The Foraker Group

If you have a fiscal year that begins in July, this is your budgeting season. And it likely means you are putting the finishing touches on how you think the future will unfold for the next year.

Our President/CEO Laurie shares that while she did not start out as a “numbers person,” she has come to see budgeting as something much deeper than spreadsheets.

Budgets are stories.

They tell you and your team about your vision for growth and your fears and insecurities about the future. They tell you how you will manage risk. They tell you about the outcomes you want and what you need to get there. They tell you what your organizational house looks like and if you are solid and resilient, living on the edge, or partnering for strength. They tell you who you partner with and what drives your economic engine and how you see those relationships – both earned and charitable playing out over the course of a year and even beyond. Importantly, they also reflect your organizational values and moral compass.

In this month's Letter from Laurie, she shares 11 steps to ensure that your budget is not just a collection of numbers:

To Everything There is a Season – Including Budgeting The Foraker Group strengthens Alaska's nonprofit and tribal organizations through education, professional services and organizational development with a focus on new skills, sustainability and strategic thinking.

We are thrilled to have partnered with the Cold Climate Research Center to place their new Executive Director, Paul Rasmussen!

We're excited to introduce Paul Rasmussen as CCHRC's new Executive Director!

Starting on Monday, June 15, Paul brings a deep commitment to tackling Alaska's unique housing challenges, and we can't wait to see what we'll accomplish together. Welcome, Paul!

Check out our press release for more information: https://cchrc.org/paul-rasmussen-named-next-executive-director-ofcold-climate-housing-research-center/

You’re invited to the 2027 Foraker Leadership Summit!

Join us April 26–27 at the Dena’ina Center in Anchorage to connect with nonprofit leaders from across Alaska, explore new ideas, and discover practical ways to put them into action.

Held every two years, the Foraker Leadership Summit brings together more than 500 nonprofit, tribal, and community leaders for learning, inspiration, and meaningful conversation. You won’t want to miss it.

Stay tuned for registration details, speaker announcements, and more!

We are excited to celebrate the newest graduates of our Catalyst for Nonprofit Excellence program! These leaders have done the work to explore a stronger sense of purpose, learn tools for grounded decision-making, and gain deeper insight into what energizes them.

Congratulations to Cohort 10!

A special thank you to the sponsors of this program — and our other signature cohort programs — for investing in Alaska’s nonprofit and Tribal leaders.

Strong financial systems help nonprofits stay focused on their mission. As our finance team continues to grow, we’re able to support additional organizations with finance projects and trusted nonprofit financial expertise.

Whether your organization needs assistance preparing for an audit, strengthening financial processes, or completing a specific finance project, our team is here to help.

We can provide assistance with:
• Audit preparation and audit support
• Budget development and facilitation
• Financial health assessments
• Senior-level financial consulting
• Accounting process review and cleanup projects
• Financial systems and reporting support

These services are designed to provide targeted, short-term assistance to help organizations address immediate financial needs, strengthen systems, and build long-term financial sustainability.

Fill out our inquiry form to share your organization’s finance needs and learn how we can help. https://www.jotform.com/team/242667102320042/fss-inquiry

If you're considering a Sabbatical in 2027 or know someone to recommend, now's the time to start. Applications will close on June 16. Applicants are encouraged to visit the grant portal at Rasmuson.org, review the guidelines, and begin the process soon.

Here's a Funding Basics video with Rasmuson Foundation's Sabbatical program lead with tips on what to expect.
https://youtu.be/EAXqe3MiTxs?si=U8xNaYyDcI_XUl60

[Recorded] Funding Basics - Sabbatical Awards [Recorded on April 21, 2026] Lindsay Hammer, program officer and Sa...

Every year, we have the privilege of meeting new executive directors through our Executive Leadership Intensive and supporting them as they navigate the many complexities of their new roles. We are continually inspired by their commitment to serving their communities and advancing their missions. This year was no exception - congratulations to our newest alumni:

Wei Ying Wong, Alaska SeaLife Center
Maggie Winston, Independent Living Center
Lisa Ellison, Independent Living Center
Melissa Schoenweather, Kodiak Economic Development Corp
Sarah Furman, Fairbanks Climate Action Coalition
Haley Johnston, Alaska Trails
Julie Swisher, American Red Cross of Alaska
Inukuk Gerhardt-Cyrus, OPT-in Kiana
Gina Bastian, Assets, Inc.
Betsi Oliver, Iditarod Historic Trail Alliance
Kelley Shoemake, Palmer Chamber of Commerce
Andrea Akalleq Burgess, Native Peoples Action/Community Fund

We are thrilled to have partnered with Singletrack Advocates to support them in hiring their first Executive Director!

Big things are happening! 🚲✨

After 20+ years of being 100% volunteer-led, STA is officially leveling up. Following a thorough search process in partnership with The Foraker Group, our board is thrilled to announce George Po***ck as our first-ever Executive Director!

If you’ve spent time on the trails at Kincaid or Hillside, you’ve likely seen George’s handiwork. He’s been a staple in the Anchorage mountain biking community for over three decades, and we couldn’t think of a better person to lead us into this new chapter.

This move is a game-changer for our trails, our community, and our future. Join us in giving George a huge “welcome to the team” at our fundraiser at Hilltop tonight!

Congrats to the 8 organizations that participated in our Fast Track Fundraising Intensive for drafting their fund development plans! We’re inspired by their commitment to setting meaningful fundraising goals and metrics for the year ahead — all in service of strengthening their communities. We can’t wait to see what they accomplish next!

Whew. Decisions.
Big ones. Small ones. Mission-shaping ones.

In uncertain times, it’s easy to feel stuck, wait too long, or chase the next shiny opportunity. But nonprofit leadership requires thoughtful choices that move missions forward — not just for today, but for the future we hope to build.

In our latest Letter from Laurie, we revisit five practical tools to help leaders navigate complexity, avoid mission drift, and make decisions with clarity and purpose.

✨ When in doubt:
• Matrix it out
• Draw it out
• Step it out
• Envision it out
• Space it out

Read the full blog for ideas you can bring to your board, staff, and planning conversations. --->

Unpacking Decisions: Five Ways to Find Your Ground (Revisted) The Foraker Group strengthens Alaska's nonprofit and tribal organizations through education, professional services and organizational development with a focus on new skills, sustainability and strategic thinking.