The Foraker Group

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 »

A big welcome to the Executive Directors participating in our Executive Leadership Initiative! We are excited to learn and grow with you: Samantha Blankenship, Gastineau Humane Society Jennifer Cross, Alaska Raptor Center Shannon Fisher, Family Promise of Juneau Sara Harriger, Morris Thompson Cultural & Visitor Center Sarah Harrington, Kodiak Historical Society & Baranov Museum Frances Leach, United Fishermen of Alaska Kristin McTague,  Healing Hand Foundation Michael Monterusso, Alaska Botanical Garden Janice Nightingale, Hospice of the Central Peninsula Andrea Noble-Pelant, Alaska State Council on the Arts Tory Shanklin, Victims for Justice Laurie Stuart, Pratt Museum Curtis Thayer, Alaska Chamber of Commerce… Read more »

We are proud to help the Nonprofit Finance Fund raise the voices of nonprofit leaders through the State of the Nonprofit Sector Survey. This survey – the biggest national sampling of our sector – collects data about the health and challenges of U.S. nonprofits into an accessible, evidence-based illustration of our ability to help the communities we all serve. It’s a powerful platform for nonprofits large and small, urban and rural, across sub-sectors and geographies. Its findings are widely used and cited by nonprofit leaders and boards, funders, advocates, policy advisors, media, researchers, and many others. In 2015, the NFF survey found that, despite the U.S. economic recovery, vulnerable communities were going without because nonprofits couldn’t meet increasing demand. Nonprofit leaders reported persistent worries about financial sustainability – fewer than half… 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, we play a critical role in the state’s economy both as major employers and as revenue generators. Join us as we discuss the latest research on the economic impact of Alaska’s nonprofit sector. Learn how you can use the data to advocate for your organization as we highlight the five ways we in the nonprofit sector are doing our part to meet the challenges of the state’s economy.  See you soon!:  February 27 Bethel  March 1 Anchorage March 27 Kodiak April 9 Homer April 10 Fairbanks April 12 Wasilla April 19 Statewide… Read more »

To be sure every Alaskan is counted in both the 2020 Census and the annual American Community Survey (ACS), we all need to step up and do our part. To help accomplish this task, Foraker has pulled together a diverse group of Alaska organizations to address critical elements that are necessary for an accurate count. The Alaska Census Working Group has pinpointed issues that could result in undercounting, especially in rural areas. To learn more about the activities of the working group, visit this new page on our website. If you have ideas or comments on how to achieve accurate counts in the both the 2020 Census and the ACS, or if you want to know more about the working group, contact Mike Walsh, Vice President/Director of Public Policy, at 907-388-5561 or mwalsh@forakergroup.org…. Read more »