Latest news, alerts, and events.
Latest news, alerts, and events.
This is a critical time for nonprofit leaders — staff and board members — to comment on Governor Dunleavy’s FY2019 proposed budget. This budget will have a long-lasting impact on virtually all nonprofits and their ability to carry out missions. December 15 is the deadline for comment.
During this webinar, Foraker’s VP and Director of Public Policy Mike Walsh will provide an update on the budget, offer suggestions for ways to make your voice heard, and take any questions you may have on the budget process and how to be involved. This is an important session for you and your board members.
Advocacy in Action will take place Thursday, November 14, 9:00-10:30 am. Details on the webinar and a link to register are available here.
I am reminded fairly regularly that nonprofit folks are not very good at celebrating. The reputation of our sector is to reach a milestone, then put our heads back down and get right back to work. The norm of celebrating small wins or even big wins is lost on too many of us. A handful of years ago, I was reminded that even among members of the Foraker team, pausing to celebrate needed to become more a part of our culture. With a never-ending list of ideas, and a sector always hungry for more, along with my own desire to get to results, I had to make celebration a conscious and authentic part of our work life. It is not uncommon now to see us do a happy dance in the office or stop and share a win with one another. We now build in moments for appreciation at our monthly staff meetings, and we recently reconfirmed for ourselves what it means to find joy in our work. This is not a finite checklist and is certainly not necessarily how you should celebrate in your workplace, but it is a nod to the idea that we can all create ways that honor and blend with our organization’s culture.
Creating space to celebrate may be easy for you, but others might need a little extra boost. So just in case you want some external motivation to prioritize celebrating, I did a quick and not very scientific Google search to find a list of holidays and appreciations for November. WOW. It turns out, in fact, that while every month might yield inspiring results, November is certainly a time for nonprofit board and staff to take notice. We have a lot to celebrate. Let’s take a quick look:
Month-Long Observances
Week-Long Observances
Special days:
For me personally, November is often a month of birthdays and cupcakes because I and a handful of my family and close friends are Scorpios. Still, this list of celebrations offers us all a moment to pause and both solemnly remember and purposefully celebrate the role of nonprofits in making this world a better place. By the way, it is likely that nonprofit activism is also behind many of these days, even the ones that don’t seem obvious.
Did you scan the list? I wonder what caught your eye. For me, some quickly invoke joy like Cookie Monster Day and Sesame Street Day. The math enthusiasts among us are likely already planning for Fibonacci Day. I think I speak for many in Southcentral Alaska when I say we wouldn’t mind celebrating Plate Tectonics Day just a little less often. And likely most of us would welcome a day that inspires us to Loosen Up Lighten Up. But if we are looking for ways to engage our teams, I offer a few highlights that as nonprofit board, staff, volunteers, and donors we can celebrate together. To be sure, many more on the list might inspire you to mobilize for your mission. Please do!
What so many of these days in November have in common is the opportunity to be thankful and to say thanks in meaningful ways. As an Alaskan, I am delighted that in November we can celebrate three important facets of Alaska life – Military Family Appreciation Month, National Native American Month, and Aviation History Month.
National Native American Month is specifically recognized in Alaska as Alaska Native Heritage Month. Over the years a small, dedicated group of people have looked for specific ways to recognize Alaska’s first people during this month-long celebration. Even if you miss one of their events, you can still spend time this month, and really every month, acknowledging the extraordinary contributions of our indigenous communities and recognizing that it is their land we live on. The Anchorage School District just released this helpful piece to inspire daily action, too. In addition to the thousands of indigenous Alaskans we can celebrate, know that there are Alaska Native led and Alaska Native serving nonprofits who are dedicated to advancing life in Alaska and beyond. Let us each take more than a few moments and thank those nonprofit board and staff for their service and leadership for all of Alaska.
Aviation History Month marks a more recent history in Alaska. I heard a factoid once that one in four Alaskans owns a plane. I don’t know if that is right, but it’s true that Alaskans and aviation are closely intertwined. Mail, food, life, safety, leisure – Alaskans depend on air travel for it all.
Nonprofits like museums and business leagues that serve as connections for pilots of all types abound in Alaska. This is one of many industries that are partners with the nonprofit sector. While we might just think of the air carriers, remember the backbone of nonprofits that stand with them every day.
Veterans Day on November 11 marks an opportunity for recognition and appreciation and reminds us to remember and honor Alaska veterans. But the whole month also offers the time to acknowledge the service and sacrifice of our military families. There are nonprofits statewide that focus on providing peer and other forms of support for veterans and their families. I encourage you to find time this month to pay tribute to veterans, those currently serving, and their families for all they have and continue to do for our state and country.
