The Foraker Group

Do you have a strategic plan? How would you describe your fundraising practices? Are you collaborating with others to meet your mission? This is an annual survey we conduct with four other states – Washington, Oregon, Montana, and Idaho – to gain a comprehensive look at the sector across the region. It helps us to better understand both the strengths and challenges of leading our organizations. And it provides important information that helps us better meet your needs here in Alaska. Your contact information and answers remain confidential – only the trends that surface from the survey will be reported. The survey will take approximately 20-30 minutes to complete. Click here to take the survey. Survey deadline: December 18…. Read more »

We are sad to let you know that one of Foraker’s consultants, Chuck Barber, passed away on Monday. Chuck was one of our Foraker founders and also a consultant. Over the years, he helped many nonprofits with grant writing and mentoring. His dedication to serving communities and nonprofits around the state was unmatched. We relied upon him for his insight, knowledge, and willingness to help whenever asked. He generously contributed to writing our first Foraker publication, Strategic Grantmaking, which has become an important book for fundraisers around the state. Chuck was a highly valued member of Alaska’s nonprofit community and beloved here at Foraker. Our thoughts and deep sympathy go to his family. We will all miss him…. Read more »

We have rescheduled our Fairbanks conversation on the state’s fiscal challenge for Tuesday, Nov. 17, 11:30 am to 2:00 pm, at the Fairbanks Community Food Bank, 725 26th Ave. A light lunch will be provided at 11:30, with the forum beginning at noon.Holding these conversations with nonprofit board members and executive leaders across the state is important to all of us at Foraker, especially as Alaska and our sector continue to talk about a more sustainable fiscal future.  We remain committed to making sure that our sector is at the table when policy makers are considering that future. Those wishing to attend are asked to register. Please go to our calendar page to do that. If you registered for the previously scheduled session on Nov. 10, your name has been re-entered for… Read more »

To recognize the many veterans in Alaska and around the country, and to honor them for their service, we will be closed tomorrow. Thank you for all you have done and continue to do to protect our country. We are deeply grateful…. Read more »

Originally scheduled for tomorrow, Nov. 10, in Fairbanks, the Foraker briefing on “The Nonprofit Sector: A Voice for Fiscal Stability,” has moved to Nov. 17. Fairbanks will be the fourth conversation following sessions held in Anchorage and Juneau, and a statewide webinar. Foraker President Laurie Wolf said Governor Walker has asked that his team members postpone their public conversations on the fiscal plan as they update their information now that the special session has concluded. In addition to representatives from the state and Foraker, First Alaskans Institute and Rasmuson Foundation have been part of the conversations. “We understand and appreciate the time and energy the state has provided to us in our efforts to engage nonprofit leaders throughout Alaska in this important conversation,” Wolf said. “Holding these conversations with nonprofit… Read more »

Maybe it’s the fiscal climate, or maybe it’s the prevailing myths of our sector, but for whatever reason I find that nonprofit board and staff members alike have a common misperception – that our greatest competition is other organizations. This refrain comes up in fundraising conversations all the time, and far more subtly in explanations about why one organization cannot partner with another to achieve a greater result for the communities we serve. Those of you who follow our newsletter know this isn’t the first time I’ve brought up the subject of competing with one another. In our August newsletter I wrote: …as our state experiences economic uncertainty, our solutions need to be about what binds us together, not what separates us. We will have many opportunities to work together to… Read more »

We’re pleased with the response to the conversations we’re sponsoring — along with the Rasmuson Foundation, First Alaskans Institute and the State of Alaska — on the state’s fiscal challenge. Nonprofit leaders are learning more about the issue and sharing their perspectives on possible approaches we can take to meet this challenge. In November we’ll be in Juneau on the 3rd, Fairbanks on the 10th, and Bethel on the 17th. Go to the Foraker calendar to register for one of these sessions. To read coverage of the Anchorage meeting, please go to this article in the Alaska Journal of Commerce. Plan to attend one of the remaining sessions so your voice can be heard…. Read more »

As our state faces economic challenges, how will nonprofit organizations take action? As a nonprofit leader, are you engaging in the conversation about fiscal stability? Join us in Anchorage, Juneau, Fairbanks, Bethel or via webinar as we discuss the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. At each of the sessions, we will: Explore the positive economic impact of the sector Engage in lively conversation with other nonprofit leaders on the most up-to-date information on the state’s economy Activate our voice in the statewide dialogue Presenters will include: Pat Pitney, State of Alaska Randall Hoffbeck, State of Alaska Jordan Marshall, Rasmuson Foundation Liz Medicine Crow, First Alaskans Institute Laurie Wolf, The Foraker Group Mike Walsh, The Foraker Group Detailed agendas will be released soon. Check back at www.forakergroup.org Space is limited…. Read more »

Last week, a headline caused me to ruminate on a persistent challenge for us in how we do our work. The headline was: How 5-year old Sophia Cruz Changed the National Discourse on Immigration with a Note to the Pope. The challenge is: How do we know the right messenger for our stories? This is a question I find myself asking in a variety of contexts. Like me, you have likely found yourself in different roles within an organization – as a board member, staff member, volunteer, parent, ambassador, participant, advocate, or paid or unpaid advisor. On the inside maybe nothing changed – after all, you were still you. But the reality is that different roles create the opportunity for different voices to be heard.   There are days in my… Read more »

As transition has occurred from the leadership of Dennis McMillian to Laurie Wolf, we at Foraker – both board and staff – have remained grounded in our founding purpose and values. We are in a solid place because we know who we are and what we want to accomplish. To honor our tradition and celebrate the gifts that Dennis McMillian brought as a founder, we have inscribed what our values mean to us on the wall of the hallway in the Foraker office. This hallway connects our training room with our boardroom and will serve as a constant reminder that the decisions we make in our board and staff meetings will have a lasting impact on the interactions we have with each of you. Please see the photos below of the Foraker… Read more »