The Foraker Group

The Alaska Community Foundation will hold a free training for nonprofit lobbyists, along with a legislative strategy conversation, on Tuesday, Nov. 19, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. The event will be held at the ACF Philanthropy Hub, 3201 C Street, Suite 110. Joan Mize from the Alaska Public Office Commission will conduct the lobbying portion of the training. Denali Daniels will moderate the conversation. This session is required for representational lobbyists, lobbyists, and employers of lobbyists. If you are uncertain whether you are subject to the requirement, please contact Mize at 907-465-4864. Pre-registration is required. Click here for more information and to sign up for the sessions…. Read more »

While board and staff balance is critical to sustainability, assessing this relationship is difficult. However, resources do exist. First, and most important, is the existence of a committee dedicated to increasing the board’s capacity. Such a committee – usually called the board development committee or governance committee – typically generates a job description for board members. The committee’s responsibility is to ensure that the right people are identified and recruited to be on the board. The board development committee should orient new board members to the organization, recommend periodic training on effective nonprofit governance, and ensure that all members are engaged at appropriate levels. The committee should also spearhead an annual board assessment to determine if the board is, in fact, committed to ongoing improvement. The ultimate value of a… Read more »

We have a full schedule of classes and webinars in November. Visit our class calendar to see what is available and then register for a class that will fit your needs. GoToMeeting teleconferences and video conferences must be paid in advance of the class. If we don’t have at least seven people registered for a class three working days before it’s to be held, we have to cancel it. If you have questions, you may contact us by email, info@forakergroup.org, or by phone at (907) 743-1200…. Read more »

There are many resources about the roles and responsibilities of board chairs. In a study published in 2007, The Best and Worst of Board Chairs, researchers Yvonne Harrison and Vic Murray found that “trustworthiness, intelligence and good listening skills are the highest-rated qualities for board chairs, while being dictatorial, critical and motivated by self-interest are the lowest-rated qualities.” Harrison and Murray concluded that the best way to ensure effective board leadership is to develop a thorough job description, establish a clear system of succession to the chair, and conduct annual evaluations. Another study sponsored by CompassPoint Nonprofit Services and the Meyer Foundation called Daring to Lead 2011: A National Study of Nonprofit Executive Leadership found that only 20 percent of the three thousand nonprofit executives surveyed were satisfied with their… Read more »

Do you want some tips for promoting your involvement with Pick.Click.Give.? The following classes cover a range of promotional activities. Sign up now for any or all the sessions. They’re free — but you do need to register. If you have questions, call PCG Program Manager Heather Beaty at 907-249-6616 or email her at hbeaty@pickclickgive.org. To register, just click on the title of the class that interests you. “How Does Pick.Click.Give. Work?” – Wednesday, Oct. 30, 11:00 am Is your nonprofit new to Pick.Click.Give.? Or are you new to your position as the lead on Pick.Click.Give. for your organization? This webinar will cover the basics of how Pick.Click.Give. works and what you can be doing now to make the most of this opportunity. Presented by: Heather Beaty, Pick.Click.Give. “Sharing Your… Read more »

We appreciate the people who contributed to Foraker through Pick.Click.Give. this year. Thank you for your support of our work to strengthen Alaska nonprofits. We are pleased that PCG continues to grow each year. This year Alaskans gave 42,000 gifts totaling more than $2.4 million. This is an excellent way to develop a culture of philanthropy in our state. Thanks to everyone who gave. Foraker PCG donors are listed on our Vision Circle Partners webpage…. Read more »

Why are nonprofit CEOs resigning in record numbers? In their research for Leadership Lost: A Study on Executive Director Tenure and Experience, Timothy Wolfred and Jan Masaoka concluded that board dysfunction or lack of board support are either the “first or second reason” why CEOs are leaving organizations. They contend that four key issues may be at the root of this conflict between boards and their CEOs. The organization’s mission The organization’s values Agreement on how success should be measured Agreement on who should do what – the board or the staff Agreement on these points goes a long way toward developing a harmonious and productive relationship. A sustainable organization will have a competent CEO, along with a skilled board that actively complements, challenges, and supports the CEO. The board… Read more »

We’ve been pleased with the number of people who find Focus on Sustainability: A Nonprofit’s Journey helpful for their organizations. Recently, Patty Ginsburg shared her thoughts on the book on the Rasmuson blog. You can read her review here. If you want to order a copy, you will find it on Amazon.com. We welcome any comments you want to share with us…. Read more »

Pick.Click.Give. is shooting a video in Anchorage next week featuring real Alaskans. By real, we mean we are not using actors. The only qualifications are that you must love Alaska and be available to talk briefly about that in Anchorage (location TBD) on 10/25, 10/26, or 10/27. If you’re willing to be part of this project, please email a picture (one from your phone will do) and the dates you are available to: castingAK@thedeltree.com. Thanks so much for considering this request. Please feel free to forward this casting call to any Alaskans you think may be interested and available. If you have questions, contact Heather Beaty, Pick.Click.Give. Program Manager, 907-249-6616…. Read more »

What makes a strong nonprofit leader? Good leaders possess many characteristics. A willingness and ability to share power is essential. Too often boards mistake strong, charismatic leaders for competent CEOs. While a CEO may be knowledgeable about the organization, proficient in financial management, a good manager, and a good community leader, that person must also be able to work as a partner with the board and successfully share power to truly be a successful nonprofit leader. Often, boards will acquiesce to a dominate CEO and assume all is well because this strong leaders says so. This is a major mistake, as the United Way of America learned in the early 1990s. Bill Aramony, the organization’s former CEO had at one time been a significant nonprofit leader. He built coalitions. He… Read more »