Equal Opportunity Day reminds us of the steps we have taken and the work ahead. While I can’t offer you a new piece of data yet, know that we are working on an exciting project with great partners to bring you fresh data on gender pay in 2020. In the meantime, if you haven’t checked out our current gender pay study, I encourage you to do it this month. Equal Opportunity Day is also a reminder that we have a long way to go in other areas of equity in both our board and staff. Foraker remains on this journey with you and we continue looking for ways to engage nonprofits in creating and fostering more welcoming places to engage diverse communities. This is a journey with no end. However, beginning is essential to truly serve our communities in the best and most equitable ways.
National Philanthropy Day is one more way to show our gratitude this November. From day one, Foraker has been committed to building a culture of philanthropy in Alaska. We show that commitment daily with our efforts to train board and staff, to promote donor-centered planning, to provide current research about philanthropy in Alaska, to partner with like-minded efforts and organizations, and to celebrate. There are many organizations and philanthropic nonprofits who are also dedicated to this cause. We are thankful for each and every effort and partnership. Of course, you can celebrate philanthropy every day by being a donor and investing in causes that matter to you or by taking time to truly thank donors who give to the mission you steward. Too, you can advocate for public policy that validates the role philanthropy plays in this country and around the world. And don’t forget Pick.Click.Give., which starts January 1. I hope you do all of that.
Finally, there is philanthropy day, which is led at a national and international level by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP). According to AFP, “National Philanthropy Day is a special day set aside on November 15. Its purpose is to recognize the great contributions of philanthropy – and those people active in the philanthropic community – to the enrichment of our world. NPD was originally conceived of and organized by Douglas Freeman in the 1980s, and the first official events were held in 1986 after President Reagan signed the official NPD proclamation. The day provides an opportunity to reflect on the meaning of giving and all that it has made possible. NPD celebrates the endless daily contributions individuals and organizations across the world make to countless causes and missions.” In Alaska, this special day is led by the Alaska Chapter of AFP. If you happen to be in Anchorage, mark your calendar for November 15 and check out the many ways to celebrate the day with AFP Alaska.
If you are in or outside of Anchorage, consider:
To be sure, November is a month of many ways to celebrate. Big or small, within your team or out in the world, taking time to remember what we have achieved, what we aspire to, and the people who inspire us, engage us, challenge us, and bring us together is worth every moment it takes.
To each of you I say, thank you for all you do every day to make this world we live in a better place.
Starting January 1, 2020, the federal rules change for determining which employees are entitled to overtime pay and which can be treated as exempt white-collar workers. To learn if you need to adjust your pay practices to ensure you are fully complying with the law, we invite you to join a webinar on Tuesday, November 5, at 11:00 am Alaska time.
Details and registration are available here.
In late August, the U.S. Department of Labor issued its Overtime Final Rule that raises the minimum salary threshold that white-collar employees must be paid to remain exempt from overtime. Effective at the start of 2020, the rule raises the salary threshold from $455 per week ($23,660 per year) to $684 per week ($35,568 per year). The new rule also raises the threshold for “highly compensated employees” from $100,000 per year to $107,432 per year and allows employers to satisfy up to 10 percent of the standard salary level by using nondiscretionary bonuses and incentive payments. The Labor Department estimates that 1.3 million employees will become entitled to overtime due to this rulemaking, including seven percent of the nonprofit workforce.
Foraker is joining with the National Council of Nonprofits to present this national webinar to help all in the charitable community understand what the Overtime Final Rule means to nonprofit operations and missions, and what nonprofits should be doing now to prepare. We will be joined by officials from the U.S. Department of Labor and experts from groups representing workers and employers who will present their unique perspectives and answer questions from nonprofits. We will also address the interplay of federal and state law and help attendees determine with labor standards they should be applying in their workplaces.
Foraker is hiring for three positions! We’re seeking a Director of Leadership Transition, a Leadership Transition Coordinator, and a Lead Capacity Builder. Join our dynamic team! Learn more here.
When I was a kid, I didn’t like candy very much, but I sure loved Halloween. I loved the creativity of a handmade costume and the bonus of Alaska Halloweens that required an indoor version and an outdoor version that could accommodate my snow pants and Moonboots. I lived on a dirt road with few neighbors, so I also loved the thrill of going to the neighborhoods of friends and feeling that sense of community that neighbors bring. But truly, the best part was sitting “crisscross applesauce” in a circle at the end of the night with my friends and trading for the candy my mom loved the most. She always seemed so surprised and pleased at the same time – relishing the treats she loved but would never just buy for herself. As an adult now, I think of these moments each October and savor the idea that for so many of us this month offers us the opportunity to remember our childhoods while starting a season of holidays around the world that celebrate traditions of sharing.
At the same time, it is hard to believe it is October already. We seemed to have spent September collectively gaining our footing again after a chaotic summer of budget battles. I have been impressed with so many in our sector who have found the balance between reaction and strategic action – between doing and just sitting and breathing – between turning inward and reaching outward for collaborators who offer solace during our present challenges and efforts to create a brighter future. And in all of this shifting, and weighing of options, I can also see us savoring and sharing our knowledge, insights, and actions.
