The Foraker Group

Message from Foraker’s President/CEO Laurie Wolf in response to Governor Dunleavy’s veto of HB 133. We are extremely disappointed by Governor Dunleavy’s veto of House Bill 133, legislation that would have created accountability for late state payments to nonprofits, local governments, and tribal organizations providing essential services to Alaskans. Across Alaska, nonprofits operate shelters, food programs, behavioral health services, youth programs, and many other critical supports on behalf of the public. When payments are delayed, organizations are forced to use reserves, take on debt, delay hiring, reduce services, or even close programs. HB 133 was a practical response to a systemic problem that nonprofits and municipalities have experienced for years. The governor’s veto message points to administrative reforms, improved systems, and agency accountability as alternatives to legislation. In reality, nonprofits… Read more »

On May 29, 2026, the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) proposed sweeping changes to the Uniform Guidance that, if implemented, would create significant risk and instability for all federal grantees, including nonprofits, making it more difficult to provide vital services to communities. We are calling on Alaska nonprofits to loudly declare our opposition to the proposed changes. The OMB proposed changes would apply to all federal grants, cooperative agreements, and pass-through awards received by Alaska nonprofits. Since before statehood, Alaska nonprofits have had a long track record of serving with honor and accountability as a trusted partner with the federal government, the State of Alaska, and local municipalities. We are such a vital part of everyday Alaska life we are recognized in our state’s constitution. We provide a… Read more »

A federal judge in Texas dismissed a lawsuit on March 21, 2026, that sought to overturn the Johnson Amendment. The 70-year-old law prevents nonprofit organizations, including houses of worship, from endorsing or opposing partisan political candidates running for public office. The judge dismissed the case on technical grounds. An appeal is expected. Find more here from the National Council of Nonprofits and on our web page where we provide detailed information on the background of the Johnson Amendment and what its loss could mean to nonprofits…. Read more »

In August 2025, after Congress passed HR1., the tax overhaul bill, and all the advocacy that went along with it began to die down, we started to notice a strange quiet taking over Alaska’s nonprofit sector. Maybe it also was happening beyond our borders, but regardless, it was a noticeable absence of noise in the wake of vocal disbelief, clear outrage, and loud dissent, not just to the tax implications for the people nonprofits serve every day, but to all the federal policy and funding changes that had preceded the bill. While the new bill contained some potential positive opportunities, we knew even then that this quiet was not necessarily acceptance of a new normal, nor acceptance of what is happening to nonprofit funding and policy. Instead, we interpreted it… Read more »

The partial shutdown is guaranteed as federal funding runs out tonight at midnight. After some delays, Congress is still on track to enact a spending package as early as next week to reopen and fund the government, potentially limiting the harm caused by a partial shutdown on nonprofits and the communities we serve. The Senate late today approved that spending package, and the House is expected to vote on it when lawmakers return to Washington next week. The partial shutdown that begins tonight will impact 78% of the federal discretionary budget. If the House approves the measure, however, the impacts of the partial shutdown are expected to be limited. Federal agencies have been developing contingency plans outlining which federal employees will be instructed to stop working and which are deemed… Read more »

We know we’ve asked for your participation in several surveys lately — and we truly appreciate your time. There’s a good reason we keep coming back to you: high-quality, rigorous data helps us tell the real story of Alaska’s nonprofit sector to funders, policymakers, and the media. Your participation ensures that the story is accurate, powerful, and grounded in lived experience. We are conducting a new statewide survey to understand how government funding cuts and policy changes continue to affect nonprofit organizations and tribes in Alaska. Earlier this year, following the administration’s announcement of a federal funding freeze, we moved quickly to assess the potential impact. The initial results showed a catastrophic threat to the health and well-being of Alaskans and the organizations that serve them. Now, almost a year… Read more »

We recently alerted you to the unauthorized use by GoFundMe of 1.2 million nonprofits on their online giving platform. GoFundMe has issued an apology and offered steps to walk back their practice of using the names, logos, and other key identifiers of nonprofits without their knowledge or consent. At the same time, they have been charging exorbitant fees or “tips” to the for-profit vendor. Our alert also provided a link for authorized users of each nonprofit to remove their organization from the GoFundMe website. If you have not taken those steps, do it today. This past week, we learned that these unethical fundraising practices of both using nonprofits information without consent and charging high fees is quickly becoming common in the industry, with Charity Navigator being the latest in a… Read more »

There are times in everyone’s life that feel especially difficult. These experiences can be unnoticed by many, even while they feel intense and all-consuming to the people experiencing them. Then there are times when we have a more collective experience of hardship. In these moments, it may not be something you experience directly, but you are still drawn into it in ways that spur you to action and help you pause to consider the ramifications. This is such a time. During the pandemic, I often reflected that we are all in the same ocean, but we are not in the same boat. Indeed, depending on one’s geography, health status, age, and many other privileges and complications, the pandemic felt very different at a personal level. Nonprofits also had a varied… Read more »

October has brought us snowy mountains, golden leaves, and a government shutdown. 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. Now, another shutdown is underway. A federal government shutdown translates to real, potentially devastating impacts on people, communities, and the 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 programs. Based on previous shutdowns, this one will have immediate and longer-term impacts on Alaska nonprofits and the people we serve. That’s because many of our nonprofits will see an increased demand for services while experiencing decreased funding. Previous shutdowns proved in… Read more »

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. Now, another shutdown is underway. 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 programs. Based on previous shutdowns, this one will have immediate and longer-term impacts on Alaska nonprofits and the people we serve. That’s because many of our nonprofits will see an increased demand for services while experiencing decreased funding. Previous shutdowns proved in too many ways that nonprofits will once again be called upon… Read more »