The Foraker Group

We call these days “blursday.” They are endless and full, and one day bends and folds into liminal space. These are days where the virus has done more than bring isolation, death, and sorrow – it has revealed and exploited the deep inequities that already existed, and its wake only deepens our fears about each other and about the state of our nation. In this “in-between time,” we hold our breath waiting for the next revelation  that we know will come, and we are never sure from which direction. Will it be in the new way we respond to our work with agility and speed that we didn’t even know we had? Or in the new life of teacher-parent-worker that we never thought was possible but yet is happening? Or… Read more »

Help us create a tool for Alaska nonprofits to use in making important personnel decisions. Your participation in our salary and benefit survey allows us to generate a report to help you establish a salary for a new position, evaluate salary norms within the Alaska nonprofit sector, and compare your organization’s benefit offerings and total compensation competitiveness. The survey will take approximately 30 minutes to complete. You’ll need a list of your employees’ positions and their wages (Note: we are collecting data for 48 position categories, so not everyone at your organization may fit in the categories.), your employee handbook, and a description of your benefit plan. The link to the survey will take you to a secure online area that allows you to add key information about wages and benefits. If you participated… Read more »

The National Council of Nonprofits is hosting a free webinar on September 24 at 11:00 AKDT to answer questions about COVID-related paid leave requirements. During the webinar, speakers from the U.S. Department of Labor will: Walk participants through the requirements of the laws Explain which employees and employers are and are not covered Discuss the concept of intermittent family leave in the context of school reopening Address the recent federal court decision and changes to Labor Department regulations effective September 16 You can register here…. Read more »

The SBA is processing very few PPP loan forgiveness applications and banks across the nation are waiting to hear from congress. There is increasing pressure on congress to automatically forgive loans less than $150,000, but it is unclear when and if that will happen. Most banks in Alaska are not accepting PPP loan forgiveness applications. That being said, when the banks are accepting the applications – you’ll want to understand the process. To that end, the SBA Alaska District Office is hosting free webinars on September 23 & September 30 from 1:00-3:00 pm to review PPP loan forgiveness, including an overview of the forgiveness requirements, a walkthrough of PPP forgiveness applications, and the appeals process. Register here…. Read more »

There is one week left to make sure ALL Alaskans are counted in the 2020 Census. We’re sure you’ve heard us say… there are roughly 3.2 billion reasons why the census matters to Alaska! This number represents the total federal dollars flowing into our state ($3.2B) based on census data. Nonprofits directly receive 18% of that money, and even more as indirect funding. That’s why it is critically important that we take an active role to make sure that an accurate census count takes place. We only get one chance every 10 years to get this right, so we need you to jump in and help make it happen for Alaska. Nonprofits play an important role in outreach. Community-based organizations like yours make a big difference in encouraging participation from… Read more »

The work of change is loud and strong and in the street. It is also quiet and subtle and continuous. It is inside and outside. It is in a person’s head and body and soul and woven throughout an institution’s culture – glimmering in its people, practices, and principals. It is personal and collective. It is not about better or worse ways. It is not about ending or stopping but about starting and momentum. It is about the commitment to change. It will take all of us. Some things will be simple and obvious, but mostly it is hard, and it is worth it. We each begin this journey in different places so the idea that there is one way might be a good way to sell something or promise… Read more »

The National Council of Nonprofits provided the following information on the executive order that was issued by the President on August 8. “The Department of Treasury and Internal Revenue Service has issued a three-page guidance implementing the Presidential Memorandum allowing employers to defer withholding and payment of the employee’s portion of the Social Security tax. Notice 2020-65, posted on August 31 on IRS.gov, makes relief available for employers and generally applies to wages paid starting Sept. 1, 2020, through Dec. 31, 2020. The employee Social Security tax deferral may apply to payments of taxable wages to an employee that are less than $4,000 during a bi-weekly pay period, with each pay period considered separately. No deferral is available for any payment to an employee of taxable wages of $4,000 or… Read more »

The state has made important changes to the AK CARES grant program. Starting on August 31, 2020, 501(c)3, 501(c)6, and 501(c)19 nonprofits that received any amount of PPP/EIDL funding will become eligible.  AIDEA has developed an online application portal that is available at www.akcaresonline.org. All applications must now be made through the portal. Please note, there is no option to save and come back to the grant application. Do not start the application until you have reviewed the FAQs/Checklist and have all supporting documents ready for upload. The funds will go quick – so if you plan to apply you’ll need to prepare now. Join us on Monday at 1:00 to learn more…. Read more »

A note from Laurie: We are thrilled that our latest gender pay equity report was highlighted in The Nonprofit Quarterly. As you know we are strongly committed to the goal of achieving pay equity and have been working on that commitment in a variety of ways for many years. We’ve published several reports in the past as part of our Salary and Benefits Survey. However, this year we are bringing a new level of data and resources to understanding the issue, and we’ve been able to take advantage of information that’s only available in Alaska. This work could not be more important right now as COVID is taking an additional toll on women in the workplace.  I am sure many of you understand this first hand and I ask that… Read more »

Are you uncertain about how and when to reach out to your donors during this pandemic? Do you need help taking the next step forward and being held accountable to reaching out and asking your donors? Are you starting to panic about how to launch your end-of-year campaign? If so, our fund development team is here to help! The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on the fundraising efforts of many Alaska nonprofits. That’s why we are offering a new, short-term Fundraising Action Plan cohort that specifically guides you through the steps you need to take NOW to get you the funding results you want. This is a hands-on experience that will require you to do homework and real-time work with your donors – with the support of your team, a cohort of peers,… Read more »