Alaska Conservation Foundation awarded 85 grants totaling $715,469.76 in fiscal year 2021 (July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2021, to support efforts across Alaska.
Agency Fund Grants
Alaska Conservation Foundation holds various endowment funds, including Agency Funds, that generate a spendable balance each year. This balance may be requested as a grant award by the organization the fund was created to support and may be awarded annually. Grants totaling $3,512.45 were awarded to:
- Northern Alaska Environmental Center – $3,512.45
Fairbanks, AK
Agency Fund Payout
Alaska Defense Fund
This fund supports critical, front-line conservation and advocacy work in Alaska. Grants are awarded to organizations doing work aligned with protection of public lands and waters. Grants totaling $317,000 were awarded to:
- Susitna River Coalition – $12,000
Talkeetna, AK
Building Solidarity Along the Railbelt - Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association – $10,000
Sitka, AK
Support for Businesses for Conservation and Climate Action, including an Indigenous coordinator and Alaska 30 by 30 organizing - Cook Inletkeeper – $20,000
Homer, AK
General Operating Support - Alaska Center Education Fund – $20,000
Anchorage, AK
General Operating Support - Susitna River Coalition – $20,000
Talkeetna, AK
General Operating Support - Southeast Alaska Conservation Council – $20,000
Juneau, AK
General Operating Support - Northern Alaska Environmental Center – $20,000
Fairbanks, AK
General Operating Support - Renewable Energy Alaska Project – $20,000
Anchorage, AK
General Operating Support - Trustees for Alaska – $30,000
Anchorage, AK
General Operating Support - Alaska Public Interest Research Group – $10,000
Anchorage, AK
General Operating Support - Sitka Conservation Society – $20,000
Sitka, AK
General Operating Support - Alaska Marine Conservation Council – $20,000
Anchorage, AK
General Operating Support - Native Movement – $15,000
Fairbanks, AK
General Operating Support - United Tribes of Bristol Bay – $20,000
Dillingham, AK
General Operating Support - Alaska Community Action on Toxics – $15,000
Anchorage, AK
General Operating Support - Native People’s Action – $15,000
Anchorage, AK
General Operating Support - Gwich’in Steering Committee – $20,000
Fairbanks, AK
General Operating Support - Fairbanks Climate Action Coalition – $10,000
Fairbanks, AK
General Operating Support
Conservation Internship Program
The Ted Smith Conservation Internship Program offers students from Alaska and around the country interested invaluable conservation work experience at host organizations throughout the state. Grants totaling $95,000 were awarded to:
- Municipality of Anchorage – $6,000
Anchorage, AK
Internship Stipend - Kenai Watershed Forum – $6,000
Soldotna, AK
Internship Stipend - Cook Inletkeeper – $6,000
Homer, AK
Internship Stipend - Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies – $6,000
Homer, AK
Internship Stipend - Sitka Conservation Society – $6,000
Sitka, AK
Internship Stipend - Alaska Marine Conservation Council – $6,000
Anchorage, AK
Internship Stipend - Alaska Center Education Fund – $6,000
Anchorage, AK
Internship Stipend - Alaska Community Action on Toxics – $6,000
Anchorage, AK
Internship Stipend - Qawalangin Tribe of Alaska – $6,000
Anchorage, AK
Internship Stipend - Discovery Southeast – $6,000
Juneau, AK
Internship Stipend - Audubon Alaska – $6,000
Anchorage, AK
Internship Stipend - Southeast Alaska Conservation Council – $6,000
Juneau, AK
Internship Stipend - Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association – $6,000
Sitka, AK
Internship Stipend - Aleut Community of St. Paul – $6,000
Anchorage, AK
Internship Stipend - Yukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed Council – $11,000
Anchorage, AK
Internship Stipends
Designated Fund Grants
