The Foraker Group

We want you to succeed. We know new executive directors face challenges – and we are creating a safe space where you can find support as you face those challenges. Foraker’s Executive Leadership Initiative will assist executive directors who have been in their position for less than three years and want to take the next step in leading their organizations and increasing job satisfaction. Participants will enhance their professional skills and, even more important, will become part of a network of peers who support each other to build on their strengths and tackle their challenges of running a successful nonprofit. This program is aimed at executive directors who have worked hard to learn their jobs and serve their organizations – and may now want additional knowledge, perspective, and support. At… Read more »

We were saddened to learn today that Brent Kapansky passed away over the weekend from a medical condition. Brent served as an accountant for financial shared services from 2010 until the end of 2015 when he left Foraker to pursue other career interests. Brent cared deeply for the nonprofit sector and for the Foraker Partners he served. He was a good friend to all of us in the office, always pitching in when anyone needed a little extra help. Outside the office Brent was an avid sports fan and was loyal to both the New England Patriots and the Boston Red Sox. He loved sharing game highlights with us. We send our deepest sympathies to Brent’s family and friends…. Read more »

Nonprofits around the country spoke out against a proposal from the Internal Revenue Service that would have created a reporting system encouraging nonprofits to ask for, store, and report donor Social Security numbers. In response to nonprofit organization’s concerns and push-back from lawmakers, news came today that the IRS withdrew the proposal. The proposed regulations could have imposed significant costs and burdens on nonprofit organizations, created public confusion and disincentives for donors to support the work of nonprofits, and could have lead fraudulent actors to increase their targeting of donors and reputable nonprofit organizations. The Foraker Group will continue to monitor and actively respond to important public policy issues. We thank you for joining us in a strong, collective voice for the Alaska nonprofit sector. Read the comments that The Foraker Group submitted to the… Read more »

Nonprofits around the country spoke out against a proposal from the Internal Revenue Service that would have created a reporting system encouraging nonprofits to ask for, store, and report donor Social Security numbers. In response to nonprofit organization’s concerns and push-back from lawmakers, news came today that the IRS withdrew the proposal. The proposed regulations could have imposed significant costs and burdens on nonprofit organizations, created public confusion and disincentives for donors to support the work of nonprofits, and could have lead fraudulent actors to increase their targeting of donors and reputable nonprofit organizations. The Foraker Group will continue to monitor and actively respond to important public policy issues. We thank you for joining us in a strong, collective voice for the Alaska nonprofit sector. Read the comments that The Foraker Group submitted to the… Read more »

Nonprofits around the country spoke out against a proposal from the Internal Revenue Service that would have created a reporting system encouraging nonprofits to ask for, store, and report donor Social Security numbers. In response to nonprofit organization’s concerns and push-back from lawmakers, news came today that the IRS withdrew the proposal. The proposed regulations could have imposed significant costs and burdens on nonprofit organizations, created public confusion and disincentives for donors to support the work of nonprofits, and could have lead fraudulent actors to increase their targeting of donors and reputable nonprofit organizations. The Foraker Group will continue to monitor and actively respond to important public policy issues. We thank you for joining us in a strong, collective voice for the Alaska nonprofit sector. Read the comments that The Foraker Group submitted to the… Read more »

Nonprofits around the country spoke out against a proposal from the Internal Revenue Service that would have created a reporting system encouraging nonprofits to ask for, store, and report donor Social Security numbers. In response to nonprofit organization’s concerns and push-back from lawmakers, news came today that the IRS withdrew the proposal. The proposed regulations could have imposed significant costs and burdens on nonprofit organizations, created public confusion and disincentives for donors to support the work of nonprofits, and could have lead fraudulent actors to increase their targeting of donors and reputable nonprofit organizations. The Foraker Group will continue to monitor and actively respond to important public policy issues. We thank you for joining us in a strong, collective voice for the Alaska nonprofit sector. Read the comments that The Foraker Group submitted to the… Read more »

It’s the New Year and everyone is reflecting on the past and making projections for the upcoming year. Depending on your mood, you are either jubilant about the possibilities or wary of the forecast. These two extremes could easily be justified by reading the news about our sector or the updates on our efforts to fix our state’s economic system for the long term. The rollercoaster of emotions is ever-present but our role, all of our roles, during turbulent times is to find our stability and focus on our strength. After all, the nonprofit sector is the foundation of our communities. We drive employment. We provide essential services. We are the watchdog, and we ask critical questions about the communities and environments where we live. We ensure that Alaskans have… Read more »

Alaska’s nonprofit sector got some great news this Friday when the U.S. House of Representatives voted to make important charitable giving incentives permanent. Alaska nonprofits have been working with Foraker and other state nonprofit associations to help bring positive change to federal law. The incentives will help to promote, encourage and reward charitable giving to nonprofit organizations of all shapes and sizes. The legislation passed the Senate earlier in the week and is now on the way to President Obama for signature. The legislation includes components that encourage small businesses to make food donations to local food banks, encourages private landowners to conserve land by establishing conservation easements, and fosters increased charitable giving by individuals through their Individual Retirement Accounts or IRAs. According to Laurie Wolf, Foraker President/CEO, “this federal legislation brings real change… Read more »

Alaska leads all states when it comes to the rate of giving through the crowdfunding site GoFundMe. A recent story in the Alaska Dispatch says that Alaskans gave 53 cents per resident, compared to 47 cents per resident for Washington D.C., the next closest area. Total giving through the site by Alaskans from Nov. 1, 2014, through Oct. 31, 2015, was just over $390,000. Foraker President/CEO Laurie Wolf was interviewed for the article, which you can read here…. Read more »

At its October meeting, the Foraker Governance Board approved increases in Partner fees and consulting rates. These changes are modest, and this is only the third time in 15 years that we have increased rates. No other rates, including fees for Foraker classes, are increasing. You may view the new rates and Partner fees below.We also have added a new category of partnership for those organizations with annual budgets below $50,000. This is being done to accommodate nonprofits that otherwise might not be able to become Partners. Even with this fee increase, we are far below the rates charged by our peer organizations.To ease transition to the new fees, organizations that renew as Partners by December 31, 2015, will be charged under the current structure for their 2016 partnership. Also,… Read more »