The Alaska Funders Group is a loose knit group of community, corporate and private funders who meet quarterly to build network, share opportunities, and exchange ideas and practices. Philanthropy Northwest provides basic support services.

Last Thursday, about 40 people convened at The Alaska Community Foundation to hear two corporate funders – Kaladi Brothers Coffee and The Pebble Partnership – discuss the role of community giving and supporting practices within their respective organizations.

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Posted by Aleesha Towns-Bain, Program Associate

It’s a whole lot easier to get excited about oral hygiene when you get to brandish an oversized toothbrush like a sword—ready to take on the evils of plaque buildup and banish cavities for life with a flourish. At least that’s what I thought when I saw photos of a young tooth-brush wielding cowboy at the MouthPower exhibit, which made its first stop in Juneau earlier this spring.

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Summertime is upon us, and at Rasmuson Foundation and we’re excited to join with many of our partners in celebration of all things related to Mountain View neighborhood in Anchorage. Here’s a peek at what’s happening in the neighborhood.

Credit Union 1 opens its Mountain View branch
Our hearty congratulations go out to Credit Union 1, which opened its Mountain View branch on June 7, 2010. Credit Union 1 has become the first financial institution to enter the Mountain View community in more than 20 years. Modern banking services are now within reach of the 80 percent of Mountain View families who do not own a vehicle. The branch includes a police substation, community internet access, a conference room for civic groups, financial education classes, and a protected bus stop for easy access. Credit Union 1 designed each feature to inspire positive change and social progress in our friends’ and neighbors’ lives. Thank you! (more…)

posted by Jeff Clarke, Vice President

We’ve been following mobile technology trends and experimenting with social media for several years. Last year, we began to notice that an increasing number of visitors to our web site were using mobile devices or smartphones of all types as their point of access. Knowing that regular web sites are designed for desktop-sized monitors, we knew that those visiting us via smartphones were not likely to have a good experience on our site.

We are happy to announce the release of our mobile browser. Just go to www.rasmuson.org from your ‘Droid, iPhone, Blackberry or mobile device of choice and we’ll serve up a site that is specifically designed for you (and fits in your smartphone’s screen!). The mobile browser is in “Beta” form which means we are most interested in your feedback as the primary way through which to improve both it and your experience. So please visit, test it, and share your candid feedback. But most importantly, enjoy it!

Aside from our visitors telling us they increasingly prefer mobile internet, what other events have informed our thinking? Here is a brief outline:

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When Ed Rasmuson took to the stage on Saturday, May 22 to celebrate the completion of the latest expansion of the Anchorage Museum at Rasmuson Center, it was a culminating moment in the decades-long vision of the Rasmuson family to build a great museum for all Alaskans.

Seated in the front row during the opening ceremony, in the atrium named in her honor, was Mary Louise Rasmuson. Stalwart champions of the arts, Mary Louise and Elmer Rasmuson were involved with the Anchorage Museum since its inception.

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On the morning of May 27, 2010, in a standing-room only ceremony held in the Rasmuson Foundation boardroom, Governor Sean Parnell signed a bill into law. The bill ensures the Pick. Click. Give. (PCG) Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) Charitable Contributions Program will forever be an annual feature of the online PFD application. PCG provides Alaskans a chance to donate all or a portion of their PFD to eligible Alaska nonprofit organizations, community foundations, and university campuses when they file online. With the stroke of his pen, Governor Parnell made permanent a dream to increase the number of people who give to Alaska nonprofits, as well as the total amount of charitable dollars that are donated, by aligning the PFD application process with the opportunity to donate to worthy causes. (more…)