Just as a chocolate shop offers vastly different types of desserts to choose from, the lists and links below represent a wonderful variety of funding opportunities. But here’s why grant proposal writing and research instruction is so important: Each funder has a very different set of criteria that they apply to potential applicants. It’s incredibly important to find the best match with the specific funders who support your type of organization, and then learn how to approach them. That can seem like a tall order at times, but we’re here to help!
Below are links to elected officials, funding sources and other useful agencies for grant-seeking groups in Alaska. Please let us know about others that you feel would be helpful so that we can continue to improve this listing. Thanks!
Government offices:
Governor Mike Dunleavy - (907) 465-3500, Juneau
Senator Lisa Murkowski - (202) 224-6665, Washington, DC
Senator Dan Sullivan - (202) 224-3004, Washington, DC
Attorney General Treg Taylor - (907) 269-5100, Anchorage
If you’d like to know the names and addresses of other elected officials that represent you and your area, click here to locate them: Alaska Division of Elections.
Alaska Dept. of Education & Early Development - DEED’s Mission is to provide an excellent education for every student every day. Its Vision is to ensure that all students will succeed in their education and work, shape worthwhile and satisfying lives for themselves, exemplify the best values of society, and be effective in improving the character and quality of the world. Its Three Commitments are: Increase Student Success, Cultivate Safety and Well-Being, and Support Responsible and Reflective Learners. Grants to schools are provided and monitored through the Quality Schools Grant Program.
Department of Health and Social Services - The Department’s mission is "to promote and protect the health and well-being of Alaskans." Click here on Assistance and Health Services for contact information regarding each of its divisions and service departments.
The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) - Alaska - Distributes scholarships and manages volunteer activities within the AmeriCorps and Senior Corps programs. Interested in hosting a few of their participants? Click on the link above and give them a call.
Other helpful organizations:
Association of Fundraising Professionals - Alaska Chapter - Founded in 1987 by a group of fundraising professionals, our Chapter is committed to providing training, seminars, education and support to all volunteers and professionals in fundraising in our great state of Alaska. In 2019, we have over 130 active AFP members who serve as development directors, fundraising consultants, grant proposal writers, volunteer fundraisers, foundation executives, and other individuals dedicated to ethical fundraising and philanthropy.
The Foraker Group - TFG serves as the state association and capacity building organization for nonprofits and tribes across Alaska. We are dedicated to increasing the leadership and management skills of professionals and volunteers through an innovative approach focused on the Foraker Nonprofit Sustainability Model.
Fractured Atlas - Provides Fiscal Sponsorship support to individual artists and arts organizations in the areas of performance, visual arts, literature, design, media, and everything in between. Alaska projects have included Commissure Studios in Fairbanks, alaskaLand, Sand Dunes, and Vanishing Culture -- filmed in Fairbanks, Tetlin and Tanacross.
The Native American Rights Fund - NARF is a non-profit law firm that is dedicated to asserting and defending the rights of Indian tribes, organizations and individuals nationwide. It focuses on the following areas: the preservation of tribal existence; the protection of tribal natural resources; the promotion of Native American human rights; the accountability of governments to Native Americans; and the development of Indian law and educating the public about Indian rights, laws, and issues.
ALASKA COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS:
Looking for a grant-making organization that knows your community as well as you do? Check out your local Community Foundation! This is one potential funder who knows the needs of your community in great detail, and who will want to learn how your organization fits within the local service network. Each Community Foundation is entirely unique, but their general goal is to recruit donors and their contributions, then help distribute those dollars to local nonprofits, schools, medical clinics, artists, churches and other groups. Click here on Community Foundations - Alaska to see a list of them and the geographic areas they serve, or simply click on the Foundation names below.
Want to learn more about Community Foundations before approaching your nearest one for funding, or learn about other resources they might offer? Click here: What’s a Community Foundation? Remember, research and insight are key to developing a successful path to grant-seeking.
Alaska Conservation Association - Founded in 1980 and based in Anchorage, ACA is the only public foundation solely dedicated to conservation in Alaska, connecting thousands of committed donors and businesses worldwide with more than a hundred grassroots conservation organizations in Alaska. Over the last four decades, ACA has awarded more than $52 million in grants in support of Alaska’s most critical issues, fostering problem-solving and innovation, and protecting Alaska’s incredible yet vulnerable ecosystems, communities and economies.
Bethel Community Services Foundation - Based in Bethel, BCSF serves communities across the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. The Foundation is dedicated to the development, growth, continuation and enhancement of community-based programs and services. Before submitting a grant request, applicants are encouraged to contact the Foundation to discuss eligibility and funding priorities [This is great! Give them a call! But remember: A clear Mission Statement & Program Description are vitally important to have in advance]. The Foundation prefers to fund in concert with others and to respond to needs outside of those covered by traditional funding streams. Additionally, requests that identify needs not currently met through other funding sources will also receive preference.
