Learn about the issues - and take action!
Learn about the issues - and take action!
We invite you to join us in advocating for the following issues that have an impact on your mission and the sector. Want to find out more? Call in to our Advocacy in Action sessions to stay up to date and learn how you can get involved.
For nonprofits receiving state dollars through grants, contracts, and reimbursements, timely payment from the State of Alaska is critical to healthy, productive government/nonprofit partnerships. We support legislation, regulatory changes, and adjustments to administrative policies to ensure that state funding, and federal funds passed through the state, are disbursed to nonprofits promptly for the benefit of Alaskans. In December 2023, the Foraker Boards passed a resolution in support of prompt payment legislation. On March 12, 2025 Representative Rebecca Himschoot and Senator Scott Kawasaki introduced HB 133 & SB 129 in their respective chambers. The companion bills aim to bring parity in state payment on par with current statutory protections for private contractors who deliver public works projects. HB 133 & SB 129 ensure both state and federal pass-through funds are disbursed promptly to nonprofits, local government, and tribal organizations, benefiting the people of Alaska. You can learn more about how to use your voice to support the legislation here.
Nonprofits are tax-exempt for good reasons – they provide services to the community that lessen the burden on government, leverage public dollars, ensure Alaska’s safety net, and help maintain quality of life. We monitor for inappropriate taxation and fee proposals that impact nonprofits, particularly at the local and state levels, and pursue changes to state law that will provide clarity and consistency on nonprofit property tax exemptions and sales taxes.
We share with Alaska’s congressional delegation the important contribution nonprofits make to our economy, workforce development, and quality of life of all Alaskans. Working with the National Council of Nonprofits, we focus on advancing bipartisan legislation and administrative action supporting and protecting a vibrant and resilient nonprofit sector.
The nonprofit sector is a stable and reliable workforce in Alaska’s economy. As an organization dedicated to advancing the work of nonprofit professionals and volunteers, Foraker supports efforts to create meaningful jobs, meaningful work, and equitable environments. We advocate for strategies to increase the ability of nonprofits to attract and retain a quality, reliable workforce. In particular, we are monitoring the state’s response to major federal reforms to the Uniform Guidance changes to reimbursing for indirect costs.
In 2017, Foraker successfully advocated for a change in the State Single Audit threshold to match the federal threshold. This effort saved both the state and nonprofits time and money as it eliminated the gap between state and federal requirements. In October 2024, the Office of Management & Budget issued new rules, including raising the federal audit threshold, again creating a gap between state and federal requirements. A national shortage of auditors and an increase in nonprofits receiving government funding exacerbates the need to align the thresholds.
We promote access to information about federal infrastructure funding to the sector and encourage multi-sector collaborations to access additional funding and effectively navigate compliance. This includes supporting nonprofits as they mobilize communities to access high-speed broadband.Advance an affordable health insurance option for nonprofits
Many nonprofits are unable to offer employees health insurance because of the enormous costs. Foraker remains steadfast in our effort to find a reliable and affordable solution that will support a high-quality and stable nonprofit workforce.
We advocate for legislative and regulatory changes that create an equitable and productive Alaska workforce, including legislation that promotes pay transparency, a proven practice for eliminating the gender pay gap. Working with the UAA Center for Economic Development and Alaska Department of Labor, we produce data to drive the move to eliminate the pay gap.
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 greater nonprofit engagement. Our Alaska Voter Engagement Guide is a toolkit for charitable nonprofits to engage in elections while remaining nonpartisan effectively.
Many nonprofits are unable to offer employees health insurance because of the enormous costs. Foraker remains steadfast in our effort to find a reliable and affordable solution that will support a high-quality and stable nonprofit workforce.
Typically we focus on issues that affect the entire nonprofit sector, or a vast majority of the sector, and we remain committed to lending support to sub-sector issues such as childcare availability and housing. We support nonpartisan sub-sector organizations and coalitions in their public policy advocacy. Our monthly Advocacy in Action calls are the arena for these conversations and collaboration.
Foraker has been instrumental in creating and sustaining The Alaska Census Working Group, which was formed to ensure every Alaskan was counted in the 2020 Census. The Alaska Counts campaign is the result of that statewide multi-sector partnership and continues to focus on the same goal in 2030. Foraker is engaged at the policy level and on the ground in our communities as we prepare for the 2030 Census.
As a co-creator of this uniquely Alaskan format for philanthropy, Foraker stands ready to protect any effort to undermine the charitable intent of the program, while fostering the positive promotion, access, and use by Alaska nonprofits and Alaskan donors.
Contact us to let us know if you have a advocacy group to add to this list.