Please join us this week for our Annual Meeting as we celebrate the good work of grant recipients and generosity of donors who help to make the Southern Kenai Peninsula a better place to live. Enjoy a glass of wine or a cup of tea, visit with friends and neighbors, community leaders and donors.
The meeting features the presentation of our latest annual report, including investment performance review, highlights from our grant programs, and stories of how you, the donors, are strengthening our community.
In addition, you have a chance to win one of three different $500 People’s Choice Award mini-grants for your favorite eligible nonprofit. Each person registered by 6:00 PM will be entered for a chance at nominating an eligible nonprofit from the Southern Kenai Peninsula to receive one of these awards!
We are your community foundation, we hope to see you there.
Please note: this is an in person meeting, no Zoom available
Did you see the exciting news from the Homer Foundation: the Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) Grant program is now live and accepting applications through November 28th, 2023? This program is accepting applications from organizations that provide programs or services to the youth of the southern Kenai Peninsula. You are included because your organization has received funding from this program before or I thought it might be of interest.
This year, the committee is looking to support projects or programs that support any youth program/project on the southern Kenai Peninsula. Preference is for out-of-school programming and for programs that target some or all of the 4-14 age range.
For more information or to apply, find our application here.
This is a competitive grant program with a total amount of $20,000 awarded.
Apply by November 28, 2023.
Do reach out if you have any questions or concerns to Office and Programs Manager Lauren Seaton at lseaton@homerfoundation.org or 907-235-0544.
How your giving has helped make a difference in your community
Recent Grants
Burning Basket: $1,200 from Bryce Golden Memorial and Opportunity Funds
Burning Basket is celebrating 20 years and has received a $1,200 grant from the Homer Foundation to support project expenses.
This is a grassroots community interactive, impermanent art experience that builds community and empowers individuals through creativity and imagination. All ages are invited to participate in the building of a large outdoor intricately woven sculpture at Mariner Park Sept. 3-9, daily from 11am-8pm, to learn new skills and share ideas, and to decorate it in the theme of gratitude, remembrance of departed loved ones and personal unburdening. The basket, as temporary art, is ultimately ignited and burned as a performance of fire-art to symbolically disperse our collective positive intentions and is experienced by many as public art as a healing force. This year’s theme is CREATE – Basket of Remembrance & Unburdening.
Alaska World Arts: $5,000 from Opportunity Fund
Alaska World Arts aims to cultivate global connections through the arts. While they can’t take a whole community to see how other cultures live, Alaska World Arts is working to bring those cultures to
Homer and expose our community to a broader worldview.
AWA recently received a $5,000 Quick Response Grant from the Opportunity Fund for costs associated with the production of a night of two musical performances with AbbaFab, an Abba tribute band; a night of storytelling with an NPR Moth winner, a New Zealand storyteller, homesteader Atz
Kilcher, a black history storyteller, and a world-traveler; African dance and drumming workshops; and an international
dance performance.
Nanwalek IRA: $4,032 Grant from the Opportunity Fund
The Nanwalek IRA Council has run a summer youth worker program for over twenty years. With the first round of COVID relief funding, the council also decided to purchase a greenhouse, with the intention for the summer youth worker program to maintain the greenhouse each summer with food produced for the entire village of Nanwalek. In addition to planting, the youth are learning about seed gathering, fertilizing, and composting while waiting for the plants to grow. They received a grant of $4,032 from the Homer Foundation to implement this program.
Annual Donor Thank You Picnic
The Foundation’s 2023 thank you picnic for donors was our best-attended ever. After welcoming 60 guests a year ago, this year’s picnic drew 80 donors!
A special tribute video was shown and a presentation was made to mark a significant lifetime giving milestone by Dave & Beth Schroer, who have heavily invested in our local community, particularly in the schools. The Schroer’s lifetime contributions to the Homer Foundation have now reached $1 Million!
In addition, our Executive Director, Mike Miller, and our Board President, Van Hawkins, both spoke and gave updates on the state of the Foundation. Giving in fiscal year 2023 was exceptional, and enabled the Foundation to do some robust grant making right here at home on the Southern Kenai Peninsula. We had an increase of 90 donors this year, up a whopping 25% over our last fiscal year. We had 313 donors a year ago, but this year went over 400 donors, our most ever! We have also reached $10 Million in total donations since our founding in 1991, as well as $5 Million granted out to the community. What a year of milestones!
Whether you were able to make it to the picnic or not, we are grateful for every one of our donors, and every dollar given. You are the ones who make it possible to improve the quality of life for residents of our communities – from Ninilchik to Nanwalek, and everywhere in between!
Update from the Executive Director
Summer… finally
Staff Transition
As many of you know, 7/31 was Director of Development and Marketing Jonathan Hamilton’s last day with the Homer Foundation. Jonathan did a great job making the Homer Foundation better known in our area. Through social media, mailings, and radio he spread information about the good work of the Homer Foundation. He is looking forward to spending time with his family and being a pastor of a church in Anchor Point. We will miss him.
