The Foraker Group

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 »

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 »