We’re partnering with the National Council of Nonprofits to learn more about the workforce shortage in the nonprofit sector. Is your nonprofit struggling with unfilled vacancies, long waiting lists of people seeking services, chronic burnout, and other challenges like employee turnover? Or is the crisis of nonprofit workforce shortages a thing of the past? A major survey and report in late 2021 identified the scope of the problems related to nonprofit workforce shortages and identified both public policy and practical solutions that have helped organizations hire and retain the staff they need to advance their missions. We invite you to complete the survey and help the nonprofit sector tell its story…. Read more »

Our work in nonprofits is full of paradox. One of those is about how we grapple with data. On the one hand, we lack access to or capacity to get enough data to be as effective as we always strive to be, and on the other, we are awash in lots of data but again lack enough context or capacity to do anything meaningful with it. Something we often see in the latter case is that boards, especially, are bombarded with data but in essence have little information. Over the years, we have committed not only to gathering data but also to providing education and support to turn that data into knowledge that can lead your organization to strategic action. The “data to action trajectory” is our gold standard. With… 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 »

It is with great sadness that we mourn the passing of Ed Rasmuson. We at Foraker, in the nonprofit community, and around the state truly admired Ed and all that he accomplished for Alaska. Ed was a visionary, philanthropist, statesman, family man, and friend. To us, he was our founding board chair, consistent champion, and our Chair Emeritus. Ed deeply embraced what it means to “stand beside Alaska’s nonprofits.” He showed the way for the rest of us, and we will forever honor his work and the legacy he leaves us. We send our deepest condolences to Cathy Rasmuson, Natasha von Imhof, Laura Emerson, and the entire Rasmuson family, as well as to the Rasmuson Foundation board and staff. You may read more about Ed, his life, and his dedication… Read more »

Thanks to the advocacy of the National Council of Nonprofits and its state association members, including Foraker, recently released guidance confirms that nonprofits will have access to American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. This includes funds coming directly from the federal government, as well as dollars flowing into state, local, and tribal governments. To help organizations interested in applying for funds, we are pleased to announce a new website that describes ARPA and highlights points of access for nonprofits. Foraker is proud to be a partner in this effort, along with other Alaska organizations listed on the website. We especially thank the Alaska Municipal League for developing and hosting the site. We encourage you to visit the site – share it with others – and help us update it if… Read more »

We are proud that our efforts to promote gender pay equity are highlighted in a story in The Chronicle of Philanthropy. The article, “Why Women Don’t Get Ahead at Nonprofits”, is a stark reminder of the importance of engaging in practices that support pay equity. Is your organization ready to take action? Here are eight proven practices that promote an equitable pay environment. Note: To view the full article in the Chronicle, you will need to create a free account.  … Read more »

The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (omnibus spending and COVID relief bill)  is now available online. Foraker has been working closely with the National Council of Nonprofits to understand how organizations will be impacted by the legislation. The National Council has issued a preliminary analysis, which you’ll find here. We appreciate their very prompt action to bring the sector this information. The legislation runs 5,593 pages and spends more than $2.3 trillion. The National Council chart provides page numbers for deeper analysis on issues important to nonprofits. As Foraker and the National Council continue to review the legislation, we’ll fine-tune this analysis and post it on our website. A few important highlights for nonprofits include: Charitable Giving Incentives: Reestablishes the $300 above-the-line deduction for 2021 and applies a $600 deduction… Read more »

We are thrilled with Mayor Berkowitz’s appointment of Heather Harris as Anchorage Health Department Director. Heather has been part of the Foraker family in many and varied ways. She worked on staff, graduated from Certificate and Catalyst, teaches for us, and joyfully mentors many emerging nonprofit leaders. She has been dedicated to our success and the success of nonprofits around the state. We know she will be successful in her new and important role at the municipality. We send her all our good wishes. You can read the announcement from the mayor here…. Read more »

We are pleased that media in both Alaska and around the country are reporting on the impact COVID-19 is having on the nonprofit sector and the many organizations that continue as best they can to serve their communities. On this page, we will share the reports of how we and our partner the National Council of Nonprofits are working to ensure that the sector is part of both state and federal relief programs. And we’ll share with you some stories of ways that Foraker Partners and other Alaska nonprofits are managing the crisis. Read more »

On Febraury 11, 2020 BP officially handed over the keys to the BP Energy Center to The Alaska Community Foundation. At the event, Laurie Wolf gave a tribute to the building, and to BP for their generosity. Here are her comments:  On behalf of the nonprofit sector and the hundreds of organizations and civic groups who use this facility every year, thank you. And thank you for inviting me to say a few words about this place and this gift to Alaska nonprofits. We are here today to celebrate this remarkable gift as it transfers hands and keeps its promised intent for Alaska’s nonprofits. We are grateful as nonprofits not only for the gift of this space, but for the many gifts of financial investment, employee time and engagement, and… Read more »