The Foraker Group

As Alaska’s nonprofit state association, we connect with policy makers, businesses, and other nonprofits to highlight the positive impacts nonprofits have on our state. Positioning the sector as a credible voice is a role we take seriously. Each year a joint committee representing Foraker’s Governance and Operations Boards analyzes issues affecting the Alaska nonprofit sector. In addition to ensuring that we are nonpartisan, Foraker’s Public Policy Committee uses four criteria (see How does Foraker decide which issues to focus on?) to analyze issues and recommend annual priorities. We are excited to work together on reaching our 2023 advocacy objectives. We invite you to join us in advocating for the following issues that have an impact on your mission and the sector – you can learn more about each of these objectives here…. Read more »

Alaskans applying for their PFD can pledge all or part of their dividend to their favorite nonprofits. The deadline to apply and Pick.Click.Give. is March 31. Now is the time for participating nonprofits to: Make sure your community and constituents know you’re an option! They can’t pick you if they don’t know to look for you! Check in on your 2022 Pick.Click.Give. donors and encourage them to give again. Use the marketing toolkit on the Pick.Click.Give. Nonprofit Central website to find images you can use on social media, newsletters, signature lines, and more. Learn more here…. Read more »

Last March, we launched our Pre-Development toolkit for organizations planning new facilities, expanding existing ones, or renovating. The site is chock-full of guidance and resources and we want to know – is it helping? If you have used the site, please provide us with quick feedback in this short survey…. Read more »

In any given year, or month, or day we face challenges to doing our missions well. These challenges aren’t new, but the tsunami of so many hitting at the same time prevents us from performing at the level our missions require – and that must change. It was with these thoughts in mind that I addressed the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee last month. I briefed legislators on the contributions nonprofits make to the Alaska economy, along with some of the challenges facing the sector and actions they can take to help us meet these challenges. I encourage you to listen to this recording of the committee hearing. Questions after my presentation provide important insights to how the committee members think about the issues facing Alaska. In my testimony I… Read more »

  We welcome Dylan Faber, Liz Qaulluq Cravalho, Dr. Pearl Kiyawn Brower, and Tim Thompson– all previous Foraker Operations Board Members – to our Governance Board. We are incredibly grateful for their dedication in serving on our board and strengthening Alaska’s nonprofit sector. Learn more about our board here…. Read more »

If you’re considering applying for federal funds or have general questions about federal funding resources, we’re offering individual appointments with Zoe Olson, our Federal Funding Navigator. In these sessions, Zoe can help you navigate technical application questions and connect you with resources for learning about federal grant opportunities and grant writing resources as well as general questions about reporting and compliance. Use our contact form to inquire about scheduling a 30 minute meeting. Please include a few sentences about your interest in federal grants…. Read more »

Alaska Board Match is an online match tool created to help nonprofits establish more diverse, inclusive, and welcoming board rooms. This site also assists in pairing Alaskans ready to serve local nonprofits in need of board members. Alaska Board Match is designed to address barriers to access of information, networks, and resources. Unfortunately, there is a historical gap in the demographics of many boards and the populations they serve. There is an increased demand nationwide to identify, recruit, and retain qualified candidates from under-represented groups who are diverse in race, age, gender, and lived experience. Also, a growing number of volunteers want to put their professional and personal skills to use in their communities. You can find the site here.    … Read more »

The Foraker office will be closed on Monday as we reflect and commit again to our own role in creating and sustaining just and welcoming nonprofits that serve our communities…. Read more »

As I look back on 2022 – frankly, I am amazed. Most of the nonprofits I know and the people who work and volunteer at them were running on much less than a full tank when we started the last year. Some of you crossed into 2022 already running on fumes as you faced the relentless string of truths about our existence. Individually and collectively, we confronted business models in disarray as a result of the pandemic – mission-based programming askew based on overdue state and government grants and contracts – staff that for the first time were leaving in record numbers – board members who were rethinking their roles and commitments – and on and on. You lived these truths every day, so I know you have your own… Read more »

As nonprofit leaders, it’s essential that we have the 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 2022 Salary and Benefits Report features: Salary data for 46 positions including executive director, finance director, development director, administrative support, accountants, clinical support, and program staff Data from organizations with budgets ranging from less than $100,000 to over $10 million Regional breakdown of data from Southcentral, Interior, and Southeast Alaska Benefit data on medical, dental, vision, holidays and leave, retirement plans, life insurance, and more Data on gender pay gap challenges and opportunities Observations on the impact of COVID on the operations of Alaska nonprofits How much does it cost? The Executive Summary is provided free… Read more »