The good news is that after recruiting all over Alaska and the Pacific Northwest, we have found our next Director of Development and Marketing right here in Homer. Jennifer Gibbins will start in the position on September 5th. Most recently Jennifer was the executive director of the Pratt Museum until March of this year. Before that, Jennifer held several communications and executive positions in nonprofits in Alaska. Jennifer brings great experience, nonprofit knowledge about marketing and fundraising, and a passion for this area. We look forward to having her on board.
Summer. Get out and enjoy it while it’s here!
Mike
Philanthropy Fact of the Month
Charities need flexibility in how they use donations. Designating money to a specific project is great, but you should also consider giving without conditions, allowing the organization the flexibility to meet changing needs – including just keeping the lights on.
Many thanks to the attendees and especially the table captains who made this event a success. With your help we raised nearly $50,000 for the foundation’s work. Whether you came and donated or just learned more about the Homer Foundation, we’re grateful you joined us.
A special thank you to our anonymous $5,000 match donor! Thank you Land’s End and Wagon Wheel for your sponsorship. We’re already looking forward to 2024!
Recent Grants
Bunnell Street Arts Center – $5,000 Opportunity Fund Grant
Bunnell received a quick-response grant from the Homer Foundation’s Opportunity Fund this month to “support a year of artist residencies focused on health, healing, and sparking joy.”
The project was inspired by post-pandemic realities for Alaskans such as stress, depression, and loss of hope.
Bunnell notes that this program will, “cultivate artistic skill and imagination, celebrate and share the diversity of Alaska’s cultures, and promote creative play that inspires joy while also enhancing mental and/or physical health.”
The artist residencies will be from one week to one month long, and applicants will be reviewed through a competitive jury process. Bunnell is partnering with the likes of the City of Homer, Ninilchik Village Tribe, Chugachmiut, KPBSD, US Fish & Wildlife Visitors Center, and/or a local service organization such as the R.E.C. Room teen center, Haven House, South Peninsula Behavioral Health, or Kachemak Bay Conservation Society.
Friends of the Homer Public Library- $4,990 Opportunity Fund Grant
FHPL received a quick-response grant from the Homer Foundation’s Opportunity Fund this month to support their “Summer @HPL 2023 Reading & Learning Program” June 1 – July 29.
The program “promotes literacy and provides kids, teens, and families with exciting opportunities to engage in informal learning at the Homer Public Library.”
FHPL works hard to connect local youth to visiting mentors and experts. Participants learn new skills and also connect to the library in different and unique ways.
The national theme this year is “Find Your Voice,” and encourages families to engage in the program and express themselves.
Pier One Theatre- $5,000 Opportunity Fund Grant
Pier One received a quick-response grant from the Homer Foundation’s Opportunity Fund this month to support five summer camps for youth ages 5-17.
The program features a variety of offerings such as “Cosmic Hamlets: Shakescene, with the students delving into the works of Shakespeare; Theatre Play, the opportunity to create and explore onstage; Store on the Stage, introducing students to the elements of plot, setting, character, and dialogue; and Production and Theatre Skills with a fully staged theatrical production of Anne of Green Gables.”
Additionally, Pier One will be taking its show in the road this year by offering a Seldovia Drama Camp where students will “explore a wide variety of theatrical techniques and styles with scene study and improv exercises.”
Giving Opportunity: Bear Creek Festival
June 3rd – 1:00 – 5:00 PM
Announcing the 4th Bear Creek Winery Music Festival!
This is the largest donor-driven fundraiser for any Homer Foundation fund, and is sponsored by the Winery. 100% of all the proceeds from this event go to the Nikki Geragotelis (Fry) Memorial Scholarship Fund, and the Homer Mariner Girl’s Softball Fund–both benefiting the athletes of Homer High School.
Come enjoy live music, local food and drinks, fabulous prizes, auctions, and you get a cookie at the end (all included). This year’s headliner is Black Water Railroad from Seward. Hope to see you all there on June 3rd at 1:00!
Get Show Details and Tickets on Eventbrite.com, the Bear Creek Winery facebook page, or by contacting Bill Fry at: (907) 299-1689.
Update from the Executive Director
City of Homer Grants Program
One of the services we provide is the administration of the City of Homer Grants program. Beginning in 2001, the City of Homer and the Homer Foundation entered into an agreement to provide general operating dollars to eligible area nonprofits. The majority of the funding comes from an annual allocation within the City of Homer’s budget, as well as any additional ATS (spendable income) from the City’s field of interest fund.
To be eligible, a non profit must meet two criteria: 1) have an office in the City of Homer and provide services here; 2) Have been operating for at least three years and receiving no other support (monetary or otherwise) from the City of Homer. One other feature that differentiates this program from other grant programs at the Homer Foundation is that this program splits a preestablished pool of grant dollars. The committee, which is comprised of Homer Foundation Board members and community members, decides annually how to divide the pool of grant money.
