We had the opportunity to meet with President Ken Miller, who shared with us his journey as a Black man growing up in Anchorage, Alaska. Despite facing challenges such as being a three-time convicted felon and spending over 20 years homeless and incarcerated, Ken was able to turn his life around and achieve sobriety in 2004. He then established a successful consulting firm, Denali FSP, which has served over 130 clients in 10 years. Through his firm, Ken has also raised an impressive amount of over 50 million dollars for non-profit and tribal clients.

Embarking on a New Journey: Ken's Transition from Non-Profit Development Director to Non-Profit Consultant

Back in 2013, Ken received an unexpected offer from the largest family foundation in Alaska. They wanted him to leave his position as a development director for a large non-profit and work as a consultant for small and mid-size nonprofits. Ken leaped at the opportunity, spending six months on due diligence, preparation, and planning. On April 1, 2014, he officially launched Denali FSP with his first two clients. It was the start of a new journey for Ken, and he was excited to use his expertise and experience to help smaller organizations thrive. 

Today, Denali FSP is based in Bellingham, WA, to better serve their West Coast clients, with a remote staff of four individuals and a client base of 15-20 active clients.

Introducing Denali FSP: A Culture of Gentleness, Care, and Success

At Denali FSP, the company culture starts from the top with President Ken Miler. They believe prioritizing core values can create a positive and successful work environment for everyone involved. 

“The company culture that starts with me as the president is one of gentleness, care, and understanding of both staff and client.”

One of the core values at Denali FSP is their commitment to adding value and achieving success for their clients. Ken and his team understand that their clients come with specific goals in mind, and their main priority is to deliver results that exceed their expectations. They go out of their way to take on clients only if they genuinely believe they can help them achieve their desired outcomes. 

At Denali FSP, they also prioritize achieving order from disorder. It is a clear understanding that their clients come to them with complex challenges, and it is their job to find solutions and bring clarity to their situation. Miller and his team are motivated by success and achieving results within the agreed-upon timeframe. They take pride in their work and strive to deliver high-quality services to their clients. Ultimately, they believe that working together can reach their desired goals and create a long-lasting impact.

Ken Miller: From Struggle to Success - A Story of Motivation and Perseverance

“As a person, my greatest success story is overcoming addiction and my streets/prison mentality.”

In life, we all face obstacles and challenges that can make it difficult to find our path. This was the case for President Ken Miller, who struggled to navigate early adulthood. But with determination and a strong drive to succeed, he quickly turned things around and is now a successful professional with a heart of gold. 

Ken's original motivation has remained the same throughout his journey. He has always been passionate about helping others and positively impacting communities. Today, he applies that working closely with villages and tribal entities, using his expertise to assist them in acquiring funding that will benefit their respective communities. He is actively involved in various professional associations and serves on the national board of directors for three organizations. 

One of Ken’s most fulfilling experiences has been working with the Municipality of Anchorage, Alaska’s Federal ARPA grant of $103,000,000. He administers all aspects of this grant working with over 190 sub-recipients for the Municipality of Anchorage. This experience has been a true joy for Ken, as he witnessed the incredible work these organizations are doing in their communities with the funding. Many of them lacked the necessary skills to effectively administer their grants, and Ken had the opportunity to support and teach them, which he found incredibly rewarding.

Despite his success, Ken's biggest challenge is saying "no" to potential clients and volunteer opportunities that come his way. However, his greatest reward is seeing his clients succeed and achieve their goals through his hard work and support. The happiness and sense of accomplishment that they experience is what brings joy to Ken's life.

But Ken's passion continues beyond work. Outside of his professional life, he enjoys spending time with his beloved wife, family, and mentees. For the past 15 years, he has mentored black men and has 16 active mentees. He meets with them regularly, using his knowledge and experience to help them achieve their dreams and reach their full potential.

From struggling in his early adulthood to becoming a successful professional, entrepreneur, mentor, and individual who defied the odds, Ken Miller has proven that anything is possible with hard work and determination. His passion for helping others and his unwavering drive to positively impact communities is truly admirable.