The Foraker Group

The Trump Administration has promised many changes to the federal government, the first of which has been dozens of executive orders covering a wide range of issues that include nonprofits and tribes in their scope. The implications of the executive orders vary greatly, from immediately taking effect to being challenged in court. Staying abreast of executive orders, directives, new laws, and their related actions is crucial for ensuring you are aware of potential hurdles to your work. That’s why we’ve created a new web page to share up-to-date information and resources. Check it out here. … Read more »

The Office of Management and Budget memo outlining a freeze in funding for federal grants and loans is rescinded, but the administration still plans a full review of funding. This is a positive step for nonprofits, municipalities, the state, and tribes that face severe impacts from the federal funding cuts that were outlined in the original OMB memo. The rescission was issued today in large part because of the swift advocacy and efforts of the National Council of Nonprofits, and people in Alaska and across the nation. While this is good news that eases immediate concerns, it’s likely to be temporary. The administration is still committed to funding cuts, which will have significant consequences for Alaska. Thank you to the more than 150 organizations that took our initial survey asking about the impact funding… Read more »

Protecting the work of nonprofits around the country, and especially here in Alaska, is an important part of our work. In that effort, we work closely with our trusted partner, the National Council of Nonprofits (NCN), which tracks federal policy that impacts charitable nonprofits. You likely have many questions regarding the Executive Orders (EOs) already issued by the new administration and those to come. The NCN team is tracking the EOs and their potential impact on nonprofits and sharing their insights in daily information updates. We encourage you to bookmark this page and check it often and to join us on our Advocacy in Action calls for nonpartisan conversations about the issues facing nonprofits. When we feel there is an imminent threat to the sector, we will let you know and suggest… Read more »

Closing out an old year and entering a new one is that moment when so many of us take stock of what has just passed and what is yet to come. Looking back at 2024 from Foraker’s perspective, I remember it as a year of big projects, big internal shifts, and many expected and unexpected changes. Some of our projects were planned and some not, and per our usual, we ebbed and flowed with each other and made it work. Does this sound like your workplace? I found that time and again, groups we engaged with in 2024 were experiencing a high degree of change similar to what happened during the pandemic but also very different in that the changes were coming more from inside and not as much from outside… Read more »

Over the last few months, we’ve shared information about the new Federal Minimum Salary Changes for Alaska Employers that was set to take effect on January 1, 2025. However, on November 15, 2024, a federal judge in Texas struck down the U.S. Labor Department’s overtime rule. The decision applies to the higher salary level test that went into effect on July 1 and also blocks the next change set for January 1, 2025. The district judge also invalidated the automatic increases scheduled for every three years. Based on this decision, the Alaska salary threshold for exempt-level positions remains at $48,796.80 per year, or $938.40 per week. We will keep you updated and share additional information as it becomes available…. Read more »

This holiday season we are celebrating with the gift of turning data into action. There is a data point for almost every wish on your holiday list but there is always an elusive – if not magical – data point that is just out of reach. Of course, no holiday gift is worth it unless you can use it again and again, right? So, the good news is this data has a nice shelf life and should carry you through your strategic planning, the Halls of Congress, and our state Capitol for a long time. We hope you use these truths to raise your voice and sing a joyous song about the essential work taking place (often in the background of the tinsel and sparkly light kind of things you… Read more »

What’s Next? If you are a West Wing fan, you hear that question when the voice of Martin Sheen as President of the United States takes on one big thing after another. And so, that is what we will also do as this election season draws to a conclusion. For some of you, this election was a high point, and for others, a low point — certainly, it brought a response that resonated deeper than a person or a political party. Regardless, I feel certain that not everyone experienced the election the same, nor will we experience the consequences of the decisions made by the American people the same. During the pandemic, it was an often-used metaphor that “we are swimming in the same ocean, but we are not in the… Read more »

The Executive Leadership Intensive program is designed for executive directors in their first three years of leadership. We believe successful leaders are supported leaders. With the Executive Leadership Intensive (ELI), you will be in a safe space where you can find tools and resources to help you grow into your role as executive director. During this program, you will strengthen your board relationship, explore management and planning strategies with an experienced mentor, and learn from a network of peers. Applications are due January 3. The program starts February 3. Apply today!… Read more »

Charitable nonprofits are celebrating the best October surprise ever: an updated version of the Uniform Guidance from the Office of Management and Budget that went into effect October 1. The reforms streamline the federal grant process and reduce the financial and administrative burdens for nonprofits hired by the federal government to deliver critical services to communities. Learn more about what the specific changes will mean for your nonprofit in a full analysis from the National Council of Nonprofits…. Read more »

Searching for and claiming our origin story feels like a universal experience across cultures, generations, and experiences. It is the act of knowing where we came from and what makes us who we are today. There are many paths to get to this place including oral traditions, shared stories, formal documentation, scientific evidence, and artistic renderings. Each effort has meaning and offers us some truths to hold on to as we move ahead to what’s next.   Each of us likely has varying personal experiences with searching for and owning our own origin stories which can be thrilling, heartbreaking, insightful, harrowing, surprising, lovely, and perhaps everything in between. Maybe our personal experience makes us either more eager or less willing to search out and document our nonprofit’s origin story. And, as… Read more »