Organization Total Awarded & Number of Times Awarded
Since 2001 the Homer Foundation has awarded $682,161 to area nonprofits through 228 grants given under this program. It is a difficult task to review organizations with very different missions, but all committee members have agreed that these nonprofits are high-functioning organizations providing valuable programs and services to the community.
Economic Impact
The relatively small size of the grants belies the true impact of our nonprofit community. Each year, we take the opportunity to compile a synopsis of the economic impact of the nonprofits that have submitted applications. In 2022, these organizations generated over $7.7 million in revenues, including $3.9 million in new money coming into Homer from State, Federal, and Foundation grants. They also employ 106 full, part-time, and seasonal employees with combined personnel expenses exceeding $4 million. The data from these organizations help to illustrate just how important Homer’s nonprofit sector is as an economic driver in our economy.
These organizations are also able to leverage additional funding with City support. The community benefits because a strong nonprofit community makes Homer a safer, healthier, and more vibrant place to live, play, and work.
We are glad to partner with the City of Homer in this program and happy to provide this service at no cost to the City.
Congratulations to the 2023 City of Homer grant recipients. Keep up the amazing work you do.
Mike
Philanthropy Fact of the Month
More than 95 percent of people participate in charitable giving!
Your giving has helped make a difference in your community!
Hospice of Homer
Hospice received a $5,000 Quick Response Grant to help with the production of educational videos that will help tell the story of Hospice to our local community for the purpose of increasing awareness and engagement.
Hospice has partnered with Affinity Films, a professional non-profit media production company, to produce five short 60-second films, and one longer film consisting of the five short clips edited together. Affinity Films has produced films for many Alaska non-profits including Girl Scouts of Alaska, Bristol Bay Native Corp., and The Arc of Anchorage.
The films produced for Hospice of Homer will depict the breadth of services Hospice of Homer has to offer and explore the value of volunteerism. Holly Dramis, Executive Director of Hospice summarizes the value of these videos well by stating, “Many people in our community think of Hospice of Homer as a support system for end-of-life. Though that’s true, it’s the smallest portion of what we do. We will use these short videos to make the community aware that we are here to support anyone who wants to borrow medical equipment: a pair of crutches for a twisted ankle or a hospital bed to ease recovery from major surgery. We are here to help anyone experiencing grief with one-on-one discussion, group support, and more. We work to connect volunteers with those who need light housekeeping and errands, transportation and company to a movie or other local event, someone to read a book aloud or shovel a walk.”
These films will help tell that story better in our local community.
North Gulf Oceanic Society
NGOS received a $4,990 Quick Response Grant to help support their 2023-24 Harbor Porpoise Research Project in Kachemak Bay and nearby waters. The Society is a small non-profit in Homer and Seward, Alaska, dedicated to whale research and education since 1984. They keep track of more than 950 killer whales in the Kenai Fjords, Prince William Sound, and the Gulf of Alaska (including Kachemak Bay and lower Cook Inlet) through Photo ID. They have nearly 40 years of long-term monitoring history, and work to demonstrate trends in population health, impacts of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, response to food availability, and changing temperatures.
This harbor porpoise project will allow them to learn more about the abundance, ecology, biology, and threats to this species, of which little is known. And since harbor porpoises are considered an important indicator species of the overall health of the ocean (a “sentinel species”), learning more about the species tends to reveal more about the health of the overall ecosystem in which they live.
This grant will help NGOS to engage select local students to join the research activities for Summer 2023, which include 24 bi-weekly harbor porpoise surveys (May-August); and it will also allow NGOS to continue weekly-to-monthly (weather dependent) survey and water sampling August 2023 through April 2024.
KBBI Public Radio
KBBI was awarded a $5,000 Quick Response Grant this month to assist with their Transmitter Solar project. KBBI is organizing funding to install a 25kw solar array at their transmitter, which they estimate will result in an annual savings of $6,000 and will ultimately replace 18% of their current electrical usage!
The total project cost is just over $100,000 and KBBI hope to cover about 2/3 of that through grants, with the other 1/3 coming through their own funds. The plan is to start the project immediately and finish no later than Fall 2023, though possibly much sooner (perhaps in time to reap electrical savings all summer!).
Happy April in Alaska……when it can be winter and spring all at the same time.
I’ve been talking about end-of-life (bequest) gifts. To recap: There is a significant transfer of wealth beginning which will take 15-20 years to unfold and will shift $30-$40 trillion dollars to the next generation. Unless something is done to steer where this wealth goes, that transfer will end the relationships the Baby Boomer generation had with the causes and organizations they cared about in life. Forever. Add to this fact that Generation X is 33% smaller than the Baby Boom generation and that will only exacerbate this future funding problem for non-profits.
