What The Foraker does

The Foraker Group is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Anchorage, Alaska, founded in 2001, that operates as Alaska's statewide association and capacity-building organization for nonprofits and Alaska Native tribes. It serves a network of 478 partner organizations across urban and rural Alaska, delivering consulting, training, fiscal sponsorship, and shared services through its own proprietary framework, the Foraker Nonprofit Sustainability Model, which evaluates organizations across Focus, Right People, Partnerships, and Unrestricted Funds.

The core offering is a portfolio of interconnected service lines rather than a software product: consulting modules (financial shared services, board development, leadership transition, HR, fundraising, planning, tribal administration, interim executives, collaboration and mergers), cohort-based education programs (Certificate in Nonprofit Management, Catalyst for Nonprofit Excellence, Executive Leadership Intensive, Fundraising Intensives), the biennial Leadership Summit drawing 500+ attendees, and subscription research products (the Alaska Funders Directory covering ~200 funders, and the Salary and Benefits Report benchmarking 1,500+ nonprofit organizations across seven states). Delivery is split between direct Anchorage delivery and statewide Zoom and teleconference programming, with regional convenings in Homer, Fairbanks, Mat-Su, and Kodiak.

Revenue is generated through a tiered Partner membership program with sliding-scale annual fees ($100-$3,500/year based on organizational budget), program tuition ($2,200-$3,300 per cohort seat), hourly consulting ($135-$300/hour), shared services fees ($75-$140/hour), subscription research products ($100-$325), book sales, and charitable donations from sources including BP Alaska. Operations are led by President/CEO Laurie Wolf (17 years at Foraker, ~30 years in the nonprofit sector) and Vice President/Director of Public Policy Mike Walsh, with a team of more than 25 consultants and a Governance Board plus Statewide Advisory Council. The organization plays an active advocacy role in state and federal policy affecting Alaska nonprofits, including coalition work with the Alaska Community Foundation and Rasmuson Foundation in response to federal funding disruptions.

Name

The Foraker

Legal name

The Foraker Group

Website

https://forakergroup.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Foraker Group is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit association headquartered in Anchorage, Alaska, that builds capacity for 478 Alaska nonprofit and tribal partner organizations through consulting, training, fiscal sponsorship, and shared services grounded in its proprietary Nonprofit Sustainability Model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Capacity Building Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Professional Organizations (81392), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Advancement Services & Donor Operations (CRM, Gift Processing, Stewardship) (EDALAOAD), Association Compliance, Governance & Board Support Services (BPAJAHAN)

Keywords

• Nonprofit consulting services
• Capacity building
• Leadership development programs
• Financial shared services
• Nonprofit training

Headquarters

HQ city

Anchorage

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Nonprofit Partnership Fees: Annual partnership fees from Alaska nonprofits based on organization budget size, ranging from $100 to $3,500/year. Partnership provides discounted access to all services, programs, and products.
2. Educational Programs and Certificates: Revenue from cohort-based programs including Certificate in Nonprofit Management ($2,500–$3,000), Catalyst for Nonprofit Excellence ($2,900–$3,300), and Executive Leadership Intensive ($2,200–$2,750), plus individual classes at $35–$265 per person.
3. Consulting and Professional Services: Customized training, planning, and consulting services billed hourly ($135–$300/hour depending on service type and partner status). Includes Financial Shared Services, Leadership Transition, Interim Executive, Fund Development, Web Development, and Document Review services.
4. Alaska Funders Directory Subscription: Annual subscription to the curated database of ~200 foundations, corporations, and entities funding Alaska nonprofits. Priced at $200/year standard, $100/year for Foraker Partners.
5. Salary and Benefits Report: Annual published report on compensation data for Alaska's nonprofit sector, sold at $325 standard / $275 for Partners.
6. Focus on Sustainability Book Sales: Sale of the book 'Focus on Sustainability: A Nonprofit's Journey' by Dennis McMillian, available on Amazon for $14.99 and at the Foraker office with reduced pricing for bulk orders.
7. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Tax-deductible donations received through Vision Partner program, Momentum Circle (honoring former board members), Alice Galvin Catalyst Leadership Fund, Leadership Summit sponsorship, and special project gifts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The Foraker Group provides capacity-building consulting, training, fiscal sponsorship, and shared services to Alaska nonprofits and tribes. Its core offerings include cohort-based educational programs (Certificate in Nonprofit Management, Catalyst for Nonprofit Excellence, Executive Leadership Intensive), advisory service modules across finance, board development, fundraising, HR, leadership transition, and tribal administration, subscription research products (Alaska Funders Directory, Salary and Benefits Report), and a Partner Network membership tier serving 478 Alaska nonprofit organizations.

