Latest news, alerts, and events.
Latest news, alerts, and events.
The Johnson Amendment – Facing a New Threat to Charitable Nonprofit Nonpartisanship July 10, 2025 This week, the nation’s nonprofit sector has witnessed an overtly misguided effort by the Internal Revenue Service which places the long-held principle of nonprofit nonpartisanship in real jeopardy. Background A long-held core value of the charitable nonprofit sector – nonprofit nonpartisanship – is again being threatened by the federal government. In 1954, Lyndon B. Johnson, who was then a senator from Texas, introduced an amendment providing that in exchange for federal tax-exempt status, a charitable nonprofit, foundation, or religious organization may “not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements), any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office.” What is sometimes referred to as… Read more »
As the result of a Trump executive order, the U.S. Department of Education is considering changes to the rules for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program including one that would exclude some 501(c)(3) nonprofits. Once the rule is announced, the public will have 30 days to comment on it. Information is available in this webinar from the National Council of Nonprofits…. Read more »
National Voter Registration day is September 16. Is your organization working to get out the vote? Our Alaska Nonprofit Voter Engagement Guide is here to help nonprofits navigate election activities while remaining nonpartisan. Nonprofits are uniquely positioned as trusted, credible, nonpartisan messengers for people who are often overlooked, under-served, and under-resourced. Many Alaska nonprofits already encourage voting through nonpartisan action including holding registration drives, providing information on where to vote, hosting candidate forums, providing translation services, giving staff time off to vote, and more. We know there is room for more nonprofits to engage. Your action means more people will exercise their right to vote and have their voices heard in our democracy. This is the time to inspire action…. Read more »
In November 2022, when the world seemed to be emerging into a new pandemic-intense reality, I spent some time talking about the decisions we make every day or more specifically, what tools we can access to make those decisions just a little bit easier. Today, in a very different world, one where some in political power see our sector as “a problem” instead of part of a “solution” as we were in the pandemic, the impact of the choices we make feel a little heavier. That said, right now we are noticing what I am calling the “eye of a storm.” Metaphorically, I have been trying to put my finger on the strange energy I have felt and heard our team reflect on recently. I hear words like “stuck” and… Read more »
We know that year-end fundraising might be the last thing on your mind right now—but trust us, your future self will thank you for planning ahead. Now’s the perfect time to commit to a successful giving season. And we’re here to help you do it in a fun, creative, and cost-effective way. Our refreshed virtual intensive, The Year-End Giving Game Plan, will not just guide you through a year-end giving campaign, it will set you up on a successful path to better engage with your donors in the long-term. You will leave this three-part intensive course with the following: More organized donor data that segments out certain donor groups A custom donor report (relationship-building tool), drafted for your audience A campaign calendar to map out your request timeline Custom ask language to be used in all request… Read more »
We thank all the organizations that have come to Foraker for our assistance in meeting your missions. We endeavor every day to help you move in the direction you want to go. And while we have tried to never let money be a barrier to our services, the reality is that mission related earned income is what allows us to help everyone who needs our support. As we strike that balance, our Governance Board recently passed a late payment policy that includes a penalty on outstanding balances. Our purpose is to ensure we have the resources available to serve all Alaska’s nonprofits and tribal organizations that need support. We will do everything we can to communicate with you about outstanding invoices, and we ask you to do the same. We… Read more »
Many organizations face uncertainty from recent federal government changes. Our Rapid Response Office Hours are here to help you navigate this evolving landscape. We know a trusted thought partner can make all the difference—helping you get unstuck and move forward with clarity. Thanks to the generous support of the Rasmuson Foundation and the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, we are offering free 45-minute consultations with our experts. You can sign up for a session on topics such as: Financial Scenario Planning Human Resources Scenario Planning Board Governance Collaboration and Mergers Not sure which topic fits your needs? Or have another topic in mind? Contact us – we’re here to help…. Read more »
The nonprofit sector is changing – more than the usual flux we expect for a sector that meets communities’ needs and responds to gaps that government either can’t or won’t fill. We expect that. We see that. But based on new federal policies and the state’s shifting priorities, changes will be and already are monumental. How it settles out is unclear. There are hundreds of lawsuits still to play out. The new federal budget bill will take years (in some cases until 2028) for the full impacts to be felt and many decisions are already taking their toll. In the article, It’s Personal: Why Nonprofits Matter to Everyone, we explored all the quiet ways nonprofits make our communities, our society, and our democracy work. Most people don’t notice but that’s… Read more »
On July 1, 2025, the minimum wage will increase to $13 per hour, following the approval of Ballot Measure 1 in 2024. Under this same measure, the minimum wage will continue to rise, reaching $14 per hour in 2026 and $15 per hour in 2027. Additionally, beginning July 1, 2025, employers who do not already have a paid time off policy that meets the elements of the ballot measure will be required to provide paid sick leave. If an employer has 15 or more employees, each employee can accrue up to 56 hours of paid sick leave per year. If the employer has fewer than 15 employees, each employee can accrue up to 40 hours of paid sick leave per year. In February, we offered a webinar sharing what we… Read more »
We are sad to hear the news of Clark Gruening’s passing. Clark was a founding Foraker board member and one of our first board chairs. We are grateful for his visionary leadership, thoughtfulness, and kind heart as he helped us navigate the early years. Clark was also an inspirational leader for many other Alaska nonprofits and philanthropic organizations. We send his family and all Alaskans who experienced his generosity our deepest condolences. … Read more »