We also talked about the many ways to leave a bequest gift and who those gifts may come from. You don’t have to be rich to leave an end-of-life gift. Most people making end-of-life gifts aren’t rich. Some gifts are easy, some are more complex. All of them make a difference. All of them are worth giving.
So what’s the bottom line?
This shift will have a significant impact on fundraising for nonprofits. Because of our unique mission, community foundations have a pivotal role to play in this watershed moment.
Expertise and Information
Community foundations provide the needed expertise in dealing with all manner of gifts. Art, precious metals, stocks, real estate, and even vehicles. We have dealt with all of the above. We have both the 10,000-foot view, and an up-close understanding of community needs because of the grants we make. We are engaging daily with all types of non-profits. We hear their needs and help them succeed. We have a deep understanding of our local South Peninsula communities and the challenges they face.
Forever Solutions for Donors
We create solutions for donors who want to support the causes or nonprofits they care about. We can create custom charitable funds – as unique as you are – for the causes you are passionate about. Love cats and music? For one donor, we created a fund for cat care and music. Love Girl Scouts? One donor wanted to support travel costs for girls, so we created a fund for that. Passionate about people? Another donor wanted to support all social services, so we created a broad fund for that.
What are you passionate about?
What gets you riled up when you think about it? What makes you sigh when you think about it? What local agency can’t you imagine your community without? We can create a fund to fulfill your philanthropic dreams. Broad or narrow, we can create the solution you want to see and manage it forever. When you give through an endowed fund at a community foundation, your life’s work can live on in your community doing good, year after year, forever.
Talk to us about your dreams.
Philanthropy Fact of the Month
9% of all US charitable giving is done via end-of-life (bequest) giving. This represents a dollar value of $46 billion and the number is growing!
We have been recently contacted by various individuals alerting us to someone who is utilizing our email address while advertising housing assistance. They are offering support to individuals and asking for personal information (like drivers license and social security numbers) via social media sites. Once they have received your personal information, they discontinue communication.
The Homer Foundation does not offer support to individuals besides specific scholarships. We also do not ask for personal information unless you are applying through our scholarship management software Smarter Select.
If you are contacted by an organization saying they are the Homer Federal Grant Association/Administration asking for personal information, we recommend reporting that account immediately.
~How your giving has helped make a difference in your community~
The Homer Community Chest
Through our community partner, the Homer Community Food Pantry, the Foundation’s “Homer Community Chest” provided $22,650 in emergency funding to support families and individuals in times of need this fiscal year (July 2022 – June 2023).
The Homer Community Food Pantry is our point of contact for emergency aid. They administer the “Emergency Non-Food Aid Program” in which candidates are interviewed and the staff at the food pantry determine the needs for families. These needs range from automotive, to temporary housing, utilities, transportation, and hygiene for families that find themselves unable to cover the costs during a certain period of time. On average, they serve 35 households a month.
They are located in the basement of Homer Community Methodist Church, 770 East End Rd. Hours of Operation are Mondays, 9 am to 4 pm.
NEW FUNDS
Sheldon Purcell Fund
Robert and Melon Purcell have established the Sheldon Purcell Fund in memory of their son. This is the second such fund the Purcell’s have founded at the Homer Foundation, and the purpose of this one is to support youth-led, youth-focused grantmaking by the Homer Foundation’s Youth Advisory Council (YAC). This non-endowed, donor-advised fund will make annual matching grants to enhance the pool of money that the YAC has to work with each year in their youth-led, youth-focused decision-making process. This will effectively double the current amount of money that the YAC is able to grant annually, doubling the community impact. We look forward to a lot more youth-led community philanthropy
Ninilchik Community Fund
The Ninilchik area has come together to establish their first community fund with the Homer Foundation. Ninilchik has an active civic population and several non-profits caring for the community. Led by founding donors ARCHES Alaska and Lara McGinnis, the Ninilchik Community Fund has already met the $10,000 minimum threshold to become an active fund at the Foundation (active funds are able to begin grantmaking.) Many area residents have expressed their excitement about this new way to give back to their community. We’re excited with them and can’t wait to see how they grow!
This fund is an exciting strategic addition to the Foundation, as we seek to underscore the breadth of our service area – from Ninilchik to Nanwalek, and everywhere in between. We now have community funds established for Anchor Point, Homer, Kachemak City, and Ninilchik, and are eager to work with any other South Peninsula communities to establish your fund!
Update from the Executive Director
Seasons
Every season is different. I am blessed to have 15 native oval leaf blueberry plants on my property. Last year at this point the berries were beginning to ripen. This year they are mostly still little green buds. Apparently a little sunshine can make a difference.
I am by nature incrementalistic. I’ve always believed that many small changes over time create a more permanent change in direction. In the same way, relationships build trust through a sustained record of actions and accomplishments. Change can come quickly based on a shared traumatic experience, but wouldn’t it be better to avoid the trauma?
This is our birthday month. July 1991. As we begin our 33rd year the Foundation has seen many changes, some gradual, some fast. both have strengthened us. Through these changes we have grown.