Product overview

The Foraker Group operates as a nonprofit state association and capacity building organization serving Alaska nonprofits and tribes. Its offering is a unified portfolio of interconnected services rather than a single software product: it combines cohort-based training programs (Certificate in Nonprofit Management, Catalyst for Nonprofit Excellence, Executive Leadership Intensive, Leadership Summit, Fundraising Intensives), advisory/consulting service modules (financial shared services, board development, HR, fundraising, leadership transition, diversity & inclusion, planning, tribal administration), subscription research products (Alaska Funders Directory, Salary & Benefits Report), and the Foraker Nonprofit Sustainability Model as an overarching framework. Services are delivered at tiered rates with discounted pricing for its Foraker Partner network of 478 Alaska nonprofits.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Foraker Nonprofit Sustainability Model: A holistic approach to making good decisions for the success of nonprofit missions, comprising four lenses: Focus, Right People, Partnerships, and Unrestricted Funds.
• Focus on Sustainability: A Nonprofit's Journey
• Alaska Funders Directory
• 2026 Salary and Benefits Report

Products and services

• Certificate in Nonprofit Management Cohort-based multi-session program for Alaska nonprofit and tribal leaders to apply nonprofit best practices, explore sector challenges, and build a professional network. Partner: $2,500/person; General: $3,000/person. Held at the Foraker office in Anchorage.
• Catalyst for Nonprofit Excellence Leadership development cohort program rooted in emotional intelligence and peer networking, designed to create purpose in participants' careers and lives. Partner: $2,900/person; General: $3,300/person. Scholarships available.
• Executive Leadership Intensive Mentoring and community program for executive directors in their first three years of leadership. Partner: $2,200/person; General: $2,750/person.
• Leadership Summit Biennial gathering of over 500 nonprofit, tribal, and community leaders held every two years in Anchorage for learning, inspiration, and networking.
• Fundraising Intensives Multi-session series guiding participants through creating a fund development plan, implementing a year-end fundraising campaign, and developing long-term fundraising strategies.
• Classes & Series Community classes and series covering nonprofit finance, HR, fundraising, board governance, advocacy, and introductory courses for nonprofit management. Priced $35–$265 per person depending on class length and partner status.
• Financial Shared Services Outsourced accounting and financial management solution for nonprofits, including payroll processing, budget assistance, internal controls, grant reporting, month-end reconciliations, financial statement preparation, scenario planning, and audit preparation. Available only to Partners. Hourly rates from $75 (staff accountant) to $140 (Controller/CFO).
• Leadership Transition Comprehensive executive search and leadership transition planning services, including board alignment, succession planning, and executive onboarding. Available only to Foraker Partners.
• Fiscal Sponsorship Administrative and financial sponsorship space for ideas or collaborative projects that need room to grow.
• Tribal Administration Services Administrative and governance support services tailored for Alaska tribal organizations, connected to the Foraker Nonprofit Sustainability Model.
• Interim Executives Placement of interim executive directors and leadership support during times of organizational transition.
• Foraker Partner Network A membership network of Alaska nonprofits providing discounted rates on services, access to shared services, advocacy network, and priority service access. Fees range from $100 to $3,500/year based on organizational budget. Currently serves 478 Partners.
• Alaska Funders Directory A curated, searchable subscription database of over 200 foundations, corporations, and entities with a history of supporting Alaska nonprofits. Subscription: $200/year for general public; $100/year for Foraker Partners.
• 2026 Salary & Benefits Report & Dashboard Annual compensation benchmark report and interactive dashboard featuring salary data for 54 positions from over 1,500 nonprofits across seven states. Includes regional Alaska breakdowns and benefit data. Price: $325 (general), $275 (partners).
• Focus on Sustainability: A Nonprofit's Journey A book by Dennis McMillian based on the Foraker Nonprofit Sustainability Model, providing practical insights into what makes a nonprofit sustainable. Available on Amazon for $14.99 with reduced pricing for bulk orders at the Foraker office.

