The Foraker Group

Many of you know Simone Joyaux from the trainings she’s given in Alaska for AFP. We’re pleased she was interested in reading Focus on Sustainability: A Nonprofit’s Journey. And we certainly appreciate her kind comments. Check out her blog, click here…. Read more »

Defining the right people for your organization is more than simply meeting a list of criteria or qualifications. The right people are those who can use the values and culture of the organization to move it in the direction articulated in its plan. The right people aren’t all the same. In fact, the board and staff are likely to make better decisions if a diversity of perspectives exists. Recruiting and retaining the right people ensures that each person believes in and is connected to the purpose and values of the organization, is aligned with them, and has a passion for the mission. That is the glue that holds them together. Since nonprofits require a board, and if sustainable, a staff, then all individuals must agree on what should be done… Read more »

From time-to-time Alaska funders gather to talk with the nonprofit community about potential funding opportunities. The next Funders Forum will take place on Tuesday, October 1, at Juneau Arts and Humanities, 350 Whittier — next to Centennial Hall — from 10:30 to 11:30 am. This forum is a great opportunity to join a number of Alaska’s most significant funders who will present important information on how to access funding for capital projects and capacity building. Participating funders include Rasmuson Foundation, The Alaska Mental Health Trust, The Denali Commission, MatSu Health Foundation, Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, HUD, USDA and the State of Alaska. There will be time for you to learn what is most important to each funding source and time will be available to ask questions specific to your project…. Read more »

While a nonprofit’s focus can become hazy through a lack of clear direction, organizations can also lose focus because of success. This happens when an organization is approached by other nonprofits, government entities, or funders to take on a project simply because it is a successful organization – whether or not the project is within the organization’s focus. For example, a food bank known for its outstanding work might be asked to take on a struggling farmers market. The board of the food bank might discuss this option and be tempted by potential revenue and the opportunity to meet a community need. Still, this move could pull from the original focus of the food bank. The board then needs to decide if taking on the farmers market would threaten the… Read more »

The National Council of Nonprofits has alerted us to a conference call to be conducted by the White House on Friday regarding the process for helping uninsured individuals enroll for health insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act. We encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity for factual information on ACA and how it could affect your organization and constituents. The call will occur on Friday, September 20, at 10:30 am Alaska time. According to the White House, “this call will showcase some of the best practices for partnerships that will help to prepare uninsured Americans to enroll in health insurance through the marketplaces starting on October 1, 2013. Faith-based and other community groups are playing key roles in this work, and we look forward to discussing additional ways… Read more »

It’s come to our attention that rumors are being circulated about penalties for employers who don’t notify their workers of health exchanges available under the ACA. We want to share the information below that came to us from the Alaska Chamber. According to Jerry Geisel of BusinessInsurance.com, employers will not be fined by federal regulators if they fail to distribute to employees health care reform law model notices about the availability of public health insurance exchanges. Using a question-and-answer format, the U.S. Department of Labor said that while employers should provide such notices to employees by Oct. 1, “there is no fine or penalty under the law for failing to provide the notice.” While the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is clear that penalties cannot be imposed, “Internet-based rumors… Read more »

Strategic thinking is important for all nonprofit leaders. It’s how they know what success looks like. Many put more emphasis on developing a strategic plan than on having ongoing strategic discussions. Looking ahead and adapting to the emerging environment is a critical behavior for sustainability. But in addition to ongoing discussion and reflection about the future, you also need a written strategic plan at least every five years. The strategic plan we develop typically fits on one page. Brevity makes a plan more useful, memorable, and therefore more relevant to the actual operations of the organization. We believe it is critical that everyone is on the same page. The shorter the plan, the less likely the organization will stray from its core ideology. Our strategic plan includes three sections: core… Read more »

I think of my grandfather when I say, “I remember when-.” Well- I remember, I think it was in 1996, when Diane Kaplan dreamed one of her big dreams and promoted that vision to Ed Rasmuson. She proposed that one way to invest their (then) limited funding to leverage more dollars for Alaska projects would be to invite leaders of the most significant institutional funders, both foundations and corporations, to Alaska where they could learn about our unique challenges and opportunities. She assumed that the Rasmuson Foundation would have much more potential for impact in cooperation with these enlightened funding partners. At that time the Rasmuson Foundation’s payout was approximately $300,000 – not even close to the $20 million the foundation gave out last year. Elmer Rasmuson also supported the… Read more »

An organization’s core purpose is described simply and succinctly, in just a few words. If you are a soup kitchen, your core purpose may be to feed the hungry. Core purpose does not try to differentiate your organization from others. In fact, many nonprofits have the same core purpose, but differ in their core values and activities. Core values clarify purpose and make each organization unique. Using the soup kitchen example, the core values could be compassion, respect, and dignity. An organization’s core values usually revolve around what drove the founder to create the nonprofit in the first place. They go beyond organizational aspirations. A value is considered “core” when it remains true through the years and motivates the entire organization. To use a bowling reference, if one envisions the… Read more »

Oct. 1, 2013, is the deadline for applications to Rasmuson Foundation’s Sabbatical Program. Now entering its tenth year, the program offers an opportunity for nonprofit and tribal executives to take sabbaticals of two to six months. Research shows that when nonprofit leaders engage in well-planned sabbaticals, the results can transcend the individual to reach the organization itself. An extended leave can lead to new perspectives for the leader, the board and staff, and often energizes organizational innovation. Learn more here and watch a short video highlighting some past sabbatical recipients…. Read more »