Our assets under management are at an all time high, over $5.7million.
We have been donated over $10 million.
We have more philanthropic funds (84) than ever.
We have granted out over $5 million in to our community.
We cannot say “thank you” enough to all of our amazing donors. We have seen plenty of change, both internal and external. We’ve had sun and we’ve had rain. The rain falls on everyone as they say. At the Homer Foundation, when it does rain we break out the Grunden’s and keep growing.
Two quick internal announcements:
In recognition of her professional growth and addition of significant responsibilities in the areas of finance and programs, Executive Assistant Lauren Seaton has been promoted to the position of Office and Program Manager. Congratulations, Lauren.
Our Director of Development and Marketing, Jonathan Hamilton, will be leaving us at the end of this month. We will miss Jonathan and the energy he has brought to making the Homer Foundation better known in our service area. Jonathan also pastors a church in Anchor Point so we wish him well as he focuses more on his pastoral and family responsibilities. We are recruiting for the position and hope to have a candidate soon.
Have a great summer!
Mike
PS. Rain or shine, I’m always looking for a ride to China Poot!
Your giving has helped make a difference in your community!
2023 Scholarships Awarded
Ptarmigan Arts
Leah Dunn – $1,750 – Cal Poly Humboldt State University – Visual Arts & Environmental Studies
Amber Gilbreath – $1,750 – University of Alaska Fairbanks – Visual Arts & Business
Sutton James Miller Memorial
Leah Evans – $1,000 – University of Alaska Fairbanks – Linguistics
Mary Joyce Robinette Memorial
Eryn Field – $8,000 – Jacksonville University – Marine Science & Biology
Nikki Geragotelis (Fry) Memorial
Cecilia Fitzpatrick – $7,000 – Montana State University – Wildlife / Fisheries Biology or Management
Beluga Tale Fiction Writing
Zach Marley – $3,000 – Colorado School of Mines – Engineering Physics and Aerospace Engineering
Beluga Tail Non-Fiction Writing
Bristol Johnson – $3,000 – University of Arizona – Neuroscience
Diane Wambach “Shoot for the Stars”
Domnika Kuzmin – $1,000 – University of Alaska Anchorage – General Studies
Health Care Providers
Courtney Stage – $2,000 – University of Washington School of Medicine – Healthcare
Alana Houlihan – $2,000 – Michigan State University – Nursing Laura Inama – $3,000 – University of Mary – Radiologic Technology
Drew Scalzi Memorial Maritime
Xander Kulhanek – $1,000 – Western Washington University – Computer Engineering
Cody Blossom – $1,000 – University of Alaska Anchorage – Pharmaceuticals Hannah Stonorov – $1,000 – Brown University – Undeclared
Marilyn Wythe Believe in Yourself
Chloe Gall – $1,000 – University of Oregon – Computer Science
Homer Community Science
Bristol Johnson – $1,000 – University of Arizona – Neuroscience
Eryn Field – $1,000 – Jacksonville University – Marine Science and Biology Seamus McDonough – $1,000 – Bowdoin College – Life Sciences
Fish and Wildlife
Eryn Field – $2,000 – Jacksonville University – Marine Science and Biology
Bill and Liz Johnson Teacher Education
Alyssum Veldstra – $1,000 – University of Alaska Southeast – Elementary Education
Kachemak Medical Group
Cody Blossom – $2,000 – University of Alaska Anchorage – Pharmaceuticals
Alain and Daniel Rieser
Leah Evans – $3,000 – University of Alaska Fairbanks – Linguistics
Nursing Studies
Alana Houlihan – $1,500 – Michigan State University – Nursing
Recent Grants
Pratt Museum – $5,000 Opportunity Fund Grant
Friends of Kachemak Bay State Park – $2,000 Opportunity Fund & May M. Benson Charitable Fund Grant
Pratt Museum is having its “Summer Programs at the Pratt” and has been awarded $5,000 from the Homer Foundation.
The Pratt Museum offers a variety of workshops in their outdoor spaces, both on the trails and in their botanical garden. The Pratt is offering workshops with guest instructors and will use the money to pay these instructors and provide support. The programs have already started and include nature journaling, basket weaving, cultivating wild plant workshops, a community room exhibit focusing on Pier One Theatre performances, as well as a family fun day on July 12th.This grant was funded by generous donations to the Homer Foundation’s Opportunity Fund.
Friends of Kachemak Bay State Park are receiving a grant for $2,000 for their new Kids Across the Bay program.
This program provides water taxi vouchers to lower-income families to get across the bay to hike and explore. It is attempting to bridge the gap of accessibility to the park for more of our community.
Kachemak Bay State Park includes nearly 400,000 acres of mountains, glaciers, forests, and beaches with expansive trail systems, that only a small fraction of the population can utilize due to its remote nature. FKBSP is working with 6 local partner agencies to identify applicants and award the vouchers. We love this program for reaching into a new sector of our community and sharing the great outdoors with a new generation. This grant was funded by generous donations from the May M. Benson Charitable Fund, a donor advised fund, and the Homer Foundation’s Opportunity Fund.