Quantifiable outcome

• 478 nonprofit and tribal partners served across all Alaska regions
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Alaska Community Foundation (ACF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 June 2025ACF and Foraker Group are partnering in a coordinated crisis response to support Alaska's nonprofit sector facing disruption from federal grant cancellations and funding freezes. Foraker Group is a key convening partner alongside Rasmuson Foundation and Philanthropy Northwest, helping to deploy resources and redesign capacity-building grants of $5,000-$10,000 for affected nonprofits.
• Alaska Municipal LeaguecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerForaker Group partnered with the Alaska Municipal League on Alaska Federal Funding (akfederalfunding.org), a free clearinghouse for information and resources to help Alaska nonprofits, tribes, and municipal governments make the most of federal funding available under ARPA and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
• Alaska Mental Health Trust AuthorityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority produces bimonthly reports on upcoming funding opportunities and is referenced alongside Foraker's Alaska Funders Directory as a complementary resource for grant seekers.
• CIRI FoundationminorOthersThe CIRI Foundation provides a list of scholarships for Native students. Foraker's Alaska Funders Directory page references this organization as a resource for individuals seeking scholarships, alongside the Alaska Community Foundation's scholarship listings.
• Rasmuson FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRasmuson Foundation is a key philanthropic partner alongside Foraker Group in ACF's coordinated crisis response to support Alaska nonprofits affected by federal funding changes. Both organizations are part of the funder convening network working statewide.
• Philanthropy NorthwestcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhilanthropy Northwest is part of the coordinated crisis response alongside Foraker Group, ACF, and Rasmuson Foundation to support Alaska nonprofits through federal funding disruptions.
• Pick.Click.Give.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerForaker Group is a founding partner of Pick.Click.Give., a program created to celebrate and grow individual philanthropy in Alaska. Foraker encourages donors to contribute through PCG, which allows Alaskans to make charitable donations as part of their Permanent Fund Dividend.
• Department of the Interior - Indian AffairsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReferenced as a partner providing a free federal funding clearinghouse for tribal entities (bia.gov/atc), offered alongside Foraker's Alaska Funders Directory as complementary government grant resources.
• BrightRoad WealthminorOthersBrightRoad Wealth is a sponsor/underwriter of the 2026 Salary & Benefits Report, providing support that enables Foraker to produce and distribute this industry benchmark report for Alaska's nonprofit sector.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• BoardSource: National nonprofit focused on board governance, leadership, and effectiveness — overlapping with Foraker's Board Development service line. Comparable because both monetize governance expertise for the nonprofit sector through training, consulting, and publications.
• Minnesota Council of Nonprofits: Statewide nonprofit association providing capacity-building services, advocacy, and policy leadership in Minnesota. Closest functional analog to Foraker's role in Alaska, with similar membership, training, and advocacy offerings.
• Nonprofit Finance Fund: Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) providing financial management, consulting, and capital to nonprofits. Directly overlaps with Foraker's Financial Shared Services and financial consulting offerings, serving the same client type.
• CompassPoint Nonprofit Services: Regional capacity-building organization serving Bay Area and national nonprofits with consulting, training, and leadership development. Comparable as a direct capacity-building peer offering consulting and cohort-based programs to a regional nonprofit base.
• Alliance for Nonprofit Management: National membership association of nonprofit consultants and capacity builders. Comparable as a peer organization supporting the same ecosystem of nonprofit management consultants that Foraker employs.

Broad incumbents

• Independent Sector: National membership organization for nonprofits, foundations, and corporate giving programs focused on policy, research, and sector advocacy. Broader-scale incumbent with overlapping advocacy and sector-research functions but national rather than regional scope.
• National Council of Nonprofits: National network of state and regional nonprofit associations, including state-level members like Foraker. Directly comparable as the umbrella organization for the nonprofit state-association model Foraker operates at the Alaska level.
• Candid: Major nonprofit data and research organization (formed from Foundation Center + GuideStar). Comparable because Candid operates subscription information products about funders and nonprofits — directly competitive with Foraker's Alaska Funders Directory at a national scale.

Regional players

• Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida: Regional capacity-building organization serving Northeast Florida nonprofits with training, consulting, and shared services. Comparable as a geographic peer — operates the same regional capacity-builder model as Foraker, but in a different market.

Others

• Philanthropy Northwest: Regional association of philanthropic funders across the Pacific Northwest. Listed as a strategic partner in Foraker's crisis response work, but functionally adjacent — convenes funders rather than serving as the statewide nonprofit capacity builder like Foraker.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/theforakergroup
• Instagraminstagram.com/theforakergroup/?hl=en
• Xx.com/forakergroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-foraker-group

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Foraker