Alaska Community Foundation - Based in Anchorage and serving communities throughout the state, ACF’s mission is to inspire the spirit of giving and connecting people, organizations, and causes to strengthen Alaska’s communities now and forever. Today, we manage over 500 funds, including eleven Affiliate and 5 partner community funds, with assets totaling more than $90 million. Each year, we are able to grant out $4 million to $5 million in charitable gifts to local nonprofit organizations and charities. Established in 2008 through a partnership with the Rasmuson Foundation, the Affiliate Program is at the heart of ACF and core to our mission. Affiliate foundations include the following:
Chilkat Valley Community Foundation - CVCF is solely focused on the needs of the Chilkat Valley, which includes the Haines Borough and the Chilkat Indian Village of Klukwan. The Foundation meets our community’s needs by increasing connections between people and the organizations that serve them. We have more than 75 nonprofits that serve all ages and provide educational, cultural, health, social, historical, environmental, recreational, and arts-related opportunities.
Cordova Community Foundation - CCF is a geographic community endowment fund to meet the ever-changing needs of the Cordova, AK area, and is advised on by the Cordova Community Foundation Advisory Board.
Golden Heart Community Foundation - Based in Fairbanks, GHCF’s Focus is to provide a vehicle in which the people in the Fairbanks, North Pole and surrounding regions can support the organizations and causes that they care for most, thus preserving prosperity and creating the best quality of life for area residents.
Jessica Stevens Community Foundation - Serving Talkeetna and other communities in the upper Susitna Valley, JSCF’s mission is to encourage compassionate health care, innovative education, active enjoyment of the natural environment, and community enrichment through the arts and cultural expression.
Kenai Peninsula Foundation - Serving the needs of central Kenai Peninsula area residents, including the communities of Kenai and Soldotna, KPF’s mission is to benefit young people, recreation, safety, vulnerable populations and the elderly.
Ketchikan Community Foundation - We use proceeds from our growing permanent endowment to award yearly grants to support charitable organizations and programs in the Ketchikan area. Grants support a broad range of community needs on a rotating cycle of three themes: physical and emotional support, youth and community enrichment. We seek projects that have the potential to impact a broad range of residents and show collaboration with other organizations.
Kodiak Community Foundation - Kodiak is a vibrant community on an island in the Gulf of Alaska. Kodiak residents are fiercely proud of their community and continuously commit their time and resources into projects for the betterment of all. The Kodiak Community Foundation’s focus is to enhance the quality of island life through community giving.
Petersburg Community Foundation - Since its founding in 2008, PCF has been devoted to improving the lives of the young, the elderly and vulnerable populations as well as creating recreation, education and safety programs. PCF focuses on the needs of the area through a permanent endowment that makes grants to non-profit groups serving the area.
Palmer Community Foundation - To support our community, we promote individual, family and business philanthropy and provide grants to local projects and organizations. We offer a local vehicle for residents and visitors to invest their time, talent and resources in helping the Palmer area thrive.
Seward Community Foundation - Located at the head of historic Resurrection Bay on the Kenai Peninsula, Seward is hard at work making changes for its future. Committed residents recently helped fund a new library and museum, as well as funding and constructing a waterfront playground for young children. The endowment that the Foundation is building allows grants to be made that improve the lives of Seward and Moose Pass residents in areas such as health, education, human services, arts and culture, youth and community development.
Sitka Legacy Foundation - SLF supports local resilience and self-reliance, now and into the future. We are committed to maintaining Sitka as a vital, progressive and healthy place where people can live, work, raise families and retire.
Homer Foundation - The Foundation’s mission is to enhance the quality of life for the citizens of the greater Homer area by promoting philanthropic and charitable activities. Our service area also includes the southern Kenai Peninsula, from Ninilchik south including the communities across Kachemak Bay.
UNITED WAYS OF ALASKA
Here’s another interesting question: What other organizations know the specific needs of local neighborhoods from the inside out, and also provide grants and volunteers to address them? United Way Chapters! All United Way organizations around the United States are dedicated to supporting projects within the four main areas of Health, Education, Financial Stability and Disaster Recovery of Individuals. While they share this common focus, each UW chapter also provides funding and support for programs customized to the needs of its local area. To find out more about the five United Way Chapters in Alaska and their resources and nonprofit funding opportunities, please read the descriptions and click on the links below:
United Way of Anchorage - Based in Anchorage, UWA also supports Alaska 2-1-1, a state-wide resource for finding help in your community. It’s free, confidential and available in almost any language. For life challenges or everyday needs, help starts here.
United Way of Mat Su - Based in Wasilla, UWMS utilizes collaboration, leadership and caring connection to foster self-reliance in community members, while increasing resource and information-sharing among agencies.
United Way of Southeast Alaska - Based in Juneau and serving the counties of Haines, Juneau, Ketchikan Gateway and Sitka, UWSA and our 33 partner agencies work to create real, lasting change by addressing the underlying causes of problems within our communities. We support programs and initiatives that help those in need and also prevent problems from happening in the first place.
United Way of the Tanana Valley - Based in Fairbanks and serving communities in the Fairbanks North Star Borough, UWTV is not only creating change through our programs, we’re harnessing the power of nonprofits, government, corporations and thousands of individuals like you.
Valdez United Way - Serving the Valdez-Cordova area, VUW’s mission is to support organizations that make lasting, measurable changes in community conditions that improve lives in three key areas: Meeting basic needs of people in crisis to promote wellness; Promoting self-sufficiency and strengthening our community; and Helping children.
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