The Foraker Group

We are excited to welcome our newest board members to the Foraker team! Tom Panamaroff, Valerie Davidson, Bernie Washington, and Michael Fredericks have joined our Governance Board. Brenda Riley has joined our Operations Board. Governance Board Tom Panamaroff, Regional and Legislative Affairs Executive, Koniag, Inc. We welcome Tom Panamaroff who jumped right in and became a Census Champion when he joined the Alaska Census Working Group just as it was beginning a few years ago. He is deeply committed to the nonprofit sector and has given strong support to ensuring an accurate count during the 2020 Census. Tom is the Regional & Legislative Affairs Executive for Koniag, Inc. directing Koniag’s legislative agenda and regional advocacy plan.  Tom has been associated with Koniag for over 25 years.  Born and raised in… Read more »

Rather than a “day off,” let this be a “day in” where we lean into our community and one another to build bridges through acts of service and kindness to each other. Thank you for all you do every day to serve your community. Laurie… Read more »

Are you ready for planned change? What about change that isn’t planned? Have you and your board talked about executive transition? Whether you are a new CEO, near retirement, or somewhere in between, it’s critical to know how mission will last beyond you. In this class, we will lead you through the steps that will ensure that your organization successfully manages inevitable leadership change. Come to this session with your questions, your ideas, and your next steps. Along the way, we will share some tools and a process you might consider. This session is for CEOs/executive directors. We encourage you to bring your board chair or a board member along. Three sessions of Succession Planning: Assuring a Smooth Transition When You Change Leaders are on the schedule: Wednesday, February 12, 9:00 to… Read more »

Governor Dunleavy joined the director of the U.S. Census Bureau, Steven Dillingham, at the Alaska Native Heritage Center Friday morning to kick off the 2020 Census. Congratulations to everyone who has been working extremely hard to let Alaskans know about the census. Alaska Counts, a project developed by the Alaska Census Working Group, has put together a comprehensive and exciting campaign that stresses to Alaskans the importance to the state’s future of participating in the census count. We encourage you to visit their website to learn more about the census and how you can work in your community to encourage participation. You can also see some of the media coverage of the kick-off here and here. Foraker is proud to be the convener of the Alaska Census Working Group. We… Read more »

2020 – the year of perfect vision – the year of hindsight and insight. I could use all of that, couldn’t you? What isn’t there to love about more understanding and an opportunity to learn? I am a true believer in the learning organization, where mistakes are information – where we get to try and risk and try again – where we can get it wrong and figure out a better way. There are few guidebooks worth their weight that can tell us exactly how to be and act and do our work. In fact, much of the attraction of our work is that it brings together people who are willing to break the mold and try new things in order to get a better result for their communities. I… Read more »

Foraker is offering a Fund Development Planning cohort in Fairbanks in March and April 2020. This is a cost-effective way for your organization to put a fund development plan into place with a group of peers and experts on hand. Over a two-month period, you will: Craft a gift chart that is real for your organization Learn how to launch or strengthen your board’s fund development committee Develop your organization’s philosophy of philanthropy Write fund development goals and objectives that are realistic for the next 1-3 years Practice donor recognition Acquire tactical tools to implement your plan in the immediate future Share your experience alongside a network of peers Applications are due January 7, 2020. The cohort launches on March 2. See the full schedule here. Why join the Fund… Read more »

Catalyst is a results-oriented personal and professional development program designed to help you discover your intrinsic ability to create excellence and grow your network of support. With a cohort of peers, you will explore tools that will elevate your leadership. This program is designed for any nonprofit leader who is ready to learn, connect, and grow. We define a nonprofit leader as someone who is actively involved in the nonprofit sector. Volunteers, board members, and community organizers are all welcome. The application deadline has been extended to Friday, January 10. Want to know more? Hear from a few of our Catalyst alumni here and here about insights they gained and lessons they learned in the program…. Read more »

A bi-partisan resolution on the 2020 Census that was introduced by Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) has passed the Senate and is on its way to the U.S. House of Representatives. The resolution encourages individuals, families, and households across the United States to take part in the Census so that all communities can be counted. “Census data is essential for the government to make informed decisions about the future of its people and ensure that all Americans have equal representation. I’m proud of the Senate passage of our bipartisan resolution that recognizes the importance and the significance of the 2020 Census and ensures it is quick, concise, and easy to complete,” said Senator Murkowski. “I’m glad to shine a spotlight on our efforts to ensure an… Read more »

Move your organization’s mission forward by creating and maintaining a thriving board. In this series we’ll explore the key concepts that will help your board to focus on strategic decisions and visionary leadership. Whether you are a well-seasoned or first-time board member, these classes are for you. The webinar series will include four courses to bring clarity and energy to your board service. The courses will be held on Tuesdays from 5:30 – 7:30 pm online. Board Roles & Responsibilities (January 7): Gain a fuller understanding of your role as a board member High Performing Boards (January 14): Use committees more effectively and solidify your recruitment and retention process Effective Board Leadership (January 21): Fine tune the board/staff relationship and get tools to guide decision making Effective Board Meetings (January 28): Focus your meetings on discussion, decisions,… Read more »

Since opening our doors almost 20 years ago, Foraker has worked hard to keep the fees for our services as low as possible. As a nonprofit ourselves, we understand the need to operate efficiently, within the budget we set each year. A significant and growing expense for us is the fee we must pay for every credit card transaction. These fees run into many thousands of dollars each year. To help meet this expense, beginning January 1 we will institute a 3% service charge for all credit card transactions, including payments for classes, annual Partner dues, and consulting services. We appreciate your understanding as we institute this policy…. Read more »