The Foraker Group

We are excited to have six new board members joining our team. We welcome Nils Andreassen to our Governance Board. We also welcome Amy Skilbred, Eric Gurley, Liz Qaulluq Cravalho, Clark Halvorson, and Tanya Dumas to our Operations Board. Nils Andreassen, Executive Director, Alaska Municipal League Nils has a degree in Peace and Development from the University of Bradford in England and his background in rural and international development, Alaska, and Arctic policy issues fit well within AML’s mission to support and strengthen local governments. Nils is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Governance and Entrepreneurship in Northern and Indigenous Areas through the University of Saskatchewan and the University of Tromso. Nils lives in Juneau with his family.     Amy Skilbred, Executive Director, Juneau Community Foundation Amy has been… Read more »

We are seeking candidates for the position of part-time Recruiter as an independent contractor. This is an opportunity for a professional seasoned in recruiting for nonprofit leadership positions to help us fulfill our deep commitment to ensuring that Alaska’s nonprofit sector is both diverse and welcoming to the communities they serve. Candidates need not reside in Alaska. A full position description and application instructions can be found here…. Read more »

The IRS has introduced a new Form 1099-NEC, which is the new way to report payments to others that are self-employment income. It replaces Form 1099-MISC. The forms now have different due dates and penalties for missing the filing deadlines. Although the IRS Instructions for Form 1099-NEC say they are to start in 2022 for 2021 activities – THAT IS WRONG. 1099-NECs are due by the end of this month for 2020 payments made to independent contractors or for professional fees (February 1, 2021, because January 31 falls on Sunday).  Beginning with the 2020 tax year, the IRS now requires business taxpayers to report nonemployee compensation on the new Form 1099-NEC instead of on Form 1099-MISC. Similar required filing thresholds apply to the forms: if annual payments exceed $600, one… Read more »

Today we join with our partners at the National Council of Nonprofits in urging you to sign a letter that will be submitted to President Biden and Congress. This letter urges policy makers to enact COVID relief legislation that highlights the unique role of nonprofits in providing pandemic relief and in long-term economic recovery. Specifically we are asking that the next COVID relief package includes four nonprofit public policy priorities: Provide nonprofit-specific grants, forgivable loans, and refundable tax credits for all nonprofits Strengthen charitable giving incentives by increasing and extending the above-the-line deduction while preserving the itemized charitable contribution deduction Provide 100% unemployment benefit reimbursement to nonprofits that self-insure these benefits, both retroactively to 2020 and extending through the first three quarters of 2021 Provide substantial financial aid to state and local… Read more »

We congratulate President Biden and Vice President Harris on their inauguration today. They and our own Alaska federal delegation deserve our heartfelt thanks for their commitment to public service, especially during these difficult times. The nation’s agenda is challenging as we address the COVID crisis, the political division, and an economy that is increasingly leaving people and families behind. This is a day to honor the strength of our democracy and a day to look ahead and to look inward at what we as individuals and as a sector must do to advance equity and justice in our organizations, our communities, and our state. As members of Alaska’s nonprofit sector, we are committed to public service.  We welcome all Alaskans to join us. Look for places where you can serve…. Read more »

We are proud that our efforts to promote gender pay equity are highlighted in a story in The Chronicle of Philanthropy. The article, “Why Women Don’t Get Ahead at Nonprofits”, is a stark reminder of the importance of engaging in practices that support pay equity. Is your organization ready to take action? Here are eight proven practices that promote an equitable pay environment. Note: To view the full article in the Chronicle, you will need to create a free account.  … Read more »

In commemoration of Dr. King’s lifelong commitment to civil society and equity, may we each take time to lean into our role of making our country a safer and more equitable place for everyone. Dr. King reminded us that true democracy requires full participation – each of us doing our part to stand for equity and justice. 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 »

If you missed the National Council of Nonprofits webinar What’s in the New COVID Relief Law for Nonprofits? You can find a recording of the presentation, the slides, and additional resources on their website. As several of the presenters mentioned, Congress is debating additional COVID relief and federal agencies and departments – particularly the Small Business Administration and Treasury Department – are in the process of answering questions and implementing the law enacted at the end of 2020. You can help the nonprofit advocacy efforts to secure additional legislative solutions and helpful guidance by completing the brief form: Let us know how COVID-19 is affecting your nonprofit…. Read more »

For those organizations that did not apply for COVID relief through the first round of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), a second round begins today. Key provisions include: Borrowers can set the covered period of their PPP loan to be any length between 8 and 24 weeks to best meet their needs Loans will cover additional expenses, including operations expenditures, property damage costs, supplier costs, and worker protection expenditures Eligibility is expanded to include 501(c)(6)s, housing cooperatives, destination marketing organizations, among other types of organizations Greater flexibility is provided for seasonal employees Certain existing PPP borrowers can request to modify their first draw PPP loan amount Certain existing PPP borrowers are now eligible to apply for a second draw PPP Loan. A borrower is generally eligible for a second draw… Read more »

Like many organizations, the COVID-19 pandemic prevented us from in-person activities like meeting with colleagues, holding classes, consulting with clients, and conducting facilitations and planning sessions. So we turned to Zoom. We’ve learned some practices from our Zoom experience that have helped us better communicate and carry out our work in a virtual environment. We want to share them with you. 1.Create a welcoming space. Encourage participants to have their names on the screen. Keep cameras on, especially if you are the host or co-host. Be clear on the timing of the session. Make space for introductions or acknowledgment of everyone in the room. Options include: one person conducts a “roll call” by calling on each person to say “hello” and test their microphone, or by asking everyone to introduce… Read more »