Alaska Conservation Foundation awarded 81 grants totaling $1.26 million in fiscal year 2019 (July 1, 2018 – June 30, 2019) to support efforts across Alaska.
Alaska Defense Fund Grants
This fund, created in November 2016, intends to support critical, front-line conservation work in Alaska, and responds to emerging threats to Alaska’s public lands and waters. Grants were awarded totaling $304,800 to:
- Alaska Public Interest Research Group – $5,000
Anchorage, Alaska
Support for Renewable Energy Alaska Coalition - Alaska Wilderness League – $500
Anchorage, Alaska
Support for Arctic Refuge fundraiser - Cook Inletkeeper – $15,000
Homer, Alaska
General support for grid reform - Native Movement – $5,000
Fairbanks, Alaska
General support for grid reform - Northern Alaska Environmental Center – $15,000
Fairbanks, Alaska
General support - Renewable Energy Alaska Project – $20,000 & $10,000
Anchorage, Alaska
General support - Sitka Conservation Society – $15,000
Sitka, Alaska
General support - Southeast Alaska Conservation Council – $15,000
Juneau, Alaska
General support - Stand for Salmon – $80,000 & $60,000
Anchorage, Alaska
General support - Susitna River Coalition – $10,000 & $15,000
Talkeetna, Alaska
General support - Trustees for Alaska – $30,000 & $9,300
Anchorage, Alaska
General support & Support for the convening of Arctic Refuge stakeholders
Agency Fund Grants
Alaska Conservation Foundation holds various endowment funds, included Agency Funds, that generate a spendable balance each year. This balance may be requested as a grant award by the agency the fund was created to support, and may be awarded annually. Grants were awarded totaling $3,302 to:
Northern Guardian Agency Fund
- Northern Alaska Environmental Center – $3,302
Fairbanks, AK
Northern Guardian Fund payout
Conservation Achievement Awardee Grants
Each year, Alaska Conservation Foundation honors members of our community who go above and beyond to protect Alaska. Certain awards allow the awardee to suggest organizations to receive a small amount of grant funding from Alaska Conservation Foundation.
- Southeast Alaska Conservation Council – $1,000
Juneau, Alaska
Recommendation from Celia Hunter Conservation Achievement award recipient - United Tribes of Bristol Bay – $1,000
Dillingham, Alaska
Recommendation from Olaus Murie Conservation Achievement award recipient
Discovery Grants
Grant awards to support small, grassroots organizations working to advance the conservation movement in Alaska. Grants were awarded totaling $19,719 to:
- Alaska Sustainable Fisheries Trust – $2,000
Sitka, Alaska
SeaGrant program expansion to increase awareness of the ecological and economic wealth of Southeast Alaska - Alaska Trails – $2,000
Anchorage, Alaska
Support for the Alaska Trails Initiative - Alaskans for Wildlife – $2,000
Fairbanks, Alaska
Support for outreach and events during summer 2019 - ARCHES Alaska – $2,000
Support for the Smoked Salmon Super Bowl at Salmonfest 2019, which is a creative and collaborative effort to advocate for the protection of salmon and salmon habitat - Audubon Alaska – $2,000
Anchorage, Alaska
2019 Virtual Bird Festival Community Outreach - Island Institute – $2,000
Sitka, Alaska
Support for “Alaska Stories” and “Tidelines” – both focused on turning the tide on climate change in Alaska - Lynn Canal Conservation – $1,986
Haines, Alaska
Support for Executive Director to attend Western Mining Action Network conference - Northern Technical Research Assistance Center dba NORTAC – $2,000
Roxborough, Colorado
Seabirth Youth Network in St. Paul Island - Sitka Conservation Society – $2,000
Sitka, Alaska
Support for student travel to Federal Subsistence Board Meeting - Susitna River Coalition – $1,733
Talkeetna, Alaska
Support for 2019 strategic planning
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 were awarded totaling $25,069 to:
Deborah Williams Fund
- The Alaska Center Education Fund – $1,500
Anchorage, Alaska
General operating support for Alaska Youth for Environmental Action in recognition of 20 year anniversary - Alaska Climate Action Network – $1,600
Support to hire an analyst to assess gas emissions data
Jeanne Williams Donor Advised Fund
- Alaska Wilderness League – $1,000
Anchorage, Alaska
Support for protecting the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge - Defenders of Wildlife – $1,000
Anchorage, Alaska
Protecting the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge - Pacific Environment – $1,000
Anchorage, Alaska
Support for work on reducing impacts from shipping in the Arctic - Trustees for Alaska – $1,000
Anchorage, Alaska
Protecting the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge - The Wilderness Society – $1,000
Anchorage, Alaska
Protecting the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge - Wilderness Watch – $1,000
Missoula, Montana
Protecting the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge
Studebaker Family Donor Advised Fund
- The Alaska Center Education Fund – $3,169
Anchorage, Alaska
