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 »

The Department of Health and Social Services and the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium invite you to take part in “Healthy Alaskans 2020” by sharing with them the health priorities for you and your organization. Visit their website at www.HA2020.alaska.gov before Oct. 22, 2012, to take a brief survey and to find out more about this initiative…. Read more »

Chief Shake’s House, Wrangell, Alaska – Sept. 5, 2012 Today I am in the green and beautiful southeast Alaska community of Wrangell. A few years ago I spent many days here working with the community to help them complete a new conference center and museum, the Nolan Center. Now another group, representatives of its first inhabitants (the tribe), are nearing completion of another dream, the renovation of their most important structures, Chief Shake’s House. And while this is cause for celebration the same group is also closing in on the starting date for another big project, a carving shed, where a new generation of carvers, like the ones who used to live on this island and create magnificent totems, are identified, developed and nurtured. The smidgen of insight today is… Read more »

Alaska Native Heritage Center – August 28 Today I am on the 16th annual Rasmuson Foundation grant maker tour. Since 1996 the foundation has invited the most significant foundations in America to learn about Alaska. They visit nonprofits in Anchorage and Sitka, but also get to see life in the YK Delta and the North Slope. This year funders from Murdock Trust, Cargill, Rockefeller Brothers, Knight, Robert Wood Johnson, Moore, Ferguson and a guest from consultant TCC Group spent a week in Alaska. The smidgen of insight today is the amount of money provided by the Rasmuson Foundation is magnified by the capital of goodwill they create through such efforts. Dennis… Read more »

The New York Times has featured the Southcentral Foundation in a story on advances in health care reform. According to the article, at a recent conference in Anchorage foundation officials “described techniques that could be adopted by almost any health care organization willing to transform its culture.” The story outlines efficiencies that have been instituted while improving patient care. Read the full story here…. Read more »

Alliance for Nonprofit Management Conference, Grand Rapids, Michigan – August 10, 2012 Today is day two of the Alliance conference. I was recently asked to serve on the Alliance board whose mission is to improve the capacity of professionals involved in building the capacity of the nonprofit sector. There have been good sessions with some ideas I will bring home for Foraker. As important, I have been able to re-connect with Terry Horton, former Foraker staff member who now serves as a consultant with the Johnson Center at Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids. Today’s smidgen of insight is that all organizations are struggling with their business model and with evaluation. The Alliance is comprised of many of the most respected thought leaders in the sector, yet they, too,… Read more »

August 7, 2012 — Salt Lake City, Utah. Today I was in Salt Lake, actually woke up in Park City to work with the Utah Hospital Association. Two Alaskans – Ed Lamb, former CEO at Alaska Regional and now running a health system in Utah, and Rod Betit, former CEO of the Alaska Hospital and Nursing Home Association, now the interim exec at the Utah association – asked for a little “Forakering” for the board here. The smidgen of insight is that all nonprofit sub-sectors are preparing for change and that’s a good thing because change is imminent. The challenge is that it is hard to predict what to do with all things so uncertain. It reminded me to remind you that our efforts to help the sector know that… Read more »

Since the beginning, Foraker’s benefit program has focused on wellness. As part of this effort, our program provides health coaching. We are pleased to see that other Alaska nonprofits are supporting wellness for their employees and community. Check out this recent report on NPR — click here…. Read more »