Girl Scouts of Alaska, Homer Service Area – $7,000 Girl Scouts Travel Fund Grant
The Girl Scouts of Alaska have received over $7,000 from the Girl Scouts Travel Fund, a donor-advised fund managed by the Homer Foundation.
The funding will provide travel opportunities for the Scouts, including one troop traveling to Encampment, a state-wide campout full of experiential learning opportunities; recruitment and registration for elementary-aged students from Chapman, West Homer Elementary, and Paul Banks Elementary; another troop traveling to Peterson Bay for an overnight at the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies field station; and another troop traveling to Kodiak.
This donor advisor finds value in these experiential learning opportunities for girls of the Southern Kenai Peninsula and we love to be able to support their passions each year close to home.
All Things Recovery – $5,000 Opportunity Fund & Fund Grant
This new coalition is working in partnership with the Kachemak Bay Recovery Connection, which was formally known as the SKP Opioid Task Force. The coalition had strategic planning in 2021 and one of the top needs brought forward by the group was having a recovery-ready community.
Many local agencies understand the importance of community support when new to sobriety and in continued recovery and have encouraged regular planning of sober events. These events have brought people together and built relationships among people who are new to sobriety and some who have more time under their belt. These events are not just for people in active addiction and/or recovery, but their friends and family, and other community members as well. The Homer Foundation is proud to support health activities for our community. This grant was funded with a grant from the Bryce Golden Memorial Fund, a donor advised fund and donations to the the Opportunity Fund.
New Fund
Homer Volunteer Fire Department Fire Investigation Training Fund
This is a new Non-Endowed Field of Interest Fund started by the Homer Volunteer Fire Department with a donation from the family of Gary Thomas.
Gary was a volunteer firefighter when he passed away in 2020 and the family wanted to honor his passions. The funds will be used to train firefighters in fire investigation and response to fires in accordance with the related NFPA standards, Local, State, and Federal requirements. Additionally, equipment to aid in fire investigation such as tools, evidence-gathering supplies, and protective clothing for investigators will be purchased.
Update from the Executive Director
Thank You Scholarship Donors and Fund Raisers
Scholarship season is when we celebrate graduates generally and scholarship recipients specifically. Our young people and their futures are always the main thing. There are many reasons donors start a scholarship. Some do it because someone they love (or loved) had a passion about a certain profession or field. Some start scholarships because the donor wants to give back to their own field of expertise. Others do it to honor someone they love who has passed and they want to have them remembered in the community. There are many reasons.
This year we awarded $50,000 in scholarships. That is a new high for the Foundation. We can only do this because of our amazing donors and the community. Several of our scholarships give away more than they earn in a typical year. What you don’t always see is the work that goes into fund raising for several of these 16 scholarships. Several funds hold fund raisers and/or donate themselves to increase the money available to applicants. The fund raising happens both to increase the size of the fund (so that it generates more money long term) and/or to add to the income generated to allow the scholarship to give away more in the current year. Both have the effect of creating larger, more significant scholarships for our young people.
I would list all of you by name, but I wouldn’t want to risk missing someone. So to all of the fund raisers and donors, on behalf of the Homer Foundation, the recipients and the community, thank you for making Homer Foundation scholarships an important part of our communities.
Scholarship Program Administration
Since we started administering scholarships in 2000, the Homer Foundation has awarded 349 unique scholarships for a total of $463,000. Each year the number of applicants varies from 40 to nearly 80 applicants. Many applicants apply for multiple scholarships. The scholarship process is far and away our most labor intensive program. Our process for this starts each fall, but due to the timing of the school year and the Foundation calendar, all of these applications are reviewed in the span of about 2 weeks in late April. A few years ago we transitioned the application/review process to an online platform which as helped, but we still could not do this without our many volunteers who donate their time and effort to review so many wonderful applications and make some really difficult decisions on scholarship awards. Thank you for all you do. Last, but certainly not least, many thanks to Executive Assistant Lauren Seaton who makes sure the scholarships are advertised, rides herd on the applicants and the committees, and coordinates all the information and payments with the various schools attended by our award recipients and so much more. In spite of the many moving pieces, she does an exceptional job making this process work, and look easy.
Many thanks to the attendees and especially the table captains who made this event a success. With your help we raised nearly $50,000 for the foundation’s work. Whether you came and donated or just learned more about the Homer Foundation, we’re grateful you joined us.
A special thank you to our anonymous $5,000 match donor! Thank you Land’s End and Wagon Wheel for your sponsorship. We’re already looking forward to 2024!
Recent Grants
Bunnell Street Arts Center – $5,000 Opportunity Fund Grant
Friends of the Homer Public Library – $4,990 Opportunity Fund Grant
Bunnell received a quick-response grant from the Homer Foundation’s Opportunity Fund this month to “support a year of artist residencies focused on health, healing, and sparking joy.”
