The Foraker Group

We call these days “blursday.” They are endless and full, and one day bends and folds into liminal space. These are days where the virus has done more than bring isolation, death, and sorrow – it has revealed and exploited the deep inequities that already existed, and its wake only deepens our fears about each other and about the state of our nation.

In this “in-between time,” we hold our breath waiting for the next revelation  that we know will come, and we are never sure from which direction. Will it be in the new way we respond to our work with agility and speed that we didn’t even know we had? Or in the new life of teacher-parent-worker that we never thought was possible but yet is happening? Or will it be something equally large and fundamental that will have us in the streets or calling out in prayer? We have learned a new term for these times, too – “life quakes.” A new effort to quantify the unsettled uncertainty and unanticipated changes in our personal experience. An effort to explain to each other that some of us – many of us – are rocked to our core as we are during the earthquakes we know so well.

And yet, in all these life quakes and blurry days we are seeing light streaming through the cracks – illuminating possibilities and highlighting the incredible work we have already done since this pandemic began. It seems almost absurd to say that blursday has turned into six months. Really? Six months since we moved faster, and responded more, and dug deeper than any plan or any one person thought possible? Six months since we busted the ridiculous idea of doing more with less and did even more with even less? Six months since we closed our doors and opened up our programs in ways our old assumptions didn’t even know were possible? And yes, six months since we thought we knew what was most important, but really now we know so very differently. In this “in-between time” called blursday, we also call it six months.

Somedays, the best I can do is to resolve to move forward with hope of a more just time ahead. Today I heard such a powerful message and reminder: “We have what we need right now to bring equity, justice, and healing.”* Even in these “in-between times,” can you hear it? I can. It’s optimism – it’s truth.

Today I am holding onto this truth, and I am extending my hand to you. Today I am holding on to these rays of light that are rising from the blur – these truths – these moments of clarity that are coming out of my computer screen, that are coming from those I love and trust, and from those I have just met. I am holding on to these, and I hope you are, too. I hope you are looking for the glimmer and holding on and letting it anchor you.

As you think about what is holding you steady in this moment, or what you might grab on to as the quaking continues, I want to share a few things I can see across our sector. My hope is that it will offer a moment for your own reflection – a chance to take a true deep breath – a chance to pause and check-in with yourself. It is okay not to be okay. We are reminded every day that true leaders are supported leaders. It is okay to seek and receive support. Our sector is full of people who consider themselves givers of support, but what is tethering you right now in this time?

Here are some things I am seeing and hearing across our sector that are lighting our way forward:

• We are hearing loud, proud, and collectively strong voices from those in our arts community who used to sing alone and now sing stronger and more powerfully together.
• We are seeing younger leaders and older leaders and new leaders take this moment to reach out to learn and grow and shine throughout communities across Alaska. They were always with us but in this time they have activated their interest and voice in new and deeply personal ways.
• We are holding space for new conversations that bust myths and explode assumptions between peer organizations about how the work really helps or hinders the true intention of their missions. They are having deeper conversations not just surface nods to collaboration within and outside the sector. While they could easily succumb to scarcity thinking, they are instead bursting with abundant thoughts, ideas, and action.
• We are creating and reading and absorbing new research about our sector that is driving so many more to fight inequity and giving us courage to insist on new conversations and new ways of being both across our sector and beyond. We are leading the way, and it is inspiring to watch data become action overnight.
• And even on our own team, we are finding that our model of sustainability is more than ever the right tool to guide us out of the chaos and blurriness of these days and into a new stability for each of our missions.

With every glimmer of light we must resolve to push forward. I could go on and on about the strength I see in our collective resolve to not “go back” but to push ourselves, our missions, and our communities forward. Going back is to let all of this go. To lose the gifts. To lessen the learning.

I know this time has been stressful beyond all of the new words. I need you to know that this will continue to be an incredibly difficult space to operate in. This is our collective “in-between time” when we must chart a new path forward even though we cannot yet see where it leads. What we have are glimmers of light. There are no perfect tools or any “best practice” for how to be right now. What we have in these blurry days is an opportunity to acknowledge each other. To share our glimmers of hope and stability. To hold out our hands to each other. To chart our way forward together.

*Quoted and inspired by Vanessa Daniel, Groundswell Fund

Help us create a tool for Alaska nonprofits to use in making important personnel decisions. Your participation in our salary and benefit survey allows us to generate a report to help you establish a salary for a new position, evaluate salary norms within the Alaska nonprofit sector, and compare your organization’s benefit offerings and total compensation competitiveness.

The survey will take approximately 30 minutes to complete. You’ll need a list of your employees’ positions and their wages (Note: we are collecting data for 48 position categories, so not everyone at your organization may fit in the categories.), your employee handbook, and a description of your benefit plan.

The link to the survey will take you to a secure online area that allows you to add key information about wages and benefits. If you participated in the last survey, you should already have received a password to log in and view your 2018 data. You will simply need to update your information and submit it.

Why should I participate?
Your participation allows this resource to exist for hundreds of nonprofits across the state. And, if your organization participates, you’ll receive a $75 discount off the price of the full report.

• Foraker Partners that participate in the survey — $200
• Foraker Partners that do not participate in the survey — $275
• Other nonprofit organizations that participate in the survey — $250
• Other nonprofit organizations that do not participate in the survey — $325

The survey is open for participation through October 16, 2020.
If you have questions, please contact Foraker HR Consultant Todd Allen.

The National Council of Nonprofits is hosting a free webinar on September 24 at 11:00 AKDT to answer questions about COVID-related paid leave requirements. During the webinar, speakers from the U.S. Department of Labor will:

• Walk participants through the requirements of the laws
  Explain which employees and employers are and are not covered
  Discuss the concept of intermittent family leave in the context of school reopening
  Address the recent federal court decision and changes to Labor Department regulations effective September 16

You can register here.

The SBA is processing very few PPP loan forgiveness applications and banks across the nation are waiting to hear from congress. There is increasing pressure on congress to automatically forgive loans less than $150,000, but it is unclear when and if that will happen. Most banks in Alaska are not accepting PPP loan forgiveness applications. That being said, when the banks are accepting the applications – you’ll want to understand the process. To that end, the SBA Alaska District Office is hosting free webinars on September 23 & September 30 from 1:00-3:00 pm to review PPP loan forgiveness, including an overview of the forgiveness requirements, a walkthrough of PPP forgiveness applications, and the appeals process. Register here.

There is one week left to make sure ALL Alaskans are counted in the 2020 Census. We’re sure you’ve heard us say… there are roughly 3.2 billion reasons why the census matters to Alaska! This number represents the total federal dollars flowing into our state ($3.2B) based on census data. Nonprofits directly receive 18% of that money, and even more as indirect funding. That’s why it is critically important that we take an active role to make sure that an accurate census count takes place.

We only get one chance every 10 years to get this right, so we need you to jump in and help make it happen for Alaska.

Nonprofits play an important role in outreach. Community-based organizations like yours make a big difference in encouraging participation from hard-to-count individuals all over the state. Historically “hard-to-count” individuals include: people of color (especially Alaska Native/American Indian peoples), seniors,  children under five years of age, people experiencing homelessness, rural and remote rural residents, non-English speakers, renters, recent immigrants, and people living in crowded or multi-family households.

How can my organization help?

Do you serve “hard-to-count” community members? You can play a role in encouraging people to be counted through education and personal outreach. Check out the Alaska Counts website for fact sheets, social media graphics, testimonials, and more. Spread the word!