The Foraker Group

There will be harm and unimaginable grief from the lack of an override today, but know that the fight is not over. The Legislature still has options and there will be action to take in the coming days and weeks.

These are unprecedented times in our state and for our sector. And while I understand all too well the obstacles in front of us, I want to say how very proud and impressed I am with every nonprofit that has mobilized – not just standing up for their mission and the people they serve, but also standing up for the sector and for Alaska. This could have been a moment that divided us, pitting organization against organization and mission against mission. Instead, day after day I have seen solidarity. This is the Alaska way.

Groups who have never used their voices in the public policy arena have worked alongside those who are seasoned advocates. They are acting courageously and making space to talk about the people we serve and the communities we want to live in. Especially heartening is that so many continue to be clear that this is not about saving our organizations, it is about the people and places we serve – none of which go away even if we cease to exist or are forced to reorganize.

As I see all the groups who are standing up for Alaska, I am reminded of the diversity of our sector and how it is not distinguished by party or politics, but simply by the ways we build and strengthen the Alaska we all believe in. I am also reminded that Alaska works best when we stand with our partners in business, industry, and all levels of government – together we are finding common ground.

This fight is not over. Have courage. Keep up the pressure. Thank legislators who are taking time to listen.

Take care of yourself and each other today and in the coming days. Practice “we-care” as we continue to find our strength and use our voices. We cannot stop using our voices!

Know that we are still standing beside you. Together we will navigate our new reality.

With gratitude,

Laurie

Yesterday the House Finance Committee heard from many – including Foraker’s President/CEO Laurie Wolf, Diane Kaplan (Rasmuson Foundation), Jim Johnson (UAA), Becky Hultberg (Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Home Association), Melanie Bahnke (Kawerak), and more – testifying on the impact of the Governor’s vetoes. You can listen to the recording here.

You can read Laurie’s testimony here.

Even if your organization is not directly impacted by the state budget, you will likely feel the indirect effects. We encourage you to use our Indicators of Financial Crisis tool to be prepared. A stressed organization can make ill-advised decisions, especially in the financial arena – and the results can be damaging. This tool can help you assess where you are financially and plan for the future.

Use the tool. You can find the print version here.

The 2020 Census is just around the corner. More than two years ago, Foraker convened the Alaska Census Working Group (ACWG) to advocate for a fair and accurate count of all Alaskans in the census. The ACWG is a nonpartisan, multi-sector collaboration with representation from business, local, state, and federal governments, nonprofits, Alaska Native organizations, the University of Alaska, and others.

We’re pleased that Mayor Ethan Berkowitz recently appointed Foraker President/CEO Laurie Wolf and ACWG Chair and Foraker Operations Board member Gabe Layman to the Anchorage Census Complete Count Commission. These appointments give Laurie and Gabe more opportunity to advocate for a successful census and ensure that all Alaskans are counted.

Learn more about the Alaska Census Working Group here.

Yesterday we hosted a conference call for Alaska’s nonprofits to talk about how we amplify the nonprofit community response to the line-item vetoes in Governor Dunleavy’s budget.

Our message was clear.

• As a nonprofit, including 501(c)(3) organizations, you have a responsibility to stand for your mission and engage in public policy. There has never been a more important time to engage on behalf of all Alaskans you serve. If you are worried about lobbying restrictions, call us. But don’t sit this one out.
• Your strongest voices will come from your board and your stakeholders (donors, volunteers, participants). Engage them all.
• If we divide, we will all fall. We must stand together to override the budget vetoes.
• We have very little time to make this happen. Celebrate our democracy this weekend by using your voice.

As Alaska’s Nonprofit Association and the state’s capacity building organization, Foraker plays two important roles. One is to help you strengthen your mission work from the inside out through a variety of tools, support, and education. The other is to serve as the voice of the sector in nonpartisan public policy work. This time in Alaska requires us to exercise both roles more than ever. While we are committed to providing more tools to help with the impact of potentially devastating budget cuts, our focus right now is to galvanize each of you to take action and strongly urge legislators to override the damaging line-item vetoes in the budget just signed by the governor.

To that end, we heard from you that you need tools to navigate the next steps. We have crafted a message template for you to use as a guide. We encourage you to use it to create your message and then share your message with your board and others to help them when they contact their legislators. Your message will be powerful when it is customized AND all of us can focus on:

• Sharing the real impact on Alaska’s people.
• Sharing how all the other options for people are more expensive.
• Sharing the number of jobs lost and the negative economic impact.
• Showing the connection for legislators between their interests and the causes and people you serve. Don’t assume everyone understands how your work impacts others. Legislators and many voters have no idea how our work is interconnected. Be simple and clear. For example, point out that no childcare means parents have to stay home and that means jobs lost – or that no shelters means more people are on the street using more expensive services like police, fire, and emergency rooms – or that costs will shift to local governments and that could mean higher taxes or fewer services at home.

Our time is short to make a big difference. If we are successful, or if we are not, we are standing with you and we will navigate next steps together.