New Grantmaking Strategy

ACF Advances the Conservation Movement with New Grantmaking Strategy

Overview

Alaska Conservation Foundation (ACF) has been a dedicated supporter of Alaska’s grassroots for over 30 years. Shifts in Alaska’s economic and political landscape required that ACF undertake an in-depth review of its grantmaking program. Our review process consulted conservation leaders from across Alaska and beyond, and incorporated best practices in philanthropy and nonprofit sustainability. A central part was to articulate a Theory of Change to guide our future conservation work, providing focused priorities and an improved approach for evaluating our effectiveness.

The result…a new grantmaking direction seeking to build the influence of Alaska’s conservation movement, focusing upon long-term, enduring solutions that create more robust environmental policy and protections. Only by building a movement that supports better environmental policy can we achieve the enduring conservation protection warranted by the magnificence of Alaska.

New: Organizational Capacity Grant Program

While all ACF grant programs will evolve to align with our new strategic approach, the most significant and immediate change is the creation of the new Organizational Capacity Grant Program, and the end of our Operating Support and Opportunity Grants programs.

Organizational Capacity grants will focus upon building Alaska’s conservation movement by supporting organizations that favor the following conservation strategies:

Promoting civic engagement and citizen action;
Employing innovative approaches to building a conservation movement;
Increasing public awareness of conservation issues;
Employing diverse partnerships;
Focusing upon enduring solutions and problem-solving; and
Fostering collaboration.

Award recipients will also be eligible to take part in ACF-funded organizational and leadership support addressing specific capacity-building areas such as strengthening leadership, developing sustainable funding practices, improving board effectiveness, engaging volunteers and incorporating sound business practices.

Funding decisions for this new program will be announced in May 2011.

Additional Grantmaking Programs

ACF’s new strategy will also incorporate funding in these areas:

Rapid Response: The Rapid Response program will continue to address unforeseen opportunities and threats. The guidelines for this program are under review and will be announced in early 2011.
Innovation: A new Innovation program will be announced in 2011.
Conservation Internship Program: The Conservation Internship program will continue in order to cultivate the next generation of leaders.