The project was inspired by post-pandemic realities for Alaskans such as stress, depression, and loss of hope.
Bunnell notes that this program will, “cultivate artistic skill and imagination, celebrate and share the diversity of Alaska’s cultures, and promote creative play that inspires joy while also enhancing mental and/or physical health.”
The artist residencies will be from one week to one month long, and applicants will be reviewed through a competitive jury process. Bunnell is partnering with the likes of the City of Homer, Ninilchik Village Tribe, Chugachmiut, KPBSD, US Fish & Wildlife Visitors Center, and/or a local service organization such as the R.E.C. Room teen center, Haven House, South Peninsula Behavioral Health, or Kachemak Bay Conservation Society.
FHPL received a quick-response grant from the Homer Foundation’s Opportunity Fund this month to support their “Summer @HPL 2023 Reading & Learning Program” June 1 – July 29.
The program “promotes literacy and provides kids, teens, and families with exciting opportunities to engage in informal learning at the Homer Public Library.”
FHPL works hard to connect local youth to visiting mentors and experts. Participants learn new skills and also connect to the library in different and unique ways.
The national theme this year is “Find Your Voice,” and encourages families to engage in the program and express themselves.
Pier One Theatre – $5,000 Opportunity Fund Grant
Pier One received a quick-response grant from the Homer Foundation’s Opportunity Fund this month to support five summer camps for youth ages 5-17.
The program features a variety of offerings such as “Cosmic Hamlets: Shakescene, with the students delving into the works of Shakespeare; Theatre Play, the opportunity to create and explore onstage; Store on the Stage, introducing students to the elements of plot, setting, character, and dialogue; and Production and Theatre Skills with a fully staged theatrical production of Anne of Green Gables.”
Additionally, Pier One will be taking its show in the road this year by offering a Seldovia Drama Camp where students will “explore a wide variety of theatrical techniques and styles with scene study and improv exercises.”
Giving Opportunity: Bear Creek Festival
June 3rd – 1:00 – 5:00 PM
Announcing the 4th Bear Creek Winery Music Festival!
This is the largest donor-driven fundraiser for any Homer Foundation fund, and is sponsored by the Winery. 100% of all the proceeds from this event go to the Nikki Geragotelis (Fry) Memorial Scholarship Fund, and the Homer Mariner Girl’s Softball Fund–both benefiting the athletes of Homer High School.
Come enjoy live music, local food and drinks, fabulous prizes, auctions, and you get a cookie at the end (all included).
This year’s headliner is Black Water Railroad from Seward. Hope to see you all there on June 3rd at 1:00!
Get Show Details and Tickets on Eventbrite.com, the Bear Creek Winery’s Facebook page, or by contacting Bill Fry at: (907) 299-1689.
Update from the Executive Director
City of Homer Grants Program
One of the services we provide is the administration of the City of Homer Grants program. Beginning in 2001, the City of Homer and the Homer Foundation entered into an agreement to provide general operating dollars to eligible area nonprofits. The majority of the funding comes from an annual allocation within the City of Homer’s budget, as well as any additional ATS (spendable income) from the City’s field of interest fund.
To be eligible, a non profit must meet two criteria: 1) have an office in the City of Homer and provide services here; 2) Have been operating for at least three years and receiving no other support (monetary or otherwise) from the City of Homer. One other feature that differentiates this program from other grant programs at the Homer Foundation is that this program splits a preestablished pool of grant dollars. The committee, which is comprised of Homer Foundation Board members and community members, decides annually how to divide the pool of grant money.
Organization Total Awarded & Number of Times Awarded
Since 2001 the Homer Foundation has awarded $682,161 to area nonprofits through 228 grants given under this program. It is a difficult task to review organizations with very different missions, but all committee members have agreed that these nonprofits are high-functioning organizations providing valuable programs and services to the community.
Economic Impact
The relatively small size of the grants belies the true impact of our nonprofit community. Each year, we take the opportunity to compile a synopsis of the economic impact of the nonprofits that have submitted applications. In 2022, these organizations generated over $7.7 million in revenues, including $3.9 million in new money coming into Homer from State, Federal, and Foundation grants. They also employ 106 full, part-time, and seasonal employees with combined personnel expenses exceeding $4 million. The data from these organizations help to illustrate just how important Homer’s nonprofit sector is as an economic driver in our economy.
These organizations are also able to leverage additional funding with City support. The community benefits because a strong nonprofit community makes Homer a safer, healthier, and more vibrant place to live, play, and work.
We are glad to partner with the City of Homer in this program and happy to provide this service at no cost to the City.
Congratulations to the 2023 City of Homer grant recipients. Keep up the amazing work you do.
Your giving has helped make a difference in your community!
