After dedicating seven years to The Alaska Community Foundation and leading the organization to remarkable achievements, Nina Kemppel has stepped down as President and CEO. She looks forward to spending time with her family before taking the next step in her career.
Nina joined ACF in October 2015 and brought a passion for our mission, rich experience leading other nonprofits, and proven business expertise. This combination has well served the Foundation, our donors and fundholders, and communities across Alaska that have benefited from increased philanthropic support.
Under Nina’s leadership, The Alaska Community Foundation experienced growth both in its resources and its service to Alaska. For example:
- increased assets from $75 million to $200 million
- Successfully completed an Endowment Campaign, raising $100 million in here and now and legacy gifts
- Assumed leadership of the Pick.Click.Give. program
- Partnered with The Foraker Group, Rasmuson Foundation, and the State of Alaska in managing the Domestic Violence Shelter Initiative, which upgraded the facilities at each of the 18 shelters around the state
- Coordinated a fundraising campaign and grantmaking in response to the November 30, 2018, earthquake that shook Southcentral Alaska
- Launched the partnership with Hilcorp to manage their Employee Giving Program
- Accepted ownership of and assumed management of the BP Energy Center
- Partnered with United Way of Anchorage and, with the help of the Rasmuson Foundation, launched the AK Can Do campaign, raising over $2.6 million for COVID-19 relief in Alaska
- On behalf of the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services and Department of Commerce, managed $70 million in CARES Act and ARPA federal funding for Alaska’s nonprofit sector to provide relief and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic
- Responded to Typhoon Merbok with a fundraising campaign and community-led grantmaking to provide immediate relief and long-term recovery
- Doubled the size of the staff to better respond to community needs
- Reached $200 million in total grantmaking
- Grew the Affiliate program to 11 communities
- Gave $570 thousand in 175 scholarships in a single year
To provide continuity in services to our fundholders and donors and to ensure the continued stability of ACF operations, an interim president will serve until a new CEO is selected. The ACF Board of Directors will conduct a thoughtful and thorough process to ensure that we bring in a new leader who will carry forward ACF’s mission and continue the progress Nina led.
We wish Nina and her family the very best and thank her for her service to ACF and to Alaska.