The Foraker Group

This month we released our Salary and Benefits Report & Dashboard. While we have been producing these reports for nonprofit decision-making since 2003, this year our report is bigger and better than ever thanks to a partnership with the state nonprofit associations in Montana, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon. Certainly, this type of data has been useful in the past but right now the nonprofit workforce is at the nexus of events that likely will result in a lasting shift for current and future employees. We have reported over the years on the challenges nonprofit employees and employers face, which sadly have not changed much because few organizations ever feel like they are fully staffed or financially flexible enough to deploy the team they have in all the ways they think… Read more »

A complicated truth is that the same turnover, personal time assessment, and value propositions impacting our nonprofit workforce are also deeply impacting our nonprofit boards. The conversations about how to reignite and reengage our most essential volunteers are ever-present. While not surprising, the escalation of these discussions since the pandemic is, just as in the workforce, a reality we must accept. You are not alone in thinking about what is happening in your boardroom as the challenges are not restricted to one type of organization, geography, budget size, or mission topic. Layering on the shifts in philanthropy and general volunteerism levels in this country and our state is an opportunity to pause and consider what to do next. Importantly, starting by understanding that at the heart of both philanthropy and… Read more »

You’re invited to the 2025 Foraker Leadership Summit! Join us on April 14 & 15 at the Dena’ina Center in Anchorage to stretch your thinking and discover ways to put new ideas into action. Stay tuned for information on registration, speakers, and more…. Read more »

The U.S. Department of Labor issued a final rule to increase the minimum salary threshold for the “white collar” overtime exemption under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) from its current rate of $35,568 to $43,888 per year starting on July 1, 2024 and increasing to $58,656 per year starting on January 1, 2025. To be exempt from overtime pay under this provision, workers must be paid a salary of at least $58,656 and must also meet certain job duties for executive, administrative, and professional employees. Workers with a salary below this threshold must be paid overtime if they work more than 40 hours a week. Currently, the State of Alaska requires salaried employees who are exempt from the minimum wage and overtime requirements under Alaska Statute 23.10.055(b) to maintain a salary that is equivalent to two… Read more »

After a thoughtful process using Foraker’s Leadership Transition services, the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) Board of Directors has selected Benjamin Mallott as the organization’s next President. Mallott has been with AFN for more than 11 years and currently serves as the organization’s Vice President of External Affairs. Board Co-Chair Joe Nelson said the board conducted an extensive statewide search before making its selection. “We were fortunate to receive applications from strong and impressive candidates,” Nelson said. “This enabled the board of directors to select a person who is well aligned with AFN’s mission and values. Ben understands AFN’s diversity and has demonstrated steady leadership within the organization for many years.” Nelson cites Mallott’s background in Alaska Native issues and state and federal public policy as key to his selection…. Read more »

Leaders of Alaska nonprofit organizations and tribes are invited to apply for a 2025 Sabbatical Award. The program provides time away to rest, reflect and rejuvenate. Each recipient will have 90 to 120 continuous days in the coming year to unplug from demanding jobs. The award amount in the coming cycle is $50,000. These grants to the individual’s organization help cover the leader’s salary, interim team, and costs of travel and other experiences during the time off from work. Applications will close on August 14. A Rasmuson Foundation selection panel, which includes prior recipients, will select up to eight individuals for 2025 awards. Learn more here…. Read more »

Some days more than others, we need to remind ourselves that nonprofits are a hallmark of a healthy democracy and a thriving economy. Today is one of those days. In other countries nonprofits are referred to as non-governmental organizations to indicate their separate relationship from the government, since it is the IRS that deems the reality of our existence in this country, we are framed from a tax perspective. In either case, our role is essential in the depth and breadth of our services that the government either will not or cannot provide and inherently will fail in a market-driven economy. The rationale for our existence in a thriving economy is also long – just look around at how each of your communities operates. Ask yourself, who is doing the… Read more »

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 »