The Foraker Group

I have been thinking about so many conversations lately that center on exhaustion.  I said recently to a few colleagues, I am tired in a way that sleep will not fix; they nodded in a knowing way. To be clear, my tired is a tired that comes with great privilege.  I am, in this moment, only talking about the work of leading an organization like so many of you do every day.  The persistent and consistent depth and breadth of decisions with no clear answers that impact others in every way is unceasing.  I am sure this was true pre-pandemic but perhaps it is the speed, the severity, the constant need to rethink or redo the same decision as new information emerges that makes it more challenging – honestly, I… Read more »

Have you identified foundation and/or corporate prospects, but are unsure of how to take the next step … or if it’s even worth your time to apply?  Are you struggling with how to find corporate and foundation funders that are a real fit for your organization? We are offering a new, virtual intensive designed to help organizations find, build relationships with, and solicit contributions from corporations and foundations who offer charitable funding. Our new program, Fundraising Action Plan: Raising Funds from Corporations and Foundations, will focus on best practices and hands-on tools for finding and approaching businesses, foundations, corporations and other nonprofits for funding. (Note: Techniques for fundraising from individual and family donors are covered in another Foraker intensive, Fundraising Action Plan: Raising Funds from Individuals) This Fundraising Action Plan intensive… Read more »

As a nonprofit employee or employer, you are making a difference every day. That service to others may make you eligible for a limited-time program to have your federal loans fully forgiven. But nonprofit employees need to act before October 31 to take advantage of this temporary waiver. Not to be confused with the recent debt forgiveness announcement, this temporary waiver means that, even if you were rejected for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) previously or had made payments that someone said didn’t qualify, you now may be much closer to having your loans fully forgiven. This limited waiver expires on October 31. Check your eligibility today! More Information: Good News for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Borrowers by Tiffany Gourley Carter details steps to take depending on the type… Read more »

Are you new to your job or still feeling like everything is changing so much it feels new all the time?  Are you feeling more alone in your decision-making right now?  Do you see the possibilities for change but need a thought partner to explore ideas in a safe space?  These are just some of the reasons nonprofit leaders are seeking our mentoring and coaching services.  Want to join them?  We are ready with a pool of highly qualified and seasoned professionals who can help you to: Increase your confidence on the job Develop and/or refine new leadership skills Find greater job satisfaction Improve your ability to achieve goals Learn about useful resources to help you lead Increase your certainty in decision making Discover new techniques for managing the many aspects… Read more »

Workforce shortages. Government contracting shortfalls and unacceptably late payments. Rapid program expansion to meet increasing demands. Financial uncertainty based on the end of pandemic relief and no restart yet of what’s next. These are the most common issues we hear from so many of you every day. For sure, the last two years have created a “new normal” and all our workplaces are scrambling to adapt and continue delivering our missions. Part of that process means dealing with challenges that often feel bigger than us and harder to understand, which is the right next step. Indeed, tackling these issues is a step-by-step adventure rather than just one big leap. We see you – we hear you. While no perfect tools exist for every challenge you face, we do want to… Read more »

A vendor for the Municipality of Anchorage mistakenly sent out property tax invoices recently to nonprofits that are exempt from the tax. Organizations that received the notices are advised that new invoices are being prepared that will show no tax due. If you have questions, call the Assessor’s office at 907-343-6500…. Read more »

In June, we debuted our From Bias to Belonging℠ services and stated again our commitment to talking about and doing something about the very real challenges of diversity, equity, and belonging in the nonprofit sector. Indeed, every day in some way we are dedicated to looking deeper, to asking more questions, to listening more, and to learning more. That is our path, and this is the work – to take the lessons learned, turn them into new goals that stretch us, then achieve them, then tackle the next set, and the next. At Foraker, we acknowledge that as a capacity builder we must constantly be learning what the data and our experiences tell us while we meet people and missions where they are. We talk internally about our work as… Read more »

For more than a decade, Foraker has offered interim executive directors. Our interim executive pool consists of highly qualified and seasoned professionals who have led organizations for many years. They can help your board achieve stability after a crisis, give the board breathing room before taking the next step to bring in a new leader, or hold the mission steady during a change. We can place someone with your organization either full or part-time, and they can work virtually or on-site. Contractually this relationship is between Foraker and the organization eliminating the need to hire a temporary staff member. Our interim service is available to any Foraker Partner. Call us and we’ll be pleased to provide you with more information, learn about your organizational needs, and let you know how… Read more »

When our existence feels so deeply divided, finding words that don’t further deepen the chasm is exhausting. My desire on any given day to scream, cry, laugh, sing, celebrate, or mourn in the public square feels equal parts impossible and required. This is not just my life but the life of my peers who are leading organizations that serve the whole community – those they personally align with and those they don’t. This is the choice to lead a nonpartisan nonprofit – to honor the Johnson Amendment that separates religion and money and to respect the boundaries of the charitable (c)(3) designation as defined by the IRS – all while taking a stand for mission. This is the challenge: to lead and be bold but not to alienate. And yet,… Read more »

Today, the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust released two wonderful reflections that we are so honored to highlight. Both are a celebration of Steve Moore’s leadership over the last 16 years. Since our inception, the Trust has been standing alongside Foraker. Yes, as a funder of our efforts, but more than that as a true believer in the power and possibility of the nonprofit sector – as a thoughtful and deeply introspective listener to Alaska’s unique challenges and opportunities – as a thought leader with us and so many others about genuine ways to move missions forward. We have had the pleasure of working with a broad group of people at the Trust and every time, regardless of the topic, we are aligned with their mission and values. All of this amounts… Read more »