The Foraker Group

Mountain View Diner, Alaska Today the staffs of the Rasmuson Foundation and The Foraker Group met for the first time! In reality many people knew each other already but the two staffs have never met at a special event. And there are some people on each staff that had never met each other, even though the institutions are strategic partners and coordinate efforts to support Alaska. The snippet of insight today is that even though Alaska is like a small town where everyone knows each other’s business, we still need to be intentional to connect. Through partnerships we are stronger. The Foraker sustainability model points out that one of the critical factors for sustainability is partnerships. Identify your partners and celebrate your success!! Dennis… Read more »

1,500 feet over the Brooks Range — July 16 Today Gretchen Specht, Foraker’s Controller, and I visited Anaktuvuk Pass. This remote community was established in the 1960’s when the only Inupiaq community living away from the coast settled in a mountain pass where their primary subsistence food, caribou, migrate. I recommend this as a great place to visit for a bucket list. We came as a part of a capacity building initiative funded by Shell and USDA. In a few hours we helped two organizations with accounting questions, connected other leaders to resources to enhance their food pantry and establish a clothes closet for those in need, guided a young Native entrepreneur toward a process so he could realize his dream, provided assistance to the museum seeking accreditation, and maybe… Read more »

The Patient Protection Affordable Care Act or (ACA) is re-confirmed as the law by the Supreme Court. We have received calls about the impact of this decision. The simple response is as employers we can either offer insurance to our employees or our employees will need to find their own coverage. Click here to learn more…. Read more »

The Alaska Native Heritage Center celebrated the news that it was the recipient of a $295,000 grant by presenting an ancient and unusual Yup’ik Eskimo dance performed with an enormous mask. The Center was one of four Alaska art groups that will receive over $1 million from the national ArtPlace initiative. Read more-… Read more »

After nearly a decade of explosive growth, federal spending in Alaska has turned flat. A new analysis of federal spending in Alaska by Scott Goldsmith, professor of economics at ISER, finds that except for temporary stimulus funds provided under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, federal spending in the state has been roughly the same for the past several years. The analysis discusses the composition of federal spending in Alaska, reviews stimulus spending, and provides examples of the importance of federal funds to the state economy. It also corrects a serious error in data reported by the U.S. Department of Commerce on federal spending in Alaska. Read study-… Read more »

Barrow At the end of whaling season the residents of Barrow celebrate their bounty. It’s called Nalukataq. The successful crews who work together to harvest this important and meaningful subsistence food now share with the entire community. Elders sit around the perimeter of the activity to observe and assure all is well while children run freely in the excitement of the moment. The traditional blanket toss, first used as a technique to spot whales, is a highlight for all adding to the high energy and celebration. Today’s smidgen of insight is that community and celebration are intertwined. We need each other and having predictable ways of expressing this connectedness is important. Dennis… Read more »

Each year the Rasmuson Foundation generously offers sabbaticals to nonprofit leaders, allowing them to take time away from the office to refresh and energize. Learn more about the program and how you can apply by clicking here…. Read more »

Just a reminder — the deadline for applying for this year’s Foraker Certificate program is June 28. Click here for more information…. Read more »

Have you checked out our Catalyst for Nonprofit Excellence program? We’re taking appllications right now. Click here to learn more…. Read more »

Are you interested in a program for nonprofit leaders who are ready to explore their path, energize, envision their next steps, and enhance what they have to offer? Check out our Catalyst for Nonprofit Excellence program. Click here. Deadline for application is July 27. Our graduates from last year tell us it was a “powerful experience” that helped them clarify their leadership style and the way they engage in their lives. Please note that the dates for the opening sessions in September have changed slightly since our earlier post…. Read more »