The Foraker Group

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 »

Foraker is thrilled to welcome home Gretchen Guess as the new President and CEO of the Rasmuson Foundation. We are looking forward to working alongside Gretchen and the whole team to strengthen Alaska’s nonprofits, tribes, and communities. Gretchen’s previous professional and volunteer commitments position her to be a thoughtful listener and a ready partner across the diversity of people, places, and organizations across Alaska. Congratulations Gretchen and the whole Rasmuson team. Learn more in their press release: https://rasmuson.org/…/foundations-new-ceo-comes-home…/… Read more »

Let me share a few facts with you about volunteering in Alaska. First, we have a tradition of volunteering. Alaska ranks among the top five states for volunteer participation and consistently exceeds the U.S. average with an estimated 40.6% of Alaskans volunteering as of 2019. Second, volunteers contribute to the economy. The latest study from Independent Sector notes that volunteers typically contribute nearly $200 billion to the national economy. Here in Alaska, volunteer service is worth an estimated $594.7 million – a significant contribution to our economy. In 2020, the per-hour rate for volunteers in Alaska rose to $30.30 placing us 13th among all states and the District of Columbia in hourly rate. Volunteering enhances organizational impact, improves the volunteer’s quality of life, and creates momentum for a more fully… Read more »

Thanksgiving often brings us an opportunity to share time in our home or the homes of family and friends. Home can conjure up good thoughts and also reminds us of life’s challenges. I am thankful for many definitions of home. One of those is the definition of the nonprofit sector itself — a home with a strong foundation that we build upon every day. Our sector is built on community. We are on the ground working with our neighbors and working to improve the places we live. We are woven together by our diverse people, neighborhoods, and country, and we are stronger as a result. Our sector is built on partnerships. We are relationship-based, and we know that each connection with other organizations, businesses, and government strengthens our work and creates more lasting… Read more »

Whew! Decisions. Every day in every way. Life changing and insignificant – each one is called the same thing, but wow are they different. Sometimes the sheer volume of them can make even the insignificant feel hard. As humans, of course, we are always making choices – even choices that don’t feel like a choice. For many of you, your choices have a significant impact on people’s lives or on the stability of your missions. These are the choices I am thinking about at the moment – when our responsibility is always to be in a space of “leaving it better than we found it” – when all is as it should be – bigger than a person, a point in time, a single idea. These are the choices in… Read more »

Scott Crabtree, founder of Happy Brain Science, was one of our most beloved speakers at the 2019 Leadership Summit. So much so that we brought him back for the virtual 2021 Leadership Summit. He will be in Anchorage on October 26 and we are taking advantage of this opportunity to host him for a 90 minute training called Hiring, Engagement, Retention: What We Can Learn from the Science of Games. Scott will teach us how to ‘Gamify’ our nonprofits so your job candidates and employees have more fun, deliver better results, and stay with you longer. Space is limited so register today!… Read more »