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 »

Nonpartisanship – a core principle of charitable nonprofits – is under attack in Washington, DC. Last week we let you know about efforts to repeal the Johnson Amendment, a part of the U.S. tax code that prohibits 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations from engaging in partisan politics. Foraker has gone on record and notified our congressional delegation that we oppose the repeal. You can read our statement here. We need nonprofits across Alaska to show their support, too, for this important provision that has protected our work from divisive partisanship for more than 50 years. The National Council of Nonprofits has organized a campaign to get organizations around the country to sign the Community Letter in Support of Nonpartisanship. Bills pending in Congress would repeal or significantly weaken the current law’s longstanding… Read more »

Both the U.S. House and Senate are considering a repeal of provisions in the U.S. tax code that prohibit 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations from engaging in partisan politics. The so-called Johnson Amendment has been part of the tax code since the 1950s. Foraker issued a statement today opposing this repeal, saying that: “In very real terms, the current legislation (S. 264 in the Senate and H.R. 781 and H.R. 172 in the House) would politicize the sector, subjecting nonprofits and foundations to demands for campaign contributions (thereby diverting donors’ money away from mission-related work to benefit politicians). Not only would repeal damage public trust in the work of nonprofits, it would threaten the impartiality and independence of our sector and our requirement, as written in statue, to “do good” – both of which are… Read more »

What are you hearing? This is a consistent question I am getting. It is a good one because the question in itself tells us a lot about the state many of us are feeling – uncertainty, unpredictability. In 2009, we talked about a “new normal” in reference to the national economy after the downturn in the stock market. Our new normal today is measured more by what we don’t know. We are asking each other “what are you hearing?” I’m asking the same thing from other people. We crave certainty so that we can respond accordingly. Alas, we have a new normal. That said, one thing I am hearing, which I have been writing about frequently, as have others across the country, is the resurgence of civic engagement. By sheer numbers,… Read more »