The Foraker Group

The classic vicious cycle in nonprofit operations is the need to raise more money to hire more people but needing people to raise more money.  It is an easy scarcity trap to fall into regardless of your organizational size, topic, or geography.  Scarcity thinking dominates nonprofit and fundraising culture. It drives us to believe there is not enough time, money, energy, or people, leading us to the inevitable conclusion that we are competing with one another. Countless nonprofit boards and staff believe this false narrative and because it is so pervasive it is easy to find evidence to be right.  And yet, we must resist the scarcity trap if we are going to be truly successful. The alternative is an abundance mindset, one that asks you to think about what… Read more »

Major developments are underway in federal grantmaking! The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has announced significant revisions to the Uniform Guidance, promising big changes in how organizations access federal funds. For many nonprofits, this will mean easier application and reporting processes and more funding for indirect costs/overhead. Join a free webinar, Thursday, May 30 from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm Alaska time, as OMB officials Deidre Harrison and Steven P. Mackey discuss the latest revisions, implementation timelines, and real-life implications for charitable nonprofits. Register to save your spot…. Read more »

We want to hear from you! What are the greatest barriers you face in your ability to meet your mission? What would strengthen your capacity? We’re conducting research with four other states – Washington, Oregon, Montana, and Idaho – to gain a comprehensive look at the sector across the Northwest. Foraker will share the survey trends with funders and use the redults to reflect on our strategies to better meet your needs here in Alaska. Your organization’s participation will allow us to provide you with an analysis of how your nonprofit compares to others in the region in these categories: Mission – direction and priorities Human – leadership, staff, volunteers Governance – board and oversight Culture – team and well-being Strategy – programs, services, and innovation Resources – fund development… Read more »

The Foraker Group seeks an adaptive individual with high emotional intelligence and an interest in joining a fun, collaborative team as a Leadership Transition Guide.  In support of nonprofits experiencing a change in leadership, the Leadership Transition Guide leads multi-phased consulting projects using a holistic approach and is part of a team of organizational development staff, consultants, and recruiters who partner with Alaska nonprofits through well-managed leadership transitions. In addition to managing a portfolio of leadership transition projects, the Guide will collaborate internally to continually improve our service.  The ideal candidate will have a passion for supporting the advancement of nonprofits and growth of people, a strong ability to act strategically, excellent communication skills, and a commitment to the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Learn more here…. Read more »

After more than 15 years of service to us and Alaska’s nonprofits, Rebecca Savidis has announced her resignation from Foraker. Rebecca initially came to us to pursue potential solutions to the challenge of providing adequate health insurance coverage for our sector.  At the same time, she applied her HR experience to enhancing and expanding our offerings and has been a valued member of our leadership team. Whether supporting Foraker’s internal HR function or working with organizations around the state, Rebecca has brought professionalism and compassion to her work. She is well respected by Alaska’s nonprofits. Over the years, she has helped organizations in need of critical HR support to navigate complex situations and develop HR functions that support their mission and their people. Rebecca’s last day with Foraker is April… Read more »

Are you an Alaska nonprofit or tribal leader? Do you want to enhance your management skills and explore new techniques to effectively lead your organization? The Foraker Certificate in Nonprofit Management features courses focused on issues facing Alaska nonprofits and provides access to a network of fellow professionals. Applications are now open for the 2024 cohort. The deadline to apply is June 7. Learn more here…. Read more »

Foraker seeks an organized individual with a solutions-based approach to serve as its Operations Manager.  Foraker’s Operations Manager will be responsible for creating, implementing, and updating operational infrastructure and systems to build on Foraker’s recent growth and position the organization for fulfilling its purpose – to strengthen Alaska’s nonprofits – into the future.  The ideal candidate will be a self-starter with strong communication and collaboration skills and at least three years of experience managing operational projects. You can learn more about the position here…. Read more »

The federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has announced major reforms to the Uniform Guidance, the set of common rules governing most federal grantmaking to charitable nonprofits, state, local, and Tribal governments.  The reforms correct longstanding challenges in the government grants process that have limited nonprofit effectiveness, discouraged qualified organizations from seeking and performing under federal grants, and wasted billions of dollars and countless hours in needlessly complex reporting requirements. Specifically, the revisions to the OMB Uniform Guidance, which becomes effective October 1, 2024, address longstanding problems in recovering actual costs, advance equity by removing bureaucratic barriers, and make other significant reforms that will reduce burdens and costs of seeking, performing, and reporting on grants using federal funds…. Read more »

Springtime in Alaska is the time that tests our convictions the most – the time when you can still ski, snowshoe, and snowmachine, and there are more moments to walk or ride on pavement, gravel, and hard ground – a time of hope and a bit of pleading for slightly more sunshine and slightly less gray as the daylight invites us to do more and hibernate less. This is truly the time of year that reminds me that I get to hold a lot of emotions, energy, and ideas all at once. It is also the time of year that my mindset matters. Our work in the nonprofit sector also looks and feels like the weather – the highs and lows are palpable and most days ridiculous to juggle. The… Read more »

When does the fun part start? More than any other question I received over a few days with a recent cohort of executive directors, this was the question that grabbed everyone’s attention. Everyone wanted to know. Everyone needed to know. I could see it in all the faces on my screen – I could feel it in the urgency of their voices. I knew that question all too well as I have asked it so many times in my career. And because I had found my answers enough times, I was in a position at that moment (and all the other times I have heard this question) to hold some space for the answers to unfold. I say unfold because it is a journey for each person to find both… Read more »