Take Action: Sign the National Council letter to protect the Johnson Amendment Over the past several months we’ve shared information with you about the impact of an administration move to repeal the Johnson Amendment. This provision in the tax code, named after President Lyndon Johnson, is intended to keep politics and the money that flows to political candidates out of charitable nonprofits. In March, the Foraker Governance Board issued a statement calling for support for nonprofit partisanship, and we joined over 4,500 nonprofits across the country, including organizations from Alaska, who submitted a similar call through a letter to Congress (join us and sign your organization on today!). In May President Trump signed an executive order that essentially instructed the IRS to look the other way when it finds that a nonprofit or religious organization violates the Johnson… Read more »

Last month we wrote about several issues related to the 2020 Census. This month we want to emphasize that the time is now to let your voice be heard. Even though the major census (the Decennial Census) occurs in 2020, each year the American Community Survey (ACS) is conducted. And an accurate count in this survey is critically important to Alaska. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, “when Americans respond to the ACS, they are doing their part to help the community plan hospitals and schools, support school lunch programs, improve emergency services, build bridges, and inform businesses looking to add jobs and expand to new markets, and more.” The bureau points out that the ACS generates data that is used to distribute more than $400 billion in federal and state… Read more »

Here at Foraker we are following the current healthcare debate in Congress with concern about its impact on the nonprofit sector and the Alaskans we serve. Foraker’s President/CEO Laurie Wolf summarized those concerns in an email she sent earlier this week to Senator Murkowski, Senator Sullivan, and Congressman Young. Laurie wrote: As you know, The Foraker Group is the nonprofit voice for Alaska. In that role, I am strongly urging you to do what is necessary to take the appropriate amount of time to consider healthcare for all Alaskans. The charitable and philanthropic communities have a major stake in what the ultimate law says and does. Charitable nonprofits make up twelve percent of the private workforce in urban Alaska and more than fifty percent of the workforce in rural Alaska…. Read more »

Failure by the Alaska Legislature to pass a budget presents a grave risk to communities and individuals served by the nonprofit sector. We make a strong call to all legislators to break through the political gridlock and get the job done for Alaskans – pass a state budget that protects Alaska’s most vulnerable populations, our environment, education, and cultural life. Without a budget, many state operations will shut down on July 1. That’s something we haven’t seen in Alaska. And the lack of action by the legislature that is leading to this dire consequence is both irresponsible and unacceptable. Our message is simple: Get to work, stop the infighting, compromise, and pass a budget. As an organization that supports the work of nonprofits in communities around the state, we are profoundly… Read more »

You have likely noticed that there has been a lot to say recently about the fate and work of our nonprofit sector. In every community and at every level of government, decisions are being made that affect the work we do. While it has compelled Foraker’s board and our staff to use our voice more often to take a stand for the sector, we have also noticed a few things along the way that might inspire you and your organization to find or use your own voice more often. In this month’s article I want to highlight a few of those observations and, importantly, I want to hear from you about what you are noticing. I also want to share a tool with you that could be helpful as you… Read more »

It may seem a ways off, but planning for the 2020 Census is in full swing – and it’s important that Alaska nonprofits are aware of how the census affects them. Most importantly, the Decennial Census and its counterpart, the ongoing American Community Survey (ACS), have a significant impact on the amount of federal dollars Alaska receives with much of the funding directed to our nonprofits. With that in mind, Foraker has made the census one of its public policy priorities. Specifically, we are committed to ensuring that everyone in Alaska is counted and that the annual ACS estimates are accurate for Alaska communities. The census is important because it helps decision makers, businesses, and civic leaders better understand their communities and the people who live there. What can you… Read more »

Earlier this week the Trump Administration released a proposed budget for fiscal year 2018. The proposal is a vision document and is not expected to pass Congress in its current form. The House and Senate budget committees will release their own proposals next month. The National Council of Nonprofits has looked closely at how the cuts affect the nonprofit sector. You’ll find their analysis here. We urge Alaska nonprofits to review this analysis and then contact our congressional delegation to share your thoughts on the suggested cuts…. Read more »

One of our public policy priorities for the past two years has been to bring much-needed change to the state’s single audit regulations. Foraker staff and the public policy committee have devoted significant time to this effort. And that work has paid off. While we did not see all the adjustments we felt were needed, the state did make changes that will help save time and money for many Alaska nonprofits. By way of background – Alaska nonprofits that receive at least $500,000 in grant funds from the state in a fiscal year are required to file a State Single Audit. In comments submitted to the state earlier this year, Foraker said that the $500,000 threshold was onerous and diverted resources from critical nonprofit missions. We urged the state to… Read more »

In our public policy alert issued earlier today, we encouraged nonprofit leaders to contact their legislators. One of the opportunities we shared was public testimony on HB115. Those times have now changed – the only time to comment on the bill will be tonight from 5:00 – 6:30 pm. Here are the instructions for testifying: You must sign in to testify by 6:30 p.m. testimony limited to 2 minutes. You can testify in person, at a Legislative Information Office, over the phone, or via email. To testify via telephone outside of an LIO, it must be arranged through the chair’s office prior to the hearing by calling 907-465-4968. You can also testify by email to: Senator.Mia.Costello@akleg.gov You can learn more about the current HB115 here…. Read more »

Today The Foraker Governance Board issued the following statement to the Alaska legislature on the importance of a comprehensive fiscal plan that includes a progressive revenue measure. The Foraker Group, as Alaska’s State Nonprofit Association, has strongly and consistently stated, through its 2015, 2016, and 2017 Public Policy Priorities, and through our advocacy and outreach activities with members of the state legislature, that passage of a comprehensive fiscal plan is essential, and that an income tax must be part of such a package. We urge the state legislature to work diligently now to pass an income tax that is part of a comprehensive long-term fiscal plan that promotes strong rural and urban communities, and protects Alaska’s most vulnerable populations, education, and cultural life.  As individual board members we are prepared… Read more »