The Foraker Group

Returning to the workplace is the conversation we are all having both formally and informally with our friends, our peers, and our attorneys. Protocols, policies, and expectations abound, and in it all is a great amount of hesitation and uncertainty about what it looks like to do the right thing for the people on our team and the communities where we live. To be sure, we are not “just going back to work” ever again. Our collective conscience has shifted and individuals feel different about the workplace. So pretending that it will all just “be normal” or “as it was” is likely an unhelpful place to start when it comes to meeting your whole team where they are. The recent decision by the CDC, which is largely based on trusting… Read more »

Join us for our Catalyst Summer Series to lay the foundation for more effective leadership. This is an opportunity to reflect on your leadership goals by leaving comfort behind, shifting your context, and leaning in to coaching. Each course is $30 to attend. Catalyst Alumni – we invite you to attend to refresh your knowledge and continue your growth! If you are interested in growing your leadership skills, consider applying for the full Catalyst for Nonprofit Excellence program that will kick off on September 13. It is not required to apply for the program in order to attend the summer series – everyone is welcome to attend. June 16: Leaving Comfort Behind Do you have a big goal, dream, or result you want to create? Achieving it will likely require… Read more »

Do you want to leverage your unique strengths as a leader and learn how to apply them more fully for better results? Are you looking for more work-life balance? We invite you to apply to the Catalyst for Nonprofit Excellence program. The program will start on September 13. Applications are due July 9…. Read more »

As organizations reopen their offices, many questions have come up about how to safely resume on-site operations. Foraker recently gathered some experts who shared insights and resources on how to communicate with employees about vaccinations and what to consider when developing in-person programming. You can view the webinar here. More resources are available on the COVID page of our website under the heading Returning to the Workplace. If you have additional questions or insights to share with us, please let us know…. Read more »

Thanks to the advocacy of the National Council of Nonprofits and its state association members, including Foraker, recently released guidance confirms that nonprofits will have access to American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. This includes funds coming directly from the federal government, as well as dollars flowing into state, local, and tribal governments. To help organizations interested in applying for funds, we are pleased to announce a new website that describes ARPA and highlights points of access for nonprofits. Foraker is proud to be a partner in this effort, along with other Alaska organizations listed on the website. We especially thank the Alaska Municipal League for developing and hosting the site. We encourage you to visit the site – share it with others – and help us update it if… Read more »

We did it! The largest gathering ever of nonprofit board, staff, volunteers, donors, and allies came together online over three days. At the Foraker Leadership Summit last month, we dreamed, we imagined, we explored, we asked questions. Sometimes we had answers, but most importantly we found new energy, new connections, and new ideas. For some, it was a time to blow apart assumptions and come to a reckoning of our new reality, and for others, it was a time of healing. In every room, there was deep learning – the kind that was so intense it felt like it was happening in person. We heard hundreds of people say to us some version of: “I have been to a lot of things online but the summit was a wholly different… Read more »

Certificate in Nonprofit Management applications are now open! Enhance your management skills and explore new techniques to effectively lead your organization. Once again, this year, we are offering the program virtually. Successful Certificate participants are committed to a career in Alaska’s nonprofit sector. The courses are designed to immediately apply what you learn in class to your workplace. Those who are currently in leadership roles and who have the ability to influence positive change within the organization will find the program most valuable. Applications are due June 14. Apply today!… Read more »

On May 5, the Alaska House Labor and Commerce Committee heard testimony on the status of gender pay equity in Alaska. Foraker President/CEO Laurie Wolf presented research conducted by Foraker on behalf of the nonprofit sector. Thank you, Representative Spohnholz and Representative Fields. I am Laurie Wolf, President/CEO of The Foraker Group, which serves as the state nonprofit association for Alaska and the nonprofit capacity builder. As the voice for the nonprofit sector, Foraker appreciates the opportunity to speak before the committee on a topic we are truly dedicated to in our daily work and for the long haul. Part of our commitment to the sector is to be a source of research that can be turned into action to improve the lives of Alaskans and the communities where we… Read more »

We are excited to announce that Tyonek Tribal Conservation District (TTCD) has selected its next Executive Director. Welcome to Dr. Laurie Stuart.  Dr. Stuart is an experienced nonprofit executive with more than 10 years of leadership roles in science education, conservation, and nonprofit management. She comes to TTCD after serving as a Director at Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, and has previously held leadership positions at the Pratt Museum in Homer and at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward. A life-long Alaskan, Dr. Stuart earned her Doctorate of Education from the University of Missouri, with an emphasis on sustainability, social justice, and participatory methods in natural resource management. “My work has focused on fostering pro-conservation identity and behavior, with an understanding that effective conservation policies must be community based”, says… Read more »

We are saddened to hear about the passing yesterday of Simone Joyaux, a good friend to Foraker and the nonprofit sector in Alaska. Simone was a key presenter at several Leadership Summits and the Association of Fundraising Professionals Alaska chapter Philanthropy Day conference. She was always popular with participants. Whether she was sharing her knowledge on fund development, volunteerism, or any other aspect of nonprofit leadership, Simone inspired us to reach higher and work harder in service to our missions and communities. We send heartfelt thoughts to her husband, Tom Ahern, and her family and friends. To read more about Simone and her work, see this remembrance from the Association of Fundraising Professionals. On a personal note, Simone was a mentor to me in my own career. Her trusted truth-telling… Read more »