We’re pleased to announce the addition of a new staff member whose primary responsibility will be to assist nonprofit and tribal organizations in rural communities. Jonella Larson White started last week and jumped in with both feet when she helped with a series of seven focus groups. We’re very pleased to have her with us. Jonella will be part of the Foraker team that helps nonprofits develop strategic plans, business plans, fund development plans, or other strategies to help them thrive. Her educational background is in rural development and community planning. She is a graduate of the University of Alaska Fairbanks and holds a Master of Liberal Arts degree from Harvard University. Her professional experience includes positions in museums and art galleries in Canada, the Lower ’48 and in Alaska…. Read more »

All of us at The Foraker Group are deeply saddened by the passing of Mary Louise Rasmuson. Her love for Alaska and all of us who live here was steadfast. Her passion never dimmed for helping Alaskans — through her leadership on community issues, her philanthropy, and her volunteer service. Foraker was born of this passion. We are grateful for her inspiration, guidance, and support. We will miss her. Our sympathy goes to the Rasmuson family and everyone at the Rasmuson Foundation. May you be comforted by your memories of a true humanitarian and the legacy of her generosity which is around us every day. Dennis Please visit the Rasmuson Foundation website for a tribute to Mrs. Rasmuson…. Read more »

Recently Dennis McMillian sat down with the Alaska Journal of Commerce to share his perspectives on the impact of the nonprofit sector in Alaska. As we know from our ISER reports, it’s significant. You can read the interview here…. Read more »

The Alaska Association of School Board Officials (ALASBO) summer session, Homer, Alaska July 28, 2012 On one of the sunniest days of 2012, I was with the ALASBO board, inside, in one of Alaska’s nicest places to be outside, Homer. This happened on a day – truth be said – that I would have rather been enjoying our brief summer with family and friends in the sun. That is one of the down sides of our job at Foraker. I, along with many of our staff, meet with boards when they want to meet, often weekends. But all negatives have some positives like my experience today. I met with an emerging nonprofit leadership group, a nonprofit we can use as a positive model. ALASBO supports people who work on the… Read more »

Barrow, July 24, 2012 When I arrived in Barrow yesterday it was sunny (no surprise) and 66 degrees!!! (BIG SURPRISE!!!) It was raining and 50 degrees 725 miles to the south in Anchorage. Today’s smidgen of insight; go figure? Is it time for beachfront property on the Slope? Dennis… Read more »

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 »

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 »