The Foraker Group

For the first time in a few weeks, my blog originates in Alaska, at my desk, which may seem a rare occurrence. I am not sure how my staff reacts to a sighting of “Live Dennis” since “Cardboard Dennis” or “Bobble Head Dennis” is the form they are more familiar with. However, they humor me and seem happy to see the real one from time to time. We work hard during the summer, but it seems the hectic schedule of facilitation calms a bit as most Alaskans are fishing, hiking, looking for “Sun” Days, or doing almost anything besides retreating with their favorite nonprofit. That lull in activity allows us to focus on some of our mission related activities, like representing the sector to leadership throughout the state. We have… Read more »

The Alaska Congressional Delegation extends an invitation to attend a Grants Symposium and Town Hall in Anchorage, Alaska on Wednesday, June 1, 2011 from 11 am – 5 pm at the Dena’ina Center. With the current moratorium on Congressionally-directed spending items in annual appropriations bills, it is important Alaskans be adequately informed about the federal grant programs already available and the proper steps to qualify for and obtain grant funds. A number of federal agencies have been invited to the Grants Symposium and are requested to send representatives to host a booth, provide information for distribution, and be available to answer questions specific to the grant process for their respective agencies. Representatives are also invited to give a brief presentation to attendees about their agency’s priorities and grant opportunities. The… Read more »

Having been raised in the steamy South, it may seem strange that my tolerance for humidity is as low as it is. After four days in our nation’s capital, I am sticky and drained from the heat. Nonetheless, almost every trip to DC is a good one. I have nothing but fond memories from here and always feel hopeful after every visit, even when things seem bleak. This trip was focused on attending the National Council of Nonprofit’s annual meeting. Today the Foraker staff met with staff from our delegation’s offices. They all showed up (except for Congressman Young’s staff), including Governor Parnell’s DC staffer. The smidgen of insight today is how lucky we are as Alaskans to have access to our leaders in Congress. I showed up unannounced at… Read more »

Well, it’s 6:00 PM EDT, the time recognized by some as the “end of days.” I am flying somewhere over Idaho or Wyoming on the way to D.C. and if anything is ending below, I can’t tell. I will assume all is well and take comfort that whenever that day comes, I will have done all I can to help others and live my life to the fullest, so will not worry. And since I plan to be here next week, Mike Walsh, Laurie Wolf and I are on our way to Washington to attend the annual gathering of the National Council of Nonprofits. We will participate in two days of sharing with our state association peers. On Wednesday, May 25, we will visit the Hill and see the delegation…. Read more »

Juneau, AK Yesterday’s rain has given way to today’s sun. Three cruise ships are in port so the season has begun. Nine Southeast communities are engaged in their first Economic Summit. The energy in the room and the renewed commitment to work collaboratively should indicate progress for their region and their communities. Before coming to Juneau, Chris Kowalczewski (Pre-Development) , Raj Shankar (Shared Financial Services) and I attended a conference in Los Angeles coordinated by the Tides Foundation. The focus of the conference was shared space and shared services. I also met with the Weingart Foundation — they’re interested in increasing the capacity of nonprofits in LA. The smidgen of insight this time is on how lucky we are to have such progressive and strategic funders who support nonprofits in… Read more »

Rasmuson Foundation was named the Wilmer Shields Rich Gold Award winner for Public Policy Campaigns by the Council on Foundations (COF). The Foundation was selected based on its work to increase individual giving in Alaska through Pick. Click. Give., which allows individual Alaskans to share their Permanent Fund Dividend with Alaska nonprofits. Awards for Public Policy Campaigns are bestowed once every two years. In his letter to Rasmuson Foundation, COF President Steve Gunderson wrote that Pick. Click. Give. “demonstrates Rasmuson Foundation’s commitment to public accountability and effective communications and serves as a model of excellence for other grantmakers.” “The Pick. Click. Give. campaign just completed its third consecutive year of 100 percent growth in the amount of dollars pledged,” said Rasmuson Foundation President Diane Kaplan. “The Foundation recognized from the… Read more »

I’m in Seward today and wow, when it’s sunny in Seward there are not many more places as beautiful – except for the rest of Alaska on a sunny day. A lot has happened since my last blog entry. Last week I became a “shining star” according to Congregation Beth Shalom and was most honored by the great friends in attendance and by others who spoke. Most important, I was able to thank my Alaskan staff and board members for their efforts to help me look good. And most important of all, I got to thank my family for helping me shine. I left that night for Las Vegas to spend time with an Alaska Native group that I have had the privilege to work with for five years. It… Read more »

Today I am in Portland – a truly different universe (Portlandia?). Soon I will be on Horizon Air to Seattle – then home tonight so I can be at my board meeting in the morning. I serve on the national board of Camp Fire and was here to visit one of the best Council’s (Alaska’s Council is still #1) and to see some of the program officers at Murdock Trust on Foraker business. The meetings went well, but I am a bit blue – maybe jealous – after watching how good, committed, and creative the Portland Camp Fire ED was. All of the characteristics I outlined in the April newsletter on great nonprofit CEO’s were manifested in his performance today. He was socially intelligent, courageous, and he was totally committed… Read more »

Hello from sunny and warm, 82 degrees, Philadelphia,PA. I am here at the Council on Foundations annual conference. Alaska’s own Diane Kaplan was asked to present on foundation investment in nonprofit capacity building. She asked Steve Moore, CEO of the Murdock Charitable Trust, to co-lead the session – and they asked me to be present to answer specific questions about nonprofit capacity. There was a standing room only crowd in a too hot room, but no one left early and the discussion was good. Also at the conference, Rasmuson Foundation won the Gold Award for public policy work for Pick. Click. Give. It’s nice to run into many familiar people at this gathering. Jeff Jessee and Delisa Culpepper from the Alaska Mental Health Trust are here – along with Jeff… Read more »

From the Chronicle of Philanthropy Alaska Program Prompts Residents to Pledge Dividend Payments to Charity April 6, 2011, 10:22 am By Peter Bolton Alaska residents pledged more than $1.5-million this year to nonprofits as part of a program that encourages residents to give a portion of state dividend payments they receive to charity. The effort is tied to Alaska’s permanent fund dividend program, which gives Alaskans one quarter of the royalties collected through oil and natural-gas drilling projects. Each Alaska resident gets an equal payment, which typically ranges from $300 to just under $2,000 annually. Three years ago, the state began encouraging residents to consider giving some of their dividends to charity through a program called “Pick. Click. Give.” Click here to see the entire story…. Read more »