We’re excited to share a new resource for nonprofits across the Northwest: nwnonprofitcapacity.org. Together with our nonprofit association partners in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington, we’ve created a shared home for research on nonprofit capacity across our five states. The site brings together two important studies: the 2026 Evaluation Capacity Study, based on conversations with more than 110 nonprofit leaders about how they evaluate their impact, and the 2024 Nonprofit Capacity Survey, which asked 967 nonprofits to identify their strengths and areas where they need more support. Why evaluation? Because nonprofits are increasingly being asked to show the difference their work makes — and most nonprofit leaders want to know that, too. But evaluation is also an area where many organizations feel the least equipped. In the 2024 survey, evaluation… Read more »

In recognition of the Labor Day weekend, the Foraker office will close at 3:00 this afternoon. We take this time to honor the work of Alaska’s nonprofits and celebrate their dedication to communities and missions around the state every day of the year. We will open again on Tuesday, September 8. You can leave us a message over the weekend at info@forakergroup.org…. Read more »

Managing nonprofit finances requires accurate records, timely reporting, and systems you can rely on. If you’re looking for an affordable, long-term accounting solution, Foraker Financial Shared Services can help. Our team provides accounting services tailored to nonprofits and tribes, allowing you to stay focused on leadership and decision-making while we manage the day-to-day financial operations. Our shared services model keeps costs affordable while giving you access to experienced nonprofit accounting professionals. Financial Shared Services include: Payroll processing and payroll tax reporting Budget development and implementation support Internal controls Accounts payable and check processing Financial elements of grant reporting Month-end reconciliations and close Financial statements and reporting Scenario planning Audit preparation and auditor coordination Whether you’re a small organization looking to outsource accounting or a growing nonprofit ready for additional financial expertise,… Read more »

Celebrate with us! Celebrating anniversaries, unlike birthdays, are often fraught with date possibilities. In new or young love, an anniversary may be marked by the month rather than a year, and in other relationships there are a number of possibilities – the first date, the date of the engagement, or the date of a marriage. Nonprofits don’t differ as we have so many date options to call our anniversary. We have the moment the idea was conceived, the date the mission was drafted, the first official board meeting, or even the date of federal recognition. These dates for some, including Foraker, have almost a decade from conception to formal recognition, so picking one perfect date is in the eye of the beholder. We have chosen this moment to mark our… Read more »

We asked our friends to share stories of Foraker’s impact as we turn 25. Here is what they had to say. Paglaġivsi, Greetings, Aarigaa! Happy 25th Anniversary to The Foraker Group! To everyone who has been a part of Foraker’s journey – to all the board members, staff, consultants, funders, and partners – Congratulations! What an accomplishment. Every single day the work Foraker does positively impacts Alaska nonprofits and tribes, and the result – All Alaskans benefit! I am grateful to have been a participant in this journey. It started when I was on the team developing a new campus for Iḷisaġvik College. We turned to the Pre-Development Program to assist us, with excellent results. I also have benefitted from Foraker trainings – participating as a part of the various… Read more »

Our Certificate in Nonprofit Management program is designed for Alaska nonprofit and tribal leaders to apply classroom teachings to their workplace, dive into issues facing Alaska nonprofits today, and build a network of fellow professionals. Courses will be held at the Foraker office in Anchorage. Applications are due June 12. Learn more here…. Read more »

In August 2025, after Congress passed HR1., the tax overhaul bill, and all the advocacy that went along with it began to die down, we started to notice a strange quiet taking over Alaska’s nonprofit sector. Maybe it also was happening beyond our borders, but regardless, it was a noticeable absence of noise in the wake of vocal disbelief, clear outrage, and loud dissent, not just to the tax implications for the people nonprofits serve every day, but to all the federal policy and funding changes that had preceded the bill. While the new bill contained some potential positive opportunities, we knew even then that this quiet was not necessarily acceptance of a new normal, nor acceptance of what is happening to nonprofit funding and policy. Instead, we interpreted it… Read more »

Today, Alaska Attorney General Stephen Cox announced lawsuits against six crowdfunding platforms for creating donation pages for charities without their knowledge or consent. The lawsuits allege that these companies used publicly available data to generate fundraising pages for over a million 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofits—including charities in Alaska—and then solicited donations through those pages without first obtaining permission from the charities themselves. Of the 5,700 nonprofits in Alaska, approximately 4,500 are 501(c)(3) charitable organizations. The crowdfunding platforms that are subjects in the lawsuits include GoFundMe, Pay Pal Inc, Charity Navigator, Just Giving, Pledge to and Network for Good. Foraker has been working closely with the Attorney General’s office to ensure that Alaska nonprofits are protected. President/CEO Laurie Wolf noted in a press release announcing the lawsuits: “GoFundMe’s unauthorized donation page and those like it on… Read more »

On February 17, Foraker’s President/CEO Laurie Wolf presented to the Alaska State Legislature at a Lunch and Learn about how nonprofits are partners to government in a strong economy. Laurie highlighted how Alaska nonprofits deliver essential services that constituents rely on every day and shared how recent federal policy and funding shifts since January 2025 have significantly impacted Alaska. Learn more about Foraker’s latest research and explore how policymakers and nonprofits can continue working together for Alaska – watch the presentation here. We encourage you to reflect on the most recent findings with board and staff and consider how the information informs your next strategic moves for mission success.  We also encourage those of you talking with lawmakers to reference this presentation as you offer opportunities to work together to… Read more »

We are thrilled to grow our fundraising and finance teams. Foraker has a team of more than 25 consultants ready to help you strengthen your organization. Welcome to our new fundraising consultants: Jen Snow, Nick Roberts, and Megan Riebe. We are also growing our finance consulting team – we welcome Romeika Ferguson-Adderley and Yolanda McCollum. You can learn more about our team here…. Read more »