The Foraker Group

Flathead Lake Montana — October 9, 2011 While this may look like Alaska, today I am at Flathead Lake where the University of Montana conducts research on fisheries and climate change. The Montana Nonprofit Association asked us to assist them in a retreat with one of their most significant members. I was lucky enough to get to come to this beautiful part of our country, just outside of Kalispell about 65 miles south of the Canadian border. My smidgen of insight this time is how lucky we are in Alaska to live in an environment that so many people in the Lower 48 wish for. While Montana is truly beautiful and has many wilderness areas, it is still easier for people to invade their remote places than it is in… Read more »

This action alert was issued by the National Council of Nonprofits last week. Please consider if your organization should be involved…. Read more »

We are currently planning our educational program for 2012 and we want to be sure we’re offering the classes you want. We’ve prepared a very brief survey that will help us learn what classes you are interested in and when you would like to take them. As our thanks for sharing your thoughts with us, we will offer you a free two-hour class for participating in the survey. Please click here and you will go to the survey, which will take you less than five minutes to complete. Thanks…. Read more »

Nome — September 28, 2011 Locals complained that the summer of ’11 was not so nice. It was rainy and cold. But Mother Nature must have felt sorry for them since today had to be one of the nicest late September days on record here. I was in town to facilitate a Funder’s Forum for a group of grant writers from Nome and neighboring villages. These sessions are where the Denali Commission, Mental Health Trust, Alaska Housing, HUD, USDA, DCCED, and Rasmuson present their programs and connect with local communities so they will ask for funding for their priority projects. These sessions have been held for over a decade and have been presented in at least a dozen communities. They are useful for the communities and also a great way… Read more »

“Community Building for Alaska,” is a two-day workshop facilitated by Louise Van Rhyn, a passionate social entrepreneur from South Africa, on October 24-25th at the APU Campus in Anchorage. This experiential workshop will bring together community leaders, philanthropists, business leaders, and citizens from rural and urban Alaska. Share your knowledge and experience, become engaged, and participate in meaningful community building dialog. Space is limited. Click here for more information or to reserve your seat…. Read more »

I took a brief sabbatical from the blog because my travels during the summer were more personal, so I had fewer work related insights. But now that fall is here, the normal hectic pace at Foraker is on steroids and we are all booked solid through the year. We are not complaining, just stating the fact that we are busy. A lot of this work is predictable, but it seems we are doing much more than last year at this time. Yesterday and today I was in Kodiak. A beautiful place in the rain or shine and this trip we had both. Yesterday was with one of my favorite boards, the Senior Citizens of Kodiak. They are smart, engaged, and partnering as they should with their ED. They are a… Read more »

Alaskans who filed for the 2011 Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) between January 1 and March 31 have seven more days to make Pick. Click. Give. charitable contributions. The PFD Division homepage will accept new contributions to over 400 nonprofit causes through August 31. “The regular PFD filing season saw nearly 20,000 Alaskans pledging over $1.5 million,” said Jordan Marshall, special projects manager with Rasmuson Foundation. “These generous, optional gifts support important causes across the entire state and improve our quality of life. “If you gave through Pick. Click. Give., thank you!” said Marshall. “If, however, you forgot or ran out of time or you simply want to make a safe and secure charitable contribution today, you can.” The PFD Division homepage – www.pfd.state.ak.us – prominently features an “Add or Change… Read more »

Recognize the community champions that support your mission and our community! The Alaska Philanthropy Day Awards Luncheon is Friday, November 18, 2011 at the Dena’ina Civic & Convention Center. We are now accepting nominations in the following categories: Outstanding Business, Corporation, Foundation in Philanthropy Outstanding Small Business in Philanthropy Outstanding Philanthropist Outstanding Volunteer in Philanthropy Outstanding Youth (or Youth Group) in Philanthropy Outstanding Professional in Philanthropy Eugene R. Wilson Award The AFP Alaska Chapter annual awards program recognizes outstanding achievements by individuals, foundations and corporate philanthropists, fundraising volunteers and professional fundraisers. These awards are given in recognition to those individuals and organizations whose lifetime or long-term achievements have made a significant impact upon society. For more information, awards criteria, and nomination forms, visit http://afpalaska.afpnet.org/Home.aspx and look at What’s New. Nominations… Read more »

Alaskans can add or change their donations through the 2011 Pick.Click.Give. program until August 31. Even though the deadline for filing for a Permanent Fund Dividend has passed, the state provides additional time for those who have filed to donate to participating nonprofits. Instructions are available on the Pick.Click.Give. website…. Read more »

Today is Sunday, July 31st. I am sitting on the front porch of a cabin at Camp Denali. The family that owns this paradise has “adopted” us. So occasionally we get a deal we cannot refuse to visit this great place. We come to be inside the Park and luxuriate in Alaska’s magnificence. After we woke this morning and had a delicious gourmet breakfast, we hiked to Wonder Lake where we paddled around a while. I found my knees were not as durable as they were 45 years ago when I spent summers working at camps. I survived but was a bit sore this time. The mountain isn’t out today. Too bad, because from this porch on the right day we could be front and center to the view what… Read more »