The Friends of SJM is dedicated to supporting the SJ Museum and its unique Alaska Native ethnographic collection through advocacy, acquisition, and educational programming.
We support our mission of advocacy, acquisitions, and educational programming in the following ways:
- Volunteers serve as docents and greeters to help museum visitors.
- Sponsoring the annual Native Artists Residency Program.
- Sponsoring the annual Share Your Culture Share Your Research speaker series.
- Purchasing new items for its permanent and “hands-on” educational collections, which are available for educators across Alaska to borrow.
- Assisting SJM in applying for grants that fund research and educational programs.
- Providing financial support for museum publications.
- Other support for SJM educational programs and outreach.
The Friends of SJM is a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) formed on November 13, 1985 to support the Sheldon Jackson Museum’s educational programs. Most of our members live in Sitka and Southeast Alaska, but several are located throughout the United States.
A volunteer board of seven directors, elected by the members for three-year terms, governs the organization.