The Foraker Group

Onward. That was my word intention for 2021. We are doing it. You and me. We are finding our strength day-by-day. We are finding our grace and our gratitude to support ourselves and each other. Very little of it is easy. But day-by-day – you and me – it is happening. We see so much every day to be thankful for and to draw strength from, even as we know we are not yet through the storm. As I testified recently on the need for an emergency declaration bridge to carry us safely to a new normal, I reflected that this time is like being prescribed a seven-day course of penicillin but stopping on day three because we feel better. There is no science to support this act and the… Read more »

There are many pathways to serving the greater good, and they don’t all require the setup of an IRS approved nonprofit. Formalizing a charitable organization takes time, research and long-term commitment. While nonprofits accomplish incredible feats within our communities, there are varying ways you can apply your passion for a cause. Are you ready to put your ambition to work? 501 Alternatives is designed for those who have the desire and the support to fill a need in their community. Whether you are considering partnering with an existing organization, forming a coalition, starting a chapter of an already up-and-running non-profit or exploring the benefits of fiscal sponsorship, this course will prepare you to hit the ground running for your charitable cause. A portion of this new course will be dedicated to… Read more »

On March 4, the Alaska House Health and Social Services Committee took testimony on HB 76, a measure that would extend the COVID-19 Disaster Declaration for the state. Foraker President/CEO Laurie Wolf offered this testimony on behalf of the nonprofit sector. ******** Thank you Representative Zulkosky and Representative Snyder. I am Laurie Wolf, President/CEO of The Foraker Group, which serves as the state nonprofit association for Alaska and the nonprofit capacity building organization for nonprofits across the state. As the voice for the nonprofit sector, I appreciate the opportunity to speak before the committee in support of House Bill 76, extending the Disaster Declaration for Alaska. I join my colleagues from across the state that you have heard from today and many others in support of a renewed disaster declaration… Read more »

We are currently unavailable: our phones and email are down. We apologize for the inconvenience and will assist you as soon as we are back online…. Read more »

The Foraker Leadership Summit is highly interactive, deeply engaging, and immediately applicable to your nonprofit work. Join us on April 21, 22, and 23 as we chart our way forward after a tumultuous year. This will be an opportunity to stretch your thinking and discover ways to put new ideas into action. This year we’ve updated the location of the event to be… everywhere! We’re excited to host our first virtual conference, and we hope that means more people than ever can join us. To that end, we are offering tuition scholarships. Two awards can be made to any organization (not just Foraker Partners)! Both board members and staff are eligible. Priority will be given to those who are new to the sector or new to a leadership position, BIPOC leaders, individuals who work or serve on the board of a small or… Read more »

For a two-week period, the Small Business Administration and Paycheck Protection Program lenders will process loan applications ONLY from nonprofits and for-profit businesses with fewer than 20 employees. Starting Wednesday, February 24 and running through Tuesday, March 9, the exclusive small-employer PPP processing window is designed to provide more equitable relief by “targeting the PPP to the smallest businesses and those that have been left behind in previous relief efforts” to ensure that lenders give smaller employers the attention they need to work their way through the application process. If you think your nonprofit may be eligible for an initial PPP loan or a second draw loan Congress authorized at the end of 2020, now is the best time to contact a lender and find out how much relief may… Read more »

Foraker is closed today in honor of Elizabeth Peratrovich, an Alaska Native civil rights activist whose efforts were instrumental in the passing of Alaska’s Anti-Discrimination Act of 1945. This is a new holiday closure for Foraker, and we are proud to have made the change to a holiday that aligns to our core values and inspires us to continue the legacy of Alaskan’s like Elizabeth Peratrovich…. Read more »

Alaska nonprofits – use your voice today. Let policy makers in Juneau know that your work to keep Alaskans safe, along with the safety net that Alaskans depend upon during this pandemic, are in jeopardy. Like all of our partners in the for-profit and government sectors, we are asking for stability to do our essential work to help people and communities. Remind Governor Dunleavy, your representatives, and your contacts around the state just how the current declaration is making good work happen in every corner of the Alaska. The Legislature and the Governor must work together to extend the emergency declaration. This declaration has been misunderstood by too many as having to do with mask mandates and school closures. The fact is that this emergency declaration has meant a path… Read more »

For me, February is the month I think about in “almost” terms. Almost more daylight. Almost embracing the new year. Almost fewer super cold days. And now, almost one year since our lives shifted in the most dramatic and unexpected ways. It is easy to simultaneously feel the weight and energy of this time. This is also the month we have placed on the calendar to do things we should be doing every day – recognizing Black history as America’s history, and declaring or reaffirming our love for one another with a valentine. February has me thinking about the weight and energy of work we all have in front of us. The deep and continuous work to understand what equity means in our country and in our work, while also… Read more »

The Shuttered Venue Operator Grant is a new Small Business Administration program that is part of the latest federal coronavirus relief signed into law December 27, 2020. The grant is designed for live venue operators, which is broadly defined by the SBA, and many nonprofits in Alaska may qualify. One of the most important aspects of the program is the current guidance that says an organization cannot apply for both the Shuttered Venue Operator Grant and the Payroll Protection Program.  In this session we will talk about the eligibly requirements and things to consider before applying with guest speakers Heather Noonan, Vice President for Advocacy at the League of American Orchestras and Jon Bittner, director of the Alaska Small Business Development Center. Register here…. Read more »