As you dive into October, which treats will you savor in the coming season and what do you have to share? Come into the circle and have a seat. Let’s sit “crisscross applesauce” together and consider our options with a few favorite Halloween candy treats.
The 100 Grand Bar. Sure, it might be nice to have 100 Grand to ourselves, but consider what could happen if we partnered with another group to do something bigger with our mission than we could do all by ourselves? We know mission is bigger than us, and the challenges we face in our communities are bigger than any one organization. The temptation might be to believe that there are large gifts within our grasp. But the reality is that we have more potential to secure these gifts if we have clear plans, we focus on the relationship not the money, we work together, and we focus on the impact in our community. We must overcome the “scarcity story.” Treat it as the “trick” and focus on the “treat” of abundance.
Starbursts: How will your mission shine brighter this year? How will you stop hoping everyone just knows the value of your work? You could just sit back and savor it for yourself knowing that every day you do critical work for your fellow Alaskans, or you could shine bright and share your mission story, your collective story, your personal story. Get a plan. Know your audience (everyone is not an audience), train the team, and focus on the good. This is about the difference mission makes in the economy and in the lives of Alaskans. It is not about pulling others down, but rather about sharing your part in a larger effort to make our communities vibrant, strong, healthy, productive, and shiny bright.
Smarties: The “I” and the “E” in the Smarties make all the difference, no matter if this is a savor or share treat for you. You have likely all heard about SMART a goal which typically stands for “specific, measureable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound.” Classic use of the SMART goal is in annual planning to help us stay crisp and focused. But add the I and E and you get “I’m Excited.” Honestly, there is so much work we could all be focused on that choosing work that doesn’t excite our boards, our staff, or ourselves is likely a goal that will stay unchecked on the list. I know, the lists are long. So ask yourself (if you are savoring this treat), or ask your collaborators (if you are sharing), what makes everyone excited about accomplishing the goal? Where is the energy in the team? Where does the conversation “light up?” How can you shift a SMART goal to a SMARTIE goal and keep the intention and values intact? Moving the IE goals to the top of the list will give you and your team the fuel you need to move forward even when the hills and valleys seem even more intense than in the past.
Red Vines: A highly collaborative statewide Alaska nonprofit, thread, gives the gift of red vines from time to time. It’s the perfect metaphor not just for them but for all of us. It reminds us of how we can be tied together in our work across geographies, across missions, and across issues. We can savor our connections as a best kept secret, or we can commit to not confusing the trick for the treat and bust the myth that we are bad at working together. Can we do more? Sure. Can we do it better? Yes. But we also know it takes much time, money, and energy to do it in a way that benefits our community. The tricksters offer a world that has fewer nonprofits doing more work with fewer resources. Hmmmm? That never worked in government or industry. I’m not sure why it would work for us. The treat is committing to the core principles of why working together is worth the effort. And how sharing in small ways builds trust for greater efforts in the future. It is true that we are stronger together. We saw that this summer, and we will see it again and again. The vines that wind their way around, through, and across our work are strong. They are stronger still when we find those lines that connect mission impact with government and business partners, not just with those inside our own sector. Don’t be caught in the sticky tangle of false sharing – instead let’s savor and share this treat for the reality and possibilities of our time.
Tootsie pops: They’re hard on the outside, but soft on the inside – the treat that asks us to work a little bit to get to the goodness. Someone asked me recently if a sabbatical was possible for the mighty advocates who not only did their full-time job all summer, but rallied their constituents, their communities, their staff, their boards, and themselves to stand up for the essential work provided by our nonprofits. We are so fortunate to have the Rasmuson Sabbatical program as an option for some leaders, while many other groups have figured out how to give staff and themselves a break to refresh and renew. I commend every one of these treats to savor. And as we frequently talked about this summer, this is also a “we care” moment to share. In my lifetime in this sector, I rarely encountered anyone who is afraid of hard work. We mostly have to remind people to not work too much. But we have to remember the goodness in the center – that the hard work leads to something sweet. We save lives. We create. We educate. We entertain. We sustain and preserve. We celebrate. We articulate. We advance. We invent. We are essential. Missions are about what happens in the realm of greater good for our communities, our lives, and our planet. We need to remind ourselves and each other that there is sweetness in all of our hard work, not just the hard work itself.
Our bags are filled with so many treats to savor and share. There are tricksters, too, out there who can distract us. But as we rediscover our balance we will also discover where we will react and where we will strategically act, where we will stop and where we will advance, and where we will hone in and where we will engage. Know that each moment is an opportunity for conscious decision making. We have choice in how we respond – how we position ourselves – how we advance missions for the people and communities that are counting on us. We have a choice in what we savor and what we share.