The Foraker Group

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 »

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 »