The Foraker Group

Foraker’s Catalyst for Nonprofit Excellence program is moving to a winter/spring schedule! The application period will open in the fall. Let us know if you want to stay up to date on program details – email Kate Rose at krose@forakergroup.org with your interest!… Read more »

Foraker has been honored to work with our funding partners – the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority, Denali Commission, Mat-Su Health Foundation, Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, and Rasmuson Foundation – to bring the Pre-Development (Pre-D) program to Alaska nonprofits. The purpose of the program, which was launched in 2006, is to plan sustainable capital projects, which we define as projects that contribute to the long-term viability of the organization and the community it serves. “Pre-development” describes the phase of a capital project between the origination of the concept and the initiation of design.  It is the period of gathering information, exploring options, and making decisions about the direction of a project. Since the program began, more than 100 nonprofits have been part of Pre-D and have gone on to successfully… Read more »

Last week I had two inspiring and unexpected conversations. The first went something like this: “I love meeting one on one with donors and showing them the results of their investment .It is just so much fun.” The other one was: “It is so much fun to connect with potential donors who care so much about mission and help them connect the dots with their philanthropy.” What was interesting about these comments is that one of these people has been in this work for over 30 years and one is a month into the work. And, what they both know is that fundraising is fun. Consider now your own experience. Make a mental list of all the things you think are fun in the nonprofit sector and chances are that… Read more »

Alaska’s nonprofit sector represents a wide variety of organizations that provide public service and have an impact on the lives of nearly everyone living in the state. Although most Alaskans do not think of nonprofits as an economic powerhouse, you know that we play a critical role in the state’s economy both as major employers and as revenue generators. No industry in Alaska can prosper without the nonprofit sector. We provide both a financial and social return on investment by leveraging public and private resources. We are part of the healthcare, utilities, fisheries, and oil and gas industries, and provide essential services such as firefighting, early child care, basic utilities, housing, and food security — just to name a few. Nonprofits are the safety net across Alaska. Every Alaskan is… Read more »

The nonprofit sector is a fundamental component of a healthy democracy. We see the sector as the foundation for virtually all social and civil rights movements in our country. What starts as a grassroots voice grows to a movement and is most often sustained through the framework of the sector. The movements for civil rights, disability rights, women’s rights, and others all took hold in our sector. These issues continue to need our attention. They are amplified and joined now by new movements we recognize as #MeToo, #BlackLivesMatter, and in response to gun violence #NeverAgain, to name just a few. It is no wonder that the fastest growing classification of nonprofits is 501(c)4, which gives organizations more ability to lobby and advocate with a stronger voice. These issues generate hot… Read more »

On April 8 & 9 Foraker is teaming up with the Homer Area Nonprofit Directors on a set of seminars on advocacy, economics, and innovation. Thanks to The Homer Foundation, the trainings are FREE! Space is limited. Register here: Advocacy Boot Camp Getting Unstuck: The Tools for Innovation The Economic Impact of Alaska’s Nonprofit Sector The New Federal Tax Law Co-hosted by Kachemak Bay Campus & The Pratt Museum. Sponsored by The Homer Foundation…. Read more »

Last night the House and Senate Appropriations Committees released the text of the omnibus spending bill that will fund the federal government through the current fiscal. Lawmakers DID NOT include a provision to repeal or weaken the longstanding Johnson Amendment, the law that protects charitable nonprofits, houses of worship, and foundations from partisan politics.  This is good news for Alaska’s nonprofit sector! Thank you to those that signed the Community Letter in Support of Nonpartisanship and picked up the phone to call our congressional delegation, and congratulations to all! Our partner, National Council of Nonprofits, has put together a list of highlights from the 2,232-page bill that they have deemed most relevant to charitable and philanthropic organizations. Their list includes: Arts, Culture, and Community Engagement: The legislation would fund the… Read more »

Last year we shared with you attempts in Washington D.C. to repeal the Johnson Amendment. This is the provision of the federal tax code that protects charitable, religious, and philanthropic organizations from getting involved in candidate endorsements. The National Council of Nonprofits had led the charge to save this important provision, and we’re proud that Alaska nonprofits have stepped in, too, to let our delegation know about the danger of repealing this long-standing protection from partisan politics. Another attempt is underway this month to once again repeal the Johnson Amendment. Some congressional leaders hope to consolidate a huge array of legislative proposals into a massive bill to be passed by March 23 that would provide funding for the rest of the fiscal year. (See article below.) And one of the riders being… Read more »

Foraker has added Emmy award-winning reporter John Tracy to our consulting team! We are excited to offer new trainings and to assist your organization with your communication and marketing needs. Making the Most of the Media: A Strategy Guide for Nonprofits (class is full – contact us to be added to the wait-list) Mission Control : A Crisis Communication Guide for Nonprofits The Microphone is Always On: Techniques for Controlling the Interview Call us at (907) 743-1200 to learn more about our communication and marketing services!… Read more »

The right people at the right time – this is a fundamental premise of the Foraker Nonprofit Sustainability Model. We apply this to the board, the CEO/ED, and the relationship between the two. The goal: balanced partnership. The reality: it takes consistent attention and purposeful action. Central to this relationship is the board chair. We know, of course, that not every nonprofit has staff. In fact, most nonprofits in Alaska have no staff. However, this intensifies rather than minimizes the important role of the board chair. And yet, staff or not, our board chairs are often picked by default – we often joke that the person who gets up to go to the bathroom during the selection will become the chair.  This is no way to set up a team… Read more »