The Foraker Group

Many may remember the federal government shutdown of 2018 – it lasted 35 days, with far-reaching negative impacts for people, businesses, nonprofits, and the government itself. Today, we are standing on the precipice of another shutdown if Congress doesn’t pass a short-term bill, known as a continuing resolution, by Tuesday, September 30. A continuing resolution is necessary to provide temporary funding for the federal government when a new budget has not been approved for the next fiscal year, which begins on October 1, 2025. A federal government shutdown translates to real, potentially devastating impacts on people, communities, and nonprofits that Alaskans rely on every day. Simply stated, during a shutdown, federal agencies cannot spend or obligate congressionally approved funds, including funds for paying employees, meeting grant obligations, and operating federal… Read more »

Many organizations are facing increased uncertainty due to recent federal government changes. Our Rapid Response Convenings are designed to help you navigate this evolving landscape by creating a network of support. These one-hour virtual sessions provide a safe and collaborative space to share current challenges, exchange ideas and solutions, and learn from the collective wisdom of your peers. Thanks to the generous support of the Rasmuson Foundation and the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, we’re offering these free convenings specifically for: Fundraisers (This session is for Executive Directors, Development Staff, Board Members, or anyone who is involved in fundraising at your organization) October 13, November 3, December 1 from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Nonprofit HR professionals October 14, November 13, December 11 from 12:00 – 1:00 pm Nonprofit Finance professionals… Read more »

Right now, as the nonprofit sector, and as individual leaders, we are doing our best to navigate the twisting turns that lay in front of us. There are lions, and tigers, and bears, and a lot of “oh my” every day. That is, if lions are impoundment, tigers are rescission, and bears are the threat to nonprofit nonpartisanship, and the are all sitting against the backdrop of executive orders, that makes us exclaim another “oh my!” This journey is sometimes loud, often confusing and even dizzying, and a lot to take in on any given day regardless of whether you agree with the actions or not. Honestly, it is so much all at once, one could just get overwhelmed without a full understanding of the whole story. Let’s take impoundment,… 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 »

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 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 »

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 »

We know many organizations are navigating uncertainty caused by changes in federal funding. Foraker is ready to stand beside you as you determine your next steps. Many of you joined us for our Financial Scenario Planning class in February and our Navigating Staffing Changes class in March. Over the coming months we will continue to offer free trainings, resources, and convenings we are calling “Rapid Response.” The next offerings will take place this summer, starting with the following webinars: Mergers, Acquisitions, Consolidations, Partnerships, and Everything In Between June 18 from 10:00 – 11:30 am Raising Revenue in a Crisis: Is It Even Possible? July 2 from 10:00 – 11:30 am Raising Charitable Dollars in a Crisis: What to Consider Now July 16 from 10:00 – 11:30 am  … Read more »

As part of our work as Alaska’s nonprofit association, Foraker pursues nonpartisan or bipartisan public policy initiatives with local, state, and federal governments. The first session of the 34th Alaska Legislature adjourned on May 20, 2025, and Foraker was actively involved with several key issues. During the session, legislators had critical conversations about the importance of nonprofits in our state. Those conversations began with the first “Lunch and Learn” of the session, which featured a presentation on our report Alaska’s Nonprofit Sector: Generating Economic Impact, to comments at a hearing on the impact of federal funding on the sector. And importantly, several Foraker public policy priorities were introduced as legislation. Following is a summary of the legislative outcomes. Prompt Payment Parity For many years, Alaska nonprofits, municipalities, and tribal organizations… Read more »