A message from President Gretchen Guess

The key is all of you

In my first months at Rasmuson Foundation, I’ve been listening and learning, connecting with those new to me and reconnecting with those I’ve known since I was a kid in East Anchorage.

As part of my transition, our board and staff are guiding a series of community conversations. In visits to Juneau, we sat down with tribal and nonprofit leaders and experienced the joy of a totem-raising ceremony. In Fairbanks, we talked about ways to transform the behavioral health care system. In Southcentral, our partners at Mat-Su Health Foundation organized a meet-and-greet with local leaders. These gatherings offer so many good ideas.

My summer and fall itinerary includes virtual convenings with Pacific Islander, Latino and LGBTQ+ communities and visits to hubs and villages all over Alaska: Bethel, Chickaloon, Dillingham, Golovin, Kenai, Ketchikan, Kodiak, Kotzebue, Napakiak, Nome, Sitka and Utqiaġvik.

It’s clear that nonprofits, tribes and local governments are doing impactful, innovative work even in the face of big challenges. We are hearing about pressing needs for affordable housing, accessible broadband, local workforces, and, as Chair Adam Gibbons notes, food security.

Whether your project is big or small, we want to hear from you. While we don’t fund everything, we fund all kinds of things, from four-wheelers to flooring, from libraries to health clinics. Our mission is to promote a better life for Alaskans.  

Our staff and I always visit communities. As our team member Deborah Vo says, it’s one thing to read a grant proposal on paper and another to fly or boat in for coffee with local leaders. Vo is originally from Saint Mary’s, 450 miles from Anchorage on the Andreafsky River.

Thank goodness for all who do the hard work to help Alaskans thrive. I’m thankful for you. Let’s have coffee — and a conversation.

Our door is open.

Gratefully,