Alaska Conservation Foundation holds various endowment funds, including Designated Funds, that generate a spendable balance each year. This balance may be requested as a grant award to the organization the fund is designated to by the fund advisor. Grants totaling $14,975.80 were awarded to:
- Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies – $14,975.80
Homer, AK
Inspiration Ridge
Discovery Grants
Grants to support small, grassroots organizations working to advance the conservation movement in Alaska. Grants totaling $14,900 were awarded to:
- Center for Alaska Coastal Studies – $2,000
Homer, AK
Support for Community Based Monitoring Programs - Alaska Huts – $900
Anchorage, AK
Support for Alaska Huts development expansion - Takshanuk Watershed Council – $2,000
Haines, AK
Adapting Outreach Strategies During a Global Pandemic - Southeast Alaska Conservation Council – $2,000
Juneau, AK
Dagwii: Protecting America’s Amazon film distribution - Alaska Public Interests Research Group – $2,000
Anchorage, AK
Quantifying the history of gas subsidies in southcentral Alaska - Alaska Common Ground – $2,000
Anchorage, AK
Climate Action Plan sector series outreach - Fairbanks Climate Action Coalition – $2,000
Fairbanks, AK
Post-Covid team healing, connecting, and strategizing for the year ahead - Brooks Range Council – $2,000
Fairbanks, AK
Alaska Mining Spill Report and Organizing
Donor-Advised Fund Grants
Alaska Conservation Foundation holds endowment funds, including Donor-Advised Funds, which generate a spendable amount each year. Donor advisors may recommend grant awards within the spendable amount aligned with the purpose of the fund and Alaska Conservation Foundation’s mission and vision. Grants totaling $30,550 were awarded to:
Alaska Wildland Adventures Conservation Fund:
- Alaska Sealife Center – $1,000
Seward, AK
General Operating Support - Alaska Native Heritage Center – $1,000
Anchorage, AK
General Operating Support - Alaska Wilderness League – $1,000
Anchorage, AK
General Operating Support - The Nature Conservancy Alaska – $1,000
Anchorage, AK
General Operating Support - Kachemak Heritage Land Trust – $1,000
Homer, AK
General Operating Support
Jeanne Williams Fund
- Alaska Wilderness League – $2,500
Anchorage, AK
Support to protect the Arctic Refuge - Alaska Center Education Fund – $1,500
Anchorage, AK
General Operating Support - Alaska Wilderness League – $1,500
Anchorage, AK
Protection for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and Izembek National Wildlife Refuge - Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuges – $900
Homer, AK
Support for Izembek, Kenai, and Arctic National Wildlife Refuges - Alaska Wilderness League – $1,000
Washington, DC
In memory of Adam Kolton
Studebaker Family Fund
- Alaska Center Education Fund – $3,630
Anchorage, AK
Support for Trailside Discovery Camp - Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies – $3,630
Homer, AK
Support for Environmental Education Programs - Discovery Southeast – $3,630
Juneau, AK
Support for Environmental Education Programs - Friends of Creamer’s Field – $3,630
Fairbanks, AK
Support for Environmental Education Programs - Wrangell Institute for Science and Environment – $3,630
Copper Center, AK
Support for Environmental Education Programs
Field of Interest Fund Grants
Alaska Conservation Foundation holds various endowment funds, including Field of Interest Funds, that support grantmaking efforts in a specific area of interest defined by the original donor. Grants totaling $16,000 were awarded to:
Jean Tam Loon Fun
- Spirit of Youth $16,000
Anchorage, AK
Alaskan Youth Highlight Yellow-Billed Loon Conservation Issues
Northern Latitudes Partnerships Grants
Northern Latitudes Partnerships (previously Landscape Conservation Cooperatives) are public-private partnerships that bring together Tribes, First Nations, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, research institutions, and industry to address the challenges and opportunities of a rapidly changing environment. Grants totaling $99,246.51 were awarded to:
- Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Wildlife Conservation – $22,500
Anchorage, AK
Transboundary Bering Sea Workshop - University of Alaska Fairbanks – $43,800
Fairbanks, AK
Alaska Sea Grant State Fellowship - Organized Village of Kasaan – $7,024.62
Kasaan, AK
Indigenous Sentinels Network - Traditional Council of Togiak – $1,655.42
Togiak, AK
Indigenous Sentinels Network - Alaska Pacific University – $8,889.53
Anchorage, AK
Indigenous Sentinels Network - Aleut Community of St. Paul – $15,376.94
Anchorage, AK
Indigenous Sentinels Network
Rapid Response Grants
Alaska Conservation Foundation’s Rapid Response grants enable organizations to respond quickly to fast-breaking, unforeseen Alaska environmental threats of statewide or national significance. Grants totaling $45,100 were awarded to:
- Valley Mountain Bikers & Hikers – $9,350
Palmer, AK
Save the Matanuska Greenbelt - Cook Inletkeeper – $10,000
Homer, AK
Protecting Kachemak Bay - Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association – $10,000
Sitka, AK
Engaging the fishing community in 30 by 30 - Trail Mix, Inc – $10,000
Juneau, AK
Supporting sustainable economic development through the American Rescue Plan Act by encouraging Alaskans to invest in public lands - Southeast Alaska Conservation Council – $5,750
Juneau, AK
Protecting the Tongass National Forest in a Natural Strategic Carbon Reserve
Sustainable Southeast Partnership Grants
The Sustainable Southeast Partnership is an innovative network in Southeast Alaska working to achieve ecological, cultural, and economic vitality for the region. Grants totaling $30,000 were awarded to:
- Renewable Energy Alaska Project – $30,000
Anchorage, AK
Support for energy independence through woody biomass
Indigenous Voices Grants
Grants to elevate the Indigenous voices on the issues of the Arctic Refuge and Tongass National Forest. Grants totaling $54,685 were awarded to:
- Gwich’in Steering Committee – $8,000
Fairbanks, AK
Support for virtual Gwich’in Gathering - Southeast Alaska Indigenous Transboundary Commission – $10,000
Sitka, AK
Tahltan/Tlingit Historic Descendants Meeting Participants will produce a unified public statement regarding the health of the Stikine River watershed and the Tongass National Forest - Sitka Conservation Society – $14,685
Sitka, AK
Support for Herring Protectors - Native American Rights Fund – $12,000
Anchorage, AK
Support for Gwich’in Travel to protect the Arctic Refuge - Northern Alaska Environmental Center – $10,000
Fairbanks, AK
Support for Imago Initiative travel to support the Arctic Refuge
Youth Mini-Grant
The Youth Mini-Grant program aims to support youth-led projects that address conservation issues in Alaska. These include climate change, community health, racial and social inequity, and sustainable economies. The Youth Mini-Grant Program aims to empower youth leaders as they invest in their communities, become mentors, and delve into issues of social justice impacting Alaska’s cultures, communities, and well-being. Grants totaling $5,500 were awarded to:
- Fireweed Collective – $500
Anchorage, AK
Fireweed Collective Zine - Yaakoosge Daakahidi – $500
Juneau, AK
Elders & Youth Conference Travel - Institute for Civic Organizing – $500
Dillingham, AK
Supporting climate-vulnerable communities in the Bristol Bay Region: A Field Guide - Tribal Government of St. Paul Youth Tribal Council – $500
St. Paul Island, AK
Brittany’s Bakery - Tatitlek Community School – $500
Tatitlek, AK
Support for Tatitlek community health and wellness - Sitka Conservation Society – $1,000
Sitka, AK
ANWR and Art: exploring narratives in our political dialogue - Orutsararmiut Native Council – $2,000
Bethel, AK
Elder and Youth Climate Change Conversations and Youth Litter Patrol - Center for Native American Youth – $1,000
Washington, DC
Operation Fish Drop
