The Foraker Group

Whew! This past week was the week where every day felt like six all rolled into one – where we adapted and created and shifted and laughed and, yes, even cried. I did all of those things with my family and my team. I bet you did, too. Every day since this crisis elevated itself and asked us to all be home to keep each other safe, I have watched our nonprofit leaders (board, staff and volunteers) step up in remarkable ways to advocate to government, to lead your teams, and to just figure out how to help people. WOW!

We had nearly 100 people a day come to our COVID-19 Response webinars, all looking for the next step and to connect with others. We saw leaders join local government task forces and talk to their elected officials on behalf of nonprofit missions each and every day. We saw so much adaptation by our human service providers so as to not miss a beat – and then do more. And we saw philanthropic organizations ask new questions about how to get money out fast and with few barriers, all in the name of helping Alaskans. And of course our team is updating our resources page for you as fast as we can.

We have said it before, but Alaska nonprofits are essential to Alaska. From our healthcare and human service missions on the front line of this pandemic to our childcare and educational missions that feed our minds, and our arts, culture, and religious missions that feed our hearts. And let us not forget all of our business associations, unions, and trade associations that are ensuring that our Alaska workers and our Alaska industries are going to weather this storm. We are all in this together.

This past week we saw a federal economic response from Congress like no other in our nation’s history in its size but also for the first time in those relief packages that specifically cover nonprofits and tribal governments. That is no small moment, and I have never been more proud to be a board member of the National Council of Nonprofits . All of us owe our thanks (and donations) to the small but mighty staff of the National Council and their herculean effort to be sure nonprofits are included in decision making. They were literally “in the room where it happened.” (Shout out to Hamilton fans).

So today, while you are home, know I am thinking of each of you who lead Alaska’s nonprofits. We see you.

As I reminded us all (and myself) many times before in other disasters, this is a marathon not a sprint.

• Practice choral breathing so you can take turns taking a break.
• Practice standing on your door step and looking at our beautiful state from whatever vantage you can see. There is beauty all around us.
• Practice redefining productivity to be realistic and manageable now that you are also home school teachers and/or taking on more responsibilities inside your house.

And please remember that we can be physically distant and socially connected.  With that thought in mind, I leave us all with a few ideas from my colleague and friend Liz Moore from the Montana Nonprofit Association with a few additions of my own.

• If you go stock up on groceries, buy a little extra for the food bank. No one should be hungry or wondering how they are going to get through without food.
• If you don’t need cleaning supplies – get some for the youth home, the shelter, the senior living place, and drop it by their doorstep. It will save lives.
• Donate to the groups running the local relief funds (Alaska Community Foundation, United Ways in Anchorage, Tanana Valley, and Southeast). We all know who the people are helping out in our own communities. If you have a little more – whatever that means – follow the lead of Alaska’s philanthropists and give some away now.
• Buy local and buy gift certificates. Nonprofits are supported by local business. Let’s support them.
• Share helpline numbers or Alaska 211 on Facebook so that any friend or neighbor that needs refuge for their kids or themselves from violence can still get help. No judgment. We’re all in it together.
• Make an extra contribution to the arts, artists, cultural centers, animal groups, childcare centers, religious institutions that you rely on every day but that cannot be open right now. We need them to be with us and a world without them is simply unimaginable. (P.S. if they canceled an event recently – turn your ticket into a donation…really).

As we care for our missions let’s also care for other missions, too, in our communities. We are all in this together. Alaska, we can do this. I know we can. Our nonprofits are the backbone of our lives even when we don’t know it. I know we are resilient and adaptable, and we will weather this together.

With gratitude,

Laurie

Update: Foraker staff will be canceling all sessions requiring travel until April 21 in accordance with the Governor’s mandate to limit interstate travel. 

Dear Nonprofit Leaders:

Starting today, Foraker staff will be working remotely.  Our plan is to keep the office closed until April 15, at which time we will reevaluate the situation to see what is necessary for public health.

I do not make this decision lightly. I am concerned not only for the health of our staff and consultant team but for the public’s health.  The more we self-quarantine and practice social distancing the better off we will all be as a community.

We are staying ready and able to serve the nonprofit sector.  While we are working to reschedule all in-person meetings, we are still available to work with you virtually.  Our goal is uninterrupted service as much as possible. 

All of our communication channels – phone, email, website, social media are active.  Feel free to contact us. And be sure to let us know how your nonprofit is doing by filling out this survey.

While many of you have chosen to cancel your board and staff retreats, know that there are other ways we can support you.  We are planning to ramp up opportunities for online connection through classes and forums.  Watch your email and our social media pages for more updates in the coming weeks. 

We are also updating our COVID-19 resources page with useful information.  Please let us know if there is a resource you can’t find.  Many of our partners like the National Council of Nonprofits are also collecting information that can help you.

We know that many of our nonprofits are on the front lines of this pandemic.  We see you.  We appreciate you.  We are here to support you.

Be safe.  Keep your family safe.  Keep your community safe.

Laurie

Update: The survey will close tomorrow – March 24 – at 12:00 pm.  

Dear Alaska Nonprofit Leader:

We care deeply about you, the people and communities you serve, and about the overall welfare of every Alaskan. We know these are unprecedented times and that you are each doing your best to navigate with every new piece of information on COVID-19. We are monitoring the impact of this virus on our sector closely, and we need to hear from you to understand what you need and what questions you have as we move forward together.

Please take just a few moments to complete a brief survey and talk among your team so that only one person answers this survey for each organization.

The responses will be used to help Foraker provide additional support to you and will be shared with the Alaska funding community as they determine what emergency assistance they can offer. We share a common goal—ensuring all Alaskans are well cared for during this epidemic.

We will be scheduling a series of check-in calls in the coming weeks to share results and hear more from you.  Also be sure to check out the resources on our blog to help you navigate the decisions you are making today.

We will be back in touch soon with more information and resources.

Laurie Wolf, President/CEO
The Foraker Group

In partnership with the Atwood Foundation, we are offering considerable discounts on capacity building services to Anchorage arts, culture, and humanities organizations. Your organization may be eligible:

• Are you focused on arts, culture, and humanities?
• Are you based in Anchorage?
• Do you need help with strategic or annual planning, fundraising, organizational assessments or other capacity building services?

If so, please fill out this application and send it to Monica Garcia-Itchoak at mitchoak@forakergroup.org.

We are seeking leaders who are committed to a career in Alaska’s nonprofit sector to apply for the 2020 Certificate in Nonprofit Management cohort! The courses are designed to immediately apply what you learn in class to your workplace. Certificate is for nonprofit professionals across the state – no matter whether you’re leading a large organization or a small one, or if you have been in the field for decades or only a year, this program is designed to meet you where you are in your career.

Learn more here.