The Foraker Group

You have likely noticed that there has been a lot to say recently about the fate and work of our nonprofit sector. In every community and at every level of government, decisions are being made that affect the work we do. While it has compelled Foraker’s board and our staff to use our voice more often to take a stand for the sector, we have also noticed a few things along the way that might inspire you and your organization to find or use your own voice more often. In this month’s article I want to highlight a few of those observations and, importantly, I want to hear from you about what you are noticing. I also want to share a tool with you that could be helpful as you… Read more »

It may seem a ways off, but planning for the 2020 Census is in full swing – and it’s important that Alaska nonprofits are aware of how the census affects them. Most importantly, the Decennial Census and its counterpart, the ongoing American Community Survey (ACS), have a significant impact on the amount of federal dollars Alaska receives with much of the funding directed to our nonprofits. With that in mind, Foraker has made the census one of its public policy priorities. Specifically, we are committed to ensuring that everyone in Alaska is counted and that the annual ACS estimates are accurate for Alaska communities. The census is important because it helps decision makers, businesses, and civic leaders better understand their communities and the people who live there. What can you… Read more »

Earlier this week the Trump Administration released a proposed budget for fiscal year 2018. The proposal is a vision document and is not expected to pass Congress in its current form. The House and Senate budget committees will release their own proposals next month. The National Council of Nonprofits has looked closely at how the cuts affect the nonprofit sector. You’ll find their analysis here. We urge Alaska nonprofits to review this analysis and then contact our congressional delegation to share your thoughts on the suggested cuts…. Read more »

One of our public policy priorities for the past two years has been to bring much-needed change to the state’s single audit regulations. Foraker staff and the public policy committee have devoted significant time to this effort. And that work has paid off. While we did not see all the adjustments we felt were needed, the state did make changes that will help save time and money for many Alaska nonprofits. By way of background – Alaska nonprofits that receive at least $500,000 in grant funds from the state in a fiscal year are required to file a State Single Audit. In comments submitted to the state earlier this year, Foraker said that the $500,000 threshold was onerous and diverted resources from critical nonprofit missions. We urged the state to… Read more »

Catalyst for Nonprofit Excellence is a results-oriented, tool-based program designed to increase your leadership skills. The program is open to senior leadership staff and board members committed to the nonprofit sector who are looking to be more effective in achieving goals and creating a more fulfilling, engaged work life. In this program you will: Discover your unique strengths as a leader and how to apply them more fully for better results Build a strong support network that helps you achieve your goals Transform workplace disputes and conflicts into opportunities for deeper understanding and positive change Become more effective in work and personal relations than ever before More information on the program can be found here. The deadline for applications is June 16, 2017…. Read more »

To everything there is a season and, yes, there are budget seasons. We are in one now – for federal and state governments, and for your nonprofit. If you have a fiscal year that begins in July, you are very likely drafting a budget for the next year. (For those of you with a January or October fiscal year, your season has past, and you are well on your way to living your budget.) Budgets come in all sizes and all complexities. They can be simple and straightforward, as well as incredibly detailed and nuanced. They can be about millions of dollars or about thousands. All of our organizations benefit from this financial roadmap, and yet in Alaska we know from our recent survey work that too many organizations (19%)… Read more »

Recently we conducted a survey of the mood of the Alaska nonprofit sector. We wanted to measure what we had been hearing anecdotally. The mood survey is complete and we received a representative sample from organizations across the state and sector. What we learned didn’t surprise us – you are anxious. The more revealing answers lie in the details. Overall, board members have more anxiety than CEOs. This is interesting on several fronts: 1) There are more board members than CEOs so the anxiety has a multiplying effect. 2) Board members typically represent other sectors of our economy so they have a different perspective of how the economy is affecting the work. 3) CEOs are particularly adept at dealing with challenges and difficult situations – it almost comes with the… Read more »

On Thursday President Trump signed an executive order that could have a significant impact on the charitable nonprofit sector. Although the law has not changed and the executive order is somewhat confusing, it essentially instructs the IRS to look the other way when it finds that a nonprofit or religious organization violates the Johnson Amendment. This provision in the tax code, named after President Lyndon Johnson, is intended to keep politics and the money that flows to political candidates out of charitable nonprofits. Recently the Foraker Governance Board issued a statement calling for support for nonprofit partisanship, and we stand with over 4,500 nonprofits across the country who submitted a similar call through a letter to Congress. We feel strongly that any attempt to repeal the Johnson Amendment is completely… Read more »

Are you an Alaska nonprofit professional in a leadership position? Come enhance your management skills and explore a full range of issues and best practices to use in your organization.The Certificate in Nonprofit Management program features courses developed to apply classroom teachings directly to your workplace, case studies directly related to issues facing Alaska nonprofit organizations, and a network of fellow professionals. Information on program dates and a curriculum overview can be found here. The deadline for applications is June 2, 2017…. Read more »

In our public policy alert issued earlier today, we encouraged nonprofit leaders to contact their legislators. One of the opportunities we shared was public testimony on HB115. Those times have now changed – the only time to comment on the bill will be tonight from 5:00 – 6:30 pm. Here are the instructions for testifying: You must sign in to testify by 6:30 p.m. testimony limited to 2 minutes. You can testify in person, at a Legislative Information Office, over the phone, or via email. To testify via telephone outside of an LIO, it must be arranged through the chair’s office prior to the hearing by calling 907-465-4968. You can also testify by email to: Senator.Mia.Costello@akleg.gov You can learn more about the current HB115 here…. Read more »