The Foraker Group

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 »

It is strange to start a new year with equal desires to take a nap and forge ahead, but that does seem to be the place that 2020 has left many of us. Our bodies and brains, mostly overwhelmed with the totality of what 2020 brought into our daily lives, have left us eager to move on and dig deep for the energy to do so. 2020 was so much of everything to everyone, but differently. It was sorrow and pain as much as it was learning and adapting, and as much as it was loneliness and connection. It was both a collective experience and one that could only be felt very personally. It was universal and it was targeted. Maybe this is true about every year, but the very… Read more »

The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (omnibus spending and COVID relief bill)  is now available online. Foraker has been working closely with the National Council of Nonprofits to understand how organizations will be impacted by the legislation. The National Council has issued a preliminary analysis, which you’ll find here. We appreciate their very prompt action to bring the sector this information. The legislation runs 5,593 pages and spends more than $2.3 trillion. The National Council chart provides page numbers for deeper analysis on issues important to nonprofits. As Foraker and the National Council continue to review the legislation, we’ll fine-tune this analysis and post it on our website. A few important highlights for nonprofits include: Charitable Giving Incentives: Reestablishes the $300 above-the-line deduction for 2021 and applies a $600 deduction… 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 2020 Salary and Benefits Report features: Salary data for 48 positions including executive director, finance director, development director, administrative support, accountants, clinical support, and program staff Regional breakdown of data from Southcentral, Interior, and Southeast Alaska Data from organizations with budgets ranging from less than $100,000 to over $10 million Data from 20 types of nonprofits, including youth development, educational institutions, medical disciplines, arts, culture, and humanities groups Benefit data on medical, dental, vision, holidays and leave, retirement plans, life insurance, and more Data on gender pay gap… Read more »

Urge our congressional delegation today to enact essential relief for charitable nonprofits before leaving Washington for the holidays. Congress is actively negotiating the next COVID-19 relief package. Senator Lisa Murkowski is a leader in the bipartisan effort to bring immediate relief to millions of Americans, local governments, businesses, and nonprofits.  Communities in all parts of Alaska are relying on nonprofits more than ever as COVID-19 cases rise in our state and across the nation. Join us TODAY. Let Senator Murkowski know you support her willingness to include nonprofits in the next relief bill. And join the national call to action — #Relief4Charities — to ensure every legislator knows the national nonprofit priorities…. Read more »

Holiday lights for Diwali, Hanukkah, Solstice, Christmas, and Kwanzaa – that is what I savor on an evening ramble through my neighborhood during these dark days of winter. They’re in the trees, windows, and roofs – inside and outside. Their sparkle lights my way both literally and in my heart. This year – the year that is so very different, the year that is like living in a snow globe that is forever in dizzying motion – I have noticed a few things about these lights. First, there are more of them, a lot more. Second, they were out way earlier than I can remember from years before now. Third, while they still bring me great kid-like joy, they also have me wondering more about how the people who put… Read more »

Rasmuson Foundation has reopened their small grant program, known as Tier 1, to fund emergency needs of nonprofits, local governments and tribal organizations. Complete applications must be in hand by Nov. 30, so don’t delay. Awards of up to $10,000 for either operational or capital needs will be made in December. Interested organizations should click here to learn more and apply…. Read more »

COVID-19 has changed nearly everything about the way Alaska nonprofits are meeting mission. We are innovating in how we deliver our programs and services – exploring new options for fundraising – changing the way we manage our human and financial resources – working differently to better leverage our partnerships – and so much more. However, the why of our work has not changed. The need for nonprofit advocacy also has not changed. In fact, during this pandemic it is more important than ever before. It is critical that nonprofits keep in touch with their local governments, state legislators, the Alaska executive branch, and our congressional delegation. We are all looking for new ways to engage with policy makers because of COVID. Since in-person meetings with elected officials and staff will… Read more »