staff, consultants, funders, and partners – Congratulations! What an accomplishment. Every single day the work Foraker does positively impacts Alaska nonprofits and tribes, and the result – All Alaskans benefit! I am grateful to have been a participant in this journey. It started when I was on the team developing a new campus for Iḷisaġvik College. We turned to the Pre-Development Program to assist us, with excellent results. I also have benefitted from Foraker trainings – participating as a part of the various… Read more »

After an extensive national search using our comprehensive Leadership Transition services, Foraker has helped place Anjela Johnston as the new Executive Director of Southeast Region Emergency Medical Services Council (SEREMS) in Sitka, Alaska. Johnston brings nearly two decades of experience with SEREMS to the role. Since joining the organization in 2006 as a training coordinator, she has become a trusted presence across Southeast Alaska’s EMS community by building deep relationships with the communities that SEREMS serves. Most recently, she served as Interim Executive Director while continuing her training coordination responsibilities. “The board conducted a thorough search, and we were fortunate to receive applications from many qualified candidates,” said Leah Okin, SEREMS Board President. “Anjela’s passion for our mission, her strong relationships across the region, and her vision for SEREMS’ future… Read more »

Message from Foraker’s President/CEO Laurie Wolf in response to Governor Dunleavy’s veto of HB 133. We are extremely disappointed by Governor Dunleavy’s veto of House Bill 133, legislation that would have created accountability for late state payments to nonprofits, local governments, and tribal organizations providing essential services to Alaskans. Across Alaska, nonprofits operate shelters, food programs, behavioral health services, youth programs, and many other critical supports on behalf of the public. When payments are delayed, organizations are forced to use reserves, take on debt, delay hiring, reduce services, or even close programs. HB 133 was a practical response to a systemic problem that nonprofits and municipalities have experienced for years. The governor’s veto message points to administrative reforms, improved systems, and agency accountability as alternatives to legislation. In reality, nonprofits… Read more »

Recent actions by several online fundraising platforms—including creating donation pages for nonprofits without their knowledge or consent—have highlighted the need for stronger standards that protect both nonprofits and donors. That’s why we’re joining nonprofit leaders across the country in supporting four principles for ethical online fundraising: Nonprofit Consent: Nonprofits must have the power and agency to decide for themselves how and when to engage with online fundraising platforms before they solicit or collect donations. Transparency: Donors must have the power and information they need to decide whether to make a donation through an online fundraising platform. Partnership: Online fundraising platforms must recognize nonprofits as valued, equal partners. Accountability: Online fundraising platforms must be accountable to nonprofits, donors, the public, and the appropriate regulators. Learn more about the principles and endorse… Read more »

On May 29, 2026, the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) proposed sweeping changes to the Uniform Guidance that, if implemented, would create significant risk and instability for all federal grantees, including nonprofits, making it more difficult to provide vital services to communities. We are calling on Alaska nonprofits to loudly declare our opposition to the proposed changes. The OMB proposed changes would apply to all federal grants, cooperative agreements, and pass-through awards received by Alaska nonprofits. Since before statehood, Alaska nonprofits have had a long track record of serving with honor and accountability as a trusted partner with the federal government, the State of Alaska, and local municipalities. We are such a vital part of everyday Alaska life that we are recognized in our state’s constitution. We provide… Read more »

After months of planning and an extensive search using our comprehensive Leadership Transition services, Foraker has helped place Paul Rasmussen as the new Executive Director of the Cold Climate Housing Research Center. Rasmussen’s background as an architect, combined with his construction management experience, will help to further CCHRC’s mission of advancing sustainable solutions for healthy and resilient homes in cold climates. “Paul’s selection to lead CCHRC reflects the board’s deep care and clear belief in where one of Alaska’s most trusted homegrown institutions can go next,” said Board Chair Griffin Forster. “The housing crisis demands action at a speed and scale we have never seen before. Paul brings the vision, energy, and collaborative leadership needed to help meet that challenge. The board is thrilled and eager to support him as… Read more »

If you have a fiscal year that begins in July, this is your budgeting season. And it likely means you are putting the finishing touches on how you think the future will unfold for the next year. (For those of you with a January or October fiscal year, your season has passed, and you are well on your way to living your budget.) I admit that numbers were not my thing when I started in this work, but I quickly learned to be a champion of the budget when I figured out that while it is certainly made of numbers, budgets are far more than that. Budgets tell a story of your organization. They tell you and your team about your vision for growth and your fears and insecurities about… Read more »

You’re invited to the 2027 Foraker Leadership Summit! Join us April 26–27 at the Dena’ina Center in Anchorage to connect with nonprofit leaders from across Alaska, explore new ideas, and discover practical ways to put them into action. Held every two years, the Foraker Leadership Summit brings together more than 500 nonprofit, tribal, and community leaders for learning, inspiration, and meaningful conversation. You won’t want to miss it. Stay tuned for registration details, speaker announcements, and more!… Read more »

As nonprofit leaders, it’s essential that we have tools to make informed decisions. One of those tools is our Salary and Benefits Report – which gives us context and a comparative benchmark for compensation in Alaska’s nonprofit sector. What’s in the report? The 2026 Salary and Benefits Report & Dashboard features: Salary data for 54 positions, including Executive Director/CEO, Finance Director/CFO, Development/Fundraising Director, administrative support, accountants, clinical support, and program staff Data from over 1,500 nonprofits in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, Washington, Utah, and Hawaii Regional breakdown of Alaska data from Southcentral, Interior, Southeast, and the Southwest Data from organizations with budgets ranging from less than $100,000 to over $20 million Data from 15 types of nonprofits, including education, human services, health care, environmental, recreation/sports, and arts, culture, and humanities groups Benefit data on medical, dental,… Read more »