History
Cindy Adams started the Alaska Funding Exchange in 1992 in a small Fairbanks cabin with no running water and an extension cord from the nearest utility pole as the only source of power for her two computers. At the time, changes in the state’s economy had begun to impact the fundraising efforts of Alaska nonprofits. Cindy saw a critical need for Alaska organizations to develop relationships with Lower 48 funders, and to build their internal capacity to integrate financial development into their daily operations. Alaska Funding Exchange was the result of her efforts to meet that need.
Cindy developed curricula for fundraising strategy and grant proposal writing, wrote textbooks to accompany training workshops, and published a monthly newsletter. In 1995 she pioneered an online database originally called “Big Data”. In 1999, Alaska Funding Exchange launched the database as an independent product called GrantStation, and in 2001 GrantStation became a separate corporation. Today, GrantStation.com provides its international database called “U.S. Charitable Giving” with more than 20,000 members and its newsletter to more than 250,000 subscribers.
In 2008, Cindy sold the Alaska Funding Exchange to Ron and Sharon Gherman. Their collective experience and expertise has expanded AFE’s products and services into the state’s premier fundraising technical assistance provider.
To the delight of both Cindy and the Gherman’s, Alaska Funding Exchange and GrantStation remain closely aligned as ‘sister companies,’ and Cindy continues to be involved with AFE as their Senior Consultant.