The Foraker Group

I feel the need to respond to a Compass piece in this morning’s Anchorage Daily News in which the writer expressed concern about what she considers little benefit for funds invested. I’m not sure what organizations the writer worked in, but having worked with more nonprofits than maybe anyone in Alaska I have had a much different experience. Most nonprofits are very focused and squeeze more from every dime they receive than many for-profit corporations or government agencies. In addition, the people who work in the sector often deal with people, or clients, with “drama” in their lives. But nonprofit employees by far are generous and caring for their community and their coworkers. I will not deny the writer’s perceptions because they must be real to her, but maybe she… Read more »

Perhaps the most requested subject for our training sessions for Pick.Click.Give. is how to use social media. This year we’re bringing you two sessions from a nationally known expert in the field. On Tuesday, Nov. 13 at 3:00, Holly Minch from LightBox Collaborative in San Francisco will join our webinar series with an introductory course on using tools like Facebook and Twitter in the upcoming PCG campaign. She’ll return on Tuesday, Dec. 4 at 11:30 with an advanced class that digs more deeply into using social media strategies. LightBox Collaborative specializes in the work of nonprofits and is known for its imaginative thinking and its approaches to creating social change. Our presenter, Holly Minch, has received numerous awards for her work with nonprofits. We urge you to take advantage of… Read more »

We’re offering a full schedule of classes this month and invite you to consider one that could help you enhance your management skills. Our trainings are designed for nonprofit board members and staff and provide information, insight, and tips you can use in your office the next day. These classes can help you whether you’re new to the nonprofit world or want to brush up on your skills Check out our class calendar to see what’s available that can help you better serve your organization…. Read more »

For those of you who are part of Pick.Click.Give., you will soon be able to better promote your organization to the thousands of Alaskans who are looking to connect with causes they care about. In mid-December, Pick.Click.Give. launches a new website that will allow for expanded organization profiles. You get to help create your profile by sharing information about who you are, what you do, and how PCG donations will make a difference to your mission. We will use this information to market the Pick.Click.Give. program to a broad, statewide audience. But we need your help by providing the following information: A description of your organization (up to 500 characters, including spaces) A story about what you are doing, or will do, with funds received from Pick.Click.Give. (up to 2,500… Read more »

October 31, 2012 – Kodiak Kodiak’s seniors are not too old to celebrate Halloween! Over half the seniors at lunch today were in costume. I came as the scariest character, as an aging Baby Boomer. My generation is so afraid of growing old, but reality is catching up to us. I am learning to embrace my “inner elder.” Today’s smidgen of insight is that as we are witnessing the results of another natural disaster and the dependence we all have on a government and nonprofit response, that we remind elected officials not to dismantle the safety net our nation depends upon. The generations in this picture are the Americans that survived the last economic meltdown. They created these safety nets and are encouraging us Boomers to vote next week and… Read more »

The Department of Health and Social Services and the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium invite you to take part in “Healthy Alaskans 2020” by sharing with them the health priorities for you and your organization. Visit their website at www.HA2020.alaska.gov before Oct. 22, 2012, to take a brief survey and to find out more about this initiative…. Read more »

Are you new to the nonprofit world — or do you just want to brush up on your skills? Are you looking for better ways to serve your organization? Whether you’re staff, a board member, or a volunteer, The Foraker Group has a class for you. In October and November we are offering 2 NEW FINANCE CLASSES in addtion to our board and staff forums and Special Briefings. Visit our class calendar to see what’s available and then register for a class that will help you enhance your skills. 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. For more information… Read more »

Are you a chair of a board who would like to network with other board chairs? Could you use some useful techniques? This one-hour discussion, facilitated by Foraker CEO Dennis McMillian, is an opportunity for board chairs throughout the state to connect. Specific topics will be determined based on participant interest. This is a distance course offering via teleconference. Click here for more details and to register…. Read more »

Pick.Click.Give. was highlighted today on Nonprofit Quarterly’s newswire under the headline “Pick. Click. Give. Exhibits Alaskan Generosity Even in Hard Times.” Click here to read the article…. Read more »

Recently we conducted focus groups with Partners to learn how to improve services. As in prior research, we learned that they appreciate what we do – at least those who participated in the process do. One surprising finding was that while those Partners value what we do, they did not know many of the services we provide. This article is aimed at refreshing your knowledge on the range of services we now offer. From the beginning, Foraker focused its capacity building activities in three areas – back room support we call “shared services,” training for boards and staff we call “educational opportunities,” and various consulting services we call “organizational development.” Then two years ago, we embraced our role as the state’s nonprofit association. These four core areas define what Foraker… Read more »