Alaska Grants for Nonprofits
Learn about grants for Alaska by browsing our curated list of top Alaska funders below. Members can also research funding opportunities using the search tool for Grant Finder. Become a member.
Funding landscape and giving trends in Alaska
Alaska encompasses the largest geographical area, as well as the largest proportion of Native Americans residing in any U.S. state. It is also one of the least populous states overall. All of this informs Alaska’s philanthropic landscape. Compared to other states, the scale of philanthropy is relatively small. In 2018 and 2019, roughly 800–1,000 grantmakers collectively gave about $400 million in grants for Alaska each year, according to Candid. At the same time, the proportion of Alaska grants going to Native communities is higher than in most other states. Alaska additionally has a network of small community foundations that reach isolated and far-apart rural communities.
Health and human services, education, the environment, and the needs of rural communities are top priorities for Alaska grants. Since the majority of the remote rural population is Alaska Native, there is substantial overlap between grants focused on rural as well as on Indigenous issues and communities. As energy is a big part of the Alaskan economy, changes in the energy market can have a significant impact on Alaskan philanthropy, especially corporate philanthropy. Alaskan grantmakers connect with funders in other states through the regional association Philanthropy Northwest. The Affiliate Program, an collaborative initiative of Alaska funders the Rasmuson Foundation and the Alaska Community Foundation, works to strengthen philanthropy across Alaska.
Alaska’s top funders are a mix of community foundations with a strong local focus, private foundations, and corporate funders. Important funders of Alaska grants include the Rasmuson Foundation, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, Bristol Bay Economic Development Corporation, Cook Inlet Tribal Council, Alaska Community Foundation, Tanana Chiefs Conference, Mat-Su Health Foundation, Norton Sound Economic Development Corporation, Bristol Bay Native Association, Juneau Community Foundation, Arctic Education Foundation, CIRI Foundation, Coastal Villages Region Fund, United Way of Anchorage, Alaska Conservation Foundation, and Homer Foundation. Notable corporate funders include General Communication Inc. and the RuRAL CAP Foundation.
