Thanksgiving often brings us an opportunity to share time in our home or the homes of family and friends. Home can conjure up good thoughts and also reminds us of life’s challenges. I am thankful for many definitions of home. One of those is the definition of the nonprofit sector itself — a home with a strong foundation that we build upon every day. Our sector is built on community. We are on the ground working with our neighbors and working to improve the places we live. We are woven together by our diverse people, neighborhoods, and country, and we are stronger as a result. Our sector is built on partnerships. We are relationship-based, and we know that each connection with other organizations, businesses, and government strengthens our work and creates more lasting… Read more »

On a warm east coast day, I walked into a scene that many in the field relish – the sight of 100+ people from at least ten different arts and culture organizations diving into their missions with full enthusiasm and ready – really ready – for what would emerge. This was the backdrop of my first extended visit with Richard Evans. From that moment, I knew that not only would Alaska benefit but so would all of us at Foraker. Oh gosh, was that so true. Richard made many visits to Alaska – presenting at two Leadership Summits and working very intensely with arts groups from all parts of the state to inspire deep and meaningful civic practice work. He also spent a lot of time with the Foraker team… Read more »

We are excited to launch a new tool for organizations that may be considering a capital project, whether it’s constructing a new facility or renovating a current building to better serve your mission. We know this can be a daunting task. Our new Pre-Development Online Toolkit is designed to assist you. This toolkit is much more than a few instruction sheets and checklists. It brings together the experiences of many organizations that have gone through our Pre-D program. It offers guidance and tools to assist board and staff to educate themselves, explore options, and make informed decisions. With the influx of federal dollars from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, it is more important than ever that organizations, governments, and tribes are prepared to use those funds as efficiently and effectively as they… Read more »

We are excited to welcome five new board members: Sabrena Combs, Palmer City Council Member Steve Williams, Chief Executive Officer, Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority Theresa Lyons, Chief Executive Officer, YWCA Alaska Lina Mariscal, Executive Director, Enlaces Lucy Hansen, Director of Operations, Polynesian Association of Alaska We have also welcomed several new staff and consultants to our team: Mandy Ramsay, Finance Director Chris Maguigan, Staff Accountant Karen Kuhns-Hulse, Staff Accountant Tyan Hayes, Consultant (interim executive director, leadership mentoring) Liz MacDonell, Consultant (fund development, planned giving, and capital campaign support) Zoe Olson, Consultant (Sultana) Toby Smith, Consultant (Finance, Sultana, interim executive director) Sherri vonWolfe, Consultant (Pre-Development project) You can learn more about our team here…. Read more »

Our core values are reflected in our acknowledgement of the land where we live, our commitment to serving nonprofits and tribes in urban and rural Alaska, and our obligation to address the systemic racism and oppression that is deeply rooted in our history as a state. It is from this, that we begin our understanding of the oppressive systems and structures in our sector that impact people. For some time now, the Foraker board and staff have been exploring what it means to be a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization. The following is a high-level summary of the five tenants that describe our commitment. We are part of the journey. We believe we are a catalyst. We recognize that our understanding will deepen and grow and that no single path… Read more »

Alaska’s nonprofits stepped up during the pandemic and the nonprofit sector remains one of the state’s largest employers and revenue generators. In our latest report, we detail how nonprofits are part of everyday life in Alaska and illustrate the ways in which we are a major economic driver, leverage public funds for maximum return, partner with government in delivering essential services, provide community investment and civic engagement, and help stabilize the economy during the pandemic. You can find the report here…. Read more »

The article below was prepared jointly by Foraker President/CEO Laurie Wolf and her counterpart in Washington state, Laura Pierce, Executive Director of Washington Nonprofits. They stress the need that exists now more than ever to work together in tackling the difficult challenges facing our sector and our communities. What does it mean to collaborate right now? This was the question among a team of nonprofit state association CEOs at a recent meeting. As we all leaned into the conversation, Laurie commented, “We need to collaborate now more than ever. But exhaustion in the sector makes it hard to bring our best to the effort.” Let’s unpack that. With all the changes happening in our sector and the opportunities created by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and other federal investments… Read more »

Happy Solstice! Today is a day I am reminded of all of the nonprofits that bring us light and hope. Last year I wrote about a walk I went on to admire all of the lights strung around my neighborhood. Again, this year, I imagine stringing lights for the incredible bright examples of our nonprofits.  Holiday lights for Diwali, Hanukkah, Solstice, Christmas, and Kwanzaa – that is what I savor on an evening ramble through my neighborhood during these dark days of winter. They’re in the trees, windows, and roofs – inside and outside. Their sparkle lights my way both literally and in my heart. If I could string a set of lights to display our collective learning and have those lights lead us – not just to the end… Read more »

Are you eager to better establish your digital footprint and connect with your online audience, but not sure where to start? Our new course – Digital DIY – offers the boost you need to help drive your mission forward and increase your bottom line with online communication and marketing tactics. Join us on January 11 & 18 from 1:00 – 3:00pm for an opportunity to get a grasp on the ins and outs of digital marketing, branding, social media and more. With an investment of time, and through trial and error, there’s no need to spend big dollars with a PR company or marketing firm. You can do it yourself! What we cover: Your mission statement – an outline Logo (conceptual) Digital advertising / flyers Social media – which platforms best serve your mission Website… Read more »

It is with the greatest sadness that we learned about the passing of Bernie Washington. As many of you know, Bernie has been with Foraker since the very beginning. He was a board member at the United Way of Anchorage when the idea emerged of “shared services for nonprofits,” which became the seed that grew into The Foraker Group. Bernie did not leave our side since that brilliant idea. He was a champion for us and for nonprofits at every turn. When he had to leave our board because of term limits after the first nine years, he stayed on the finance committee and on the board of our fiscal sponsorship program, Sultana. When we asked him to return to the board, he never hesitated in saying yes. Bernie was… Read more »