I think of my grandfather when I say, “I remember when-.” Well- I remember, I think it was in 1996, when Diane Kaplan dreamed one of her big dreams and promoted that vision to Ed Rasmuson. She proposed that one way to invest their (then) limited funding to leverage more dollars for Alaska projects would be to invite leaders of the most significant institutional funders, both foundations and corporations, to Alaska where they could learn about our unique challenges and opportunities. She assumed that the Rasmuson Foundation would have much more potential for impact in cooperation with these enlightened funding partners. At that time the Rasmuson Foundation’s payout was approximately $300,000 – not even close to the $20 million the foundation gave out last year. Elmer Rasmuson also supported the… Read more »

The challenges facing Alaska nonprofits that rely too heavily on government funding was covered recently by the Alaska Dispatch, an online news service. The story, which includes comments from Foraker President Dennis McMillian, echoes the message we have been delivering for some time now: Alaska nonprofits are overly dependent on government grants and need to diversify their funding sources. The story also talks about the success of Pick.Click.Give. in promoting individual giving. Foraker’s work has shown that individual giving and earned income are two sources of sustainable revenue that need to be developed by nonprofits if they hope to survive and thrive. Click here to read the article…. Read more »

A recently released study — the 2013 State of the Nonprofit Sector Survey — details changes organizations are making after years of economic stress. You can read more about the survey here. A survey analyzer allows you to filter the national results by various categories. For example, 32 Alaska nonprofits took part in the survey and you can see the results for those organizations here…. Read more »

The Foraker Group was named a full state association member of the National Council of Nonprofits this week. According to the Council, the designation recognizes Foraker’s achievement as a leader for charitable nonprofits in Alaska. In a statement issued yesterday, the Council said: “The Foraker Group has been serving Alaska’s nonprofits for more than a decade. Led by Council of Nonprofits Board Member Dennis McMillian, The Foraker Group has been providing not just leadership and high quality trainings, but also a suite of back office services and consulting services, making Alaska’s nonprofits stronger every day.” The Council also recognized Foraker’s publication of Focus on Sustainability: A Nonprofit’s Journey, a guide for nonprofit staff and board members on how to approach sustainability more holistically…. Read more »

At the recent Foraker Leadership Summit, Diane Kaplan, President and CEO of the Rasmuson Foundation, launched the new Foraker book on nonprofit sustainability. The book, Focus on Sustainability: A Nonprofit’s Journey, was written by Dennis McMillian. You can read a summary by clicking here. The book is available for sale at the Foraker office, or on Amazon.com…. Read more »

Nonprofit Finance Fund is conducting its fifth annual nationwide survey examining the current state of the nonprofit sector and is looking for Alaska participation. The survey, which is anonymous and takes only 10 minutes to fill out, collects data on important financial and management issues facing the nonprofit sector. To take the 2013 survey, please click on this link before February 15. Also, please do pass on the link to other nonprofit managers you know—the more survey respondents, the more representative and accurate the findings will be. NFF will analyze the results and provide them to all of us—nonprofits, government, foundations, lending institutions, media, and umbrella organizations—in late March. Also, all survey respondents who choose to give their contact information will receive the results directly. The findings, and the comparison… Read more »

For sure, predicting the future is a risky business. Still, during the past year I wrote a number of articles to predict what could be on the horizon. Only time will tell if the trends we suggest – like the funding crisis, crash of the herd, or structural changes – are real or not. Or if the hopeful visions about the impact of technology or the new insights into human behavior described in last month’s newsletter actually revolutionize how we solve problems. But today I will be more concrete and provide a more predictable future for 2013. Unlike our prior “guesses,” you should be able to bank on these. Click here to read more…. Read more »

The Pre-Development Program has just completed its first performing arts project and learned a lot about theater—and construction costs in the Valley—in the process. Valley Performing Arts has been presenting live theatre in the Mat-Su Valley for over 37 years. Performances were first held in the log Colony Church at the state fairgrounds and the audience was limited to 64. In 1996, VPA moved that converted pole barn and connected it to an auto repair shop in Wasilla, thus increasing the number of patrons who could attend each performance to 172. But the need for an even larger venue was documented by routinely sold-out performances and the growing number of season ticket holders. Support space for the performers and productions was also inadequate. Pre-D’s first task was to establish the… Read more »

I feel the need to respond to a Compass piece in this morning’s Anchorage Daily News in which the writer expressed concern about what she considers little benefit for funds invested. I’m not sure what organizations the writer worked in, but having worked with more nonprofits than maybe anyone in Alaska I have had a much different experience. Most nonprofits are very focused and squeeze more from every dime they receive than many for-profit corporations or government agencies. In addition, the people who work in the sector often deal with people, or clients, with “drama” in their lives. But nonprofit employees by far are generous and caring for their community and their coworkers. I will not deny the writer’s perceptions because they must be real to her, but maybe she… Read more »

October 31, 2012 – Kodiak Kodiak’s seniors are not too old to celebrate Halloween! Over half the seniors at lunch today were in costume. I came as the scariest character, as an aging Baby Boomer. My generation is so afraid of growing old, but reality is catching up to us. I am learning to embrace my “inner elder.” Today’s smidgen of insight is that as we are witnessing the results of another natural disaster and the dependence we all have on a government and nonprofit response, that we remind elected officials not to dismantle the safety net our nation depends upon. The generations in this picture are the Americans that survived the last economic meltdown. They created these safety nets and are encouraging us Boomers to vote next week and… Read more »