Over 80% of the world’s biodiversity is in the hands of Indigenous communities: Southeast Alaska is no exception. As Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian people continue to steward the Tongass, it is important for us to build strong economies that work in balance with our abundant lands and waters.
At Spruce Root, we build regenerative economies through the Sustainable Southeast Partnership, lending services to small businesses, and through our Path to Prosperity programs for entrepreneurs, members of the workforce, and individuals interested in improving their financial literacy. Through group workshops, one-on-one coaching, and annual business accelerators, we help our clients ground themselves and their businesses in the values of this region, use natural resources sustainably, and generate economic prosperity for Southeast Alaska.
Having offered the the Business Competition and business coaching for over a decade now, we have learned what it takes to deliver high-caliber training and drive positive change. We do this by providing comprehensive support to more than 300 clients annually.
Since our inception, over 378 businesses and start-ups in 23 Southeast Alaska communities applied to the P2P Competition. The program trained 157 finalists at the Business Intensive and awarded 24 a total of $720,000 to build their local businesses. Of the 24 winning businesses, 20 are currently operational.
We ask you to join us in ensuring that more money, more expertise, more job opportunities and more leadership remains in our rural communities by donating. By donating to any portion of the $75,000 needed to finish supporting the 2025 program, you will be investing directly into the creation or growth of more than 300 businesses in our region next year.
To learn more, contact Program Manager Izzy Haywood at isabella@spruceroot.org or 443694-5020. We look forward to partnering with you to grow a prosperous Southeast Alaskan economy.
Sincerely,
Alana Peterson, Executive Director
Lisa Andersson, left, who owns and operates Dei L’e .aan Lisa’s Art Store and Tlingit Botanicals in Hoonah and Sarah Peele of Beads by Sarah. (Photos by Kerry Tasker and Kaa Yahaayí Shkalneegi Muriel Reid)
Become a Sponsor
Spruce Root couldn’t do the work we do in Southeast Alaska without the help from generous businesses like yours.
Annual program sponsors support the Path to Prosperity programs as a whole. There are five levels of annual program sponsorship: Seasoned Guides (for P2P alumni), Starting Supporters, Base Camp Believers, The Alpine Club, and Summitiers. The table below outlines the benefits for each contribution level:
Seasoned Guides
$200-$1,500
Logo placement on program publications, website and social media through the programmatic year (April-March)
Video (provided by your organization) played to finalists during boot camp (up to 10 minutes)
Featured social media and marketing posts about your organization and support
Recognition as a core sponsor on annual regional radio ads
The Path to Prosperity brand is recognized throughout Southeast Alaska and operates a social media presence through Spruce Root’s Facebook and Instagram accounts which have a combined 4,000 followers and reach an average of 4,200 people per month. Spruce Root and Path to Prosperity’s direct marketing outreach has 2,400 subscribers with a 47% open email rate. Our Sustainable Southeast Partnership accounts also frequently share Path to Prosperity posts and have 5,600 followers and reach an average of 4,200 people per month. Each year, Path to Prosperity purchases approximately six weeks worth of advertising on local radio networks.
In-kind donations that decrease the costs of the program’s operations, such as supplies, technical assistance or consulting services (e.g. marketing, accounting, legal advice, etc.), or travel and accommodation, are highly appreciated.
In 2025, the program will provide two $20,000 awards to winners of the Path to Prosperity competition. Sponsors interested in contributing one or more of the awards should contact Izzy Haywood directly at
Testimonials
Angela Ketah, Sitka Flowers & Chocolate Moose
“If you want your business to succeed, you have to hand over some of the responsibility and take care of yourself, because if you’re too tired to get everything done yourself, your business is going to suffer. What made this process easier was going through the business planning process as part of the Path to Prosperity competition. Once you start writing down all the things that you’re doing, you can start thinking about ways that you’re gonna grow.”
Path to Prosperity (P2P) Business Competition finalist
Bonnie Hamar, Kasaan Arts, Museum & Canoes
“Master Class was amazing. It made me think about things in a different way. Not only do we look at our financials differently, I now have a five-year planner on my desk that I have things written into each week in order to make our business profitable.”
Master Class participant, P2P
Jack Finnegan, Fishability
“Having been through the P2P program now, I am much more confident, even excited, about the possibilities I have for participating in regenerative tourism. That’s something that I think any operation can be constantly refining and working on, but it’s nice to know that I’ll have that in mind coming out of the gate.”