Hospice of Homer
Hospice received a $5,000 Quick Response Grant to help with the production of educational videos that will help tell the story of Hospice to our local community for the purpose of increasing awareness and engagement.
Hospice has partnered with Affinity Films, a professional non-profit media production company, to produce five short 60-second films, and one longer film consisting of the five short clips edited together. Affinity Films has produced films for many Alaska non-profits including Girl Scouts of Alaska, Bristol Bay Native Corp., and The Arc of Anchorage.
The films produced for Hospice of Homer will depict the breadth of services Hospice of Homer has to offer and explore the value of volunteerism. Holly Dramis, Executive Director of Hospice summarizes the value of these videos well by stating, “Many people in our community think of Hospice of Homer as a support system for end-of-life. Though that’s true, it’s the smallest portion of what we do. We will use these short videos to make the community aware that we are here to support anyone who wants to borrow medical equipment: a pair of crutches for a twisted ankle or a hospital bed to ease recovery from major surgery. We are here to help anyone experiencing grief with one-on-one discussion, group support, and more. We work to connect volunteers with those who need light housekeeping and errands, transportation and company to a movie or other local event, someone to read a book aloud or shovel a walk.”
These films will help tell that story better in our local community.
North Gulf Oceanic Society
NGOS received a $4,990 Quick Response Grant to help support their 2023-24 Harbor Porpoise Research Project in Kachemak Bay and nearby waters. The Society is a small non-profit in Homer and Seward, Alaska, dedicated to whale research and education since 1984. They keep track of more than 950 killer whales in the Kenai Fjords, Prince William Sound, and the Gulf of Alaska (including Kachemak Bay and lower Cook Inlet) through Photo ID. They have nearly 40 years of long-term monitoring history, and work to demonstrate trends in population health, impacts of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, response to food availability, and changing temperatures.
This harbor porpoise project will allow them to learn more about the abundance, ecology, biology, and threats to this species, of which little is known. And since harbor porpoises are considered an important indicator species of the overall health of the ocean (a “sentinel species”), learning more about the species tends to reveal more about the health of the overall ecosystem in which they live.
This grant will help NGOS to engage select local students to join the research activities for Summer 2023, which include 24 bi-weekly harbor porpoise surveys (May-August); and it will also allow NGOS to continue weekly-to-monthly (weather dependent) survey and water sampling August 2023 through April 2024.
KBBI Public Radio
KBBI was awarded a $5,000 Quick Response Grant this month to assist with their Transmitter Solar project. KBBI is organizing funding to install a 25kw solar array at their transmitter, which they estimate will result in an annual savings of $6,000 and will ultimately replace 18% of their current electrical usage!
The total project cost is just over $100,000 and KBBI hope to cover about 2/3 of that through grants, with the other 1/3 coming through their own funds. The plan is to start the project immediately and finish no later than Fall 2023, though possibly much sooner (perhaps in time to reap electrical savings all summer!).
Happy April in Alaska……when it can be winter and spring all at the same time.
I’ve been talking about end of life (bequest) gifts. To recap: There is a significant transfer of wealth beginning which will take 15-20 years to unfold and will shift $30-$40 trillion dollars to the next generation. Unless something is done to steer where this wealth goes, that transfer will end the relationships the Baby Boomers generation have with the causes and organizations they cared about in life. Forever. Add to this fact that Generation X is 33% smaller than the Baby Boom generation and that will only exacerbate this future funding problem for non-profits.
We also talked about the many ways to leave a bequest gift and who those gifts may come from. You don’t have to be rich to leave an end of life gift. In fact, most people making end of life gifts aren’t rich. Some gifts are easy, some are more complex. All of them make a difference. All of them are worth giving.
So what’s the bottom line?
This shift will have a significant impact on fund raising for nonprofits. Because of our unique mission, community foundations have a pivotal role to play in this watershed moment.
Expertise and Information
Community foundations provide the needed expertise in dealing with all manner of gifts. Art, precious metals, stocks, real estate, and even vehicles. We have dealt with all of the above. We have both the 10,000 foot view, and an up close understanding of community needs because of the grants we make. We are engaging daily with all types of non-profits. We hear their needs and help them succeed. We have a deep understanding of our local South Peninsula communities and the challenges they face.
Forever Solutions for Donors
We create solutions for donors who want to support the causes or nonprofits they care about. We can create custom charitable funds – as unique as you are – for the causes you are passionate about. Love cats and music? For one donor, we created a fund for cat care and music. Love girl scouts? One donor wanted to support travel costs for girls, so we created a fund for that. Passionate about people? Another donor wanted to support all social services, so we created a broad and comprehensive fund for that.
What are you passionate about?
What gets you riled up when you think about it? What makes you sigh when you think about it? What local agency can’t you imaging your community without? We can create a fund to fulfill your philanthropic dreams. Broad or narrow, we can create the solution you want to see and manage it forever. When you give through an endowed fund at a community foundation, you life’s work can live on in your community doing good, year after year, forever.
