The Foraker Group

Who We Are

The Foraker Group is a 501(c)(3) organization.  Our core purpose is to strengthen nonprofits.

Our deep commitment to advancing dedicated, skilled, and compassionate professionals and volunteers to serve Alaska’s nonprofit and tribal organizations is guided by the Foraker Nonprofit Sustainability Model.

We know that for vital nonprofits that serve our communities and bolster our economy to succeed, they need to be strong, stable, and ready to innovate and collaborate. Foraker offers Alaska nonprofits and tribes the knowledge, skills, and experiences they need to thrive.

Remaining responsive and agile is essential. Our Theory of Change articulates the way we work with organizations, their leaders, and the sector as a whole, as well as the outcomes we expect at various points of engagement. At the same time, we are listening and soliciting feedback from our Partners, funders, and the sector to help us stay on track and achieve greater impact. Together, the model and the theory provide the basis for our accountability and assure that our programs and services remain dynamic and vital resources for the sector.

You have our commitment to provide mission-centered, creative, high-quality, and cost-effective services to all regions of Alaska. Our approach is rooted in our core values to meet you as staff, board, and volunteers where you currently exist, working with you to foster new skills, collaborative partnerships, sustainability, and strategic thinking.

Our Values

Foraker’s core values are words that motivate us to achieve our core purpose by weaving the essence of these ideas into every product and service we offer.

These values are: Sustainability – Strategic – Collaboration – Urban/Rural/Native/Non-Native. The last value reflects our commitment to serving all Alaska’s people and communities.

Our core values are reflected in our acknowledgment 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 fits every organization.

We believe strong nonprofits are diverse nonprofits. Through our research, consulting, and educational programs, we seek a shift in board and staff composition that reflects the community and mission of each nonprofit.

We know our work is upstream and downstream. We must simultaneously work with what exists now while creating lasting systemic change.

We focus on race and intersectionality in our work. We champion our commitment to diversity and focus on creating true inclusion and belonging for every person.

We create and hold space for conscious conversations. Instead of shying away from difficult conversations, we embrace the opportunity to oppose racism and deepen the understanding that diversity and equity are essential to every mission.

Our Approach

We believe that every endeavor is guided by a set of commitments not just about the “why” and the “what,” but also the “how.” These are the ways we are committed to engaging in our work.

At Foraker, our work is characterized by:

• Emphasizing relationships: Relationships come first. They are greater than a service, payment, or transaction. Relationships build trust, and trust is essential for this work.
• Connecting people to people, mission to mission: Establishing a network and support is central to our practice. We all need support to achieve our goals
  and to support new behaviors to stick. We are here for the long haul to provide support in the way that works best for each person.
• Applying research to practice: Data without knowledge and action is simply numbers. We are committed to discerning between facts and fads and applying trusted research to our work as we seek to learn, adapt, and share what strengthens our sector.
• Hands-on learning: We create space to try out new ideas and concepts. In order to learn it, we believe YOU must “hold” it.
• Acknowledging the uniqueness of every person, organization, and situation: Every mission, organization, and community has its own culture. Understanding the cultural context of our work is the essential framework that holds our purpose and goals together and moves us ahead.
• Committing to both the journey and the destination: Our job is not to “do it for you”, “at you”, or “to you” but to be with and alongside you as you work to achieve your mission.
• Taking a strengths-based position: We have no judgment on where you should be; we are more interested in where you are now and where you
  want to go and using your strengths to overcome your challenges.
• Engaging statewide and cross-sector: We are committed to growing the ecosystem that will find solutions, bridge the divides in Alaska, and strengthen the social fabric of Alaska.

Where We Are Going

We believe in setting clear goals to lead us into the future. We have strategic goals as well as public policy priorities. Our strategic plan guides our work beyond “business as usual” and propels us to accomplish our goals in partnership with the sector.

Long-term goal: Lead innovative systems change in order to strengthen the ability of Alaska nonprofits to significantly improve our communities.

Achieving our long-term goal:  Our values and theory of change articulate the way we work with organizations, leaders, and the sector to achieve our goals. They ensure that we provide excellence to our programs and services while we strive to achieve new goals.  The Foraker Group will act as a leader, catalyst, convener, innovator, and connector for the Alaska nonprofit sector to achieve the goals set out in our strategic plan.

Our Founding

In 1998, the United Way of Anchorage set a strategic goal to create a shared services model for the nonprofit sector. Foraker was launched under the United Way umbrella in January 2001 to serve all Alaska nonprofits and tribes by strengthening their internal capacity and promoting philanthropy.

We officially assumed the responsibilities of the state nonprofit association through a formal relationship with the National Council of Nonprofits in 2009. Today, we offer a wide range of services, educational programs, and public policy initiatives that help assure the success of Alaska’s nonprofit sector.

How We Chose Our Name

Our name came from a special place that is part of the rugged beauty that surrounds us.  Standing next to Denali is a lesser known peak called Mount Foraker. Back in 2001, Foraker seemed an appropriate name for our new organization. We viewed Denali as a metaphor for the nonprofit sector with Mount Foraker standing right next to it. Foraker is part of the landscape but does not overshadow Denali, the highly esteemed landmark for Alaskans.

In the same way, The Foraker Group “stands beside” Alaska’s nonprofit professionals, working with them to build effective, strategic, and sustainable organizations.