Support for Trailside Discovery Camp and Alaska Youth for Environmental Action - Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies – $3,200
Homer, Alaska
Support for environmental education programs - Discovery Southeast – $3,200
Juneau, Alaska
Support for environmental education programs - Friends of Creamer’s Field – $3,200
Fairbanks, Alaska
Support for environmental education programs - Wrangell Institute for Science & Education – $3,200
Kenny Lake, Alaska
Support for environmental education programs
Ted Smith Conservation Internship Program Grants
ACF’s popular Conservation Internship Program offers students from Alaska and around the country interested in conservation valuable work experience at host organizations throughout the state. Grants were awarded totaling $78,000 to:
- Alaska Community Action on Toxics – $6,000
Anchorage, Alaska
Internship stipend - Alaska Longline Fisherman’s Association – $6,000
Sitka, Alaska
Internship stipend - Audubon Alaska – $6,000
Anchorage, Alaska
Internship stipend - Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies – $6,000
Homer, Alaska
Internship stipend - Cook Inletkeeper – $6,000
Homer, Alaska
Internship stipend - Defenders of Wildlife – $6,000
Anchorage, Alaska
Internship stipend - Discovery Southeast – $6,000
Juneau, Alaska
Internship stipend - Kenai Watershed Forum – $6,000
Soldotna, Alaska
Internship stipend - Municipality of Anchorage – $6,000
Anchorage, Alaska
Internship stipend - Sitka Conservation Society – $6,000
Sitka, Alaska
Internship stipend - Southeast Alaska Conservation Council – $6,000
Juneau, Alaska
Internship stipend - The Alaska Center – $6,000
Anchorage, Alaska
Internship stipend - Yukon River InterTribal Watershed Council – $6,000
Anchorage, Alaska
Internship stipend
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 were awarded totaling $48,500 to:
- The Alaska Center Education Fund – $10,000
Anchorage, Alaska
Support for outreach to Alaskans during the final days of the Pebble Mine comment period - Kachemak Bay Conservation Society – $3,000
Homer, Alaska
Support to engage the community in the public comment period for the Kachemak Bay State Park Wildnerness Management Plan - Native American Rights Fund – $10,000
Boulder, Colorado
Neets’ąįį Gwich’in Arctic Refuge Cultural Preservation Project - Sitka Conservation Society – $8,500
Sitka, Alaska
Support for contract work to protect the Tongass during the summer of 2019 - Southeast Alaska Conservation Council – $7,000
Juneau, Alaska
Support for codifying the Roadless Rule into law nationwide - Trustees for Alaska – $10,000
Anchorage, Alaska
Critical review and response to the economic analysis of and conclusions on the Pebble Mine found in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement prepared by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Sustainable Southeast Partnership Grants
We support the Sustainable Southeast Partnership, an innovative network in Southeast Alaska working to achieve ecological, cultural, and economic vitality for the region, an approach critical to the long-term health of the Tongass National Forest and to building resilience to the impacts of climate change. Grants were awarded totaling $725,018 to:
- Hoonah Indian Association – $40,810
Hoonah, Alaska
Support for the Hoonah Community Catalyst - Klawock Cooperative Association – $40,810
Klawock, Alaska
Support for Klawock Community Catalyst - Organized Village of Kasaan – $40,810
Kasaan, Alaska
Support for Kasaan Community Catalyst - Renewable Energy Alaska Project – $61,661 & $30,000
Anchorage, Alaska
Support for continuing work as an Energy Catalyst for the Sustainable Southeast Partnership, emphasizing energy efficiency, biomass and STEM education. Second grant for biomass project. - Sitka Conservation Society – $102,471
Sitka, Alaska
Support for the Sitka Community Catalyst and the Sustainable Southeast Partnership Catalyst for Communications - Southeast Alaska Watershed Coalition – $61,661 & $1,500
Juneau, Alaska
This grant is intended to support the work of Jennifer Nu, the Sustainable Southeast Partnership Regional Catalyst for Food Sustainability, as an employee at Southeast Alaska Watershed Coalition as a full-time Sustainable Southeast Partnership Regional Catalyst. Second grant for Moby the Mobile Greenhouse: Season 2019. - Spruce Root Inc. – $226,824 & $1,500 & $15,000
Juneau, Alaska
First grant for support for staff and events. Second grant for Prince of Wales entrepreneurship workshop. Third grant for 2018 Path to Prosperity Bootcamp. - The Nature Conservancy – $61,661
Anchorage, Alaska
Support for Regional Forestry and Fisheries Catalyst - Yakutat Tlingit Tribe – $40,810
Yakutat, Alaska
Support for Yakutat Community Catalyst
Travel Fund Grants
Grants to elevate the voices of Alaskans on important local conservation issues. Grants were awarded totaling $64,670 to:
- Alaska Wilderness League – $16,500 & $8,700
Anchorage, Alaska
Support to send Alaska Native leaders to Washington DC following the November election to advocate for defense of the Arctic Refuge - Gwich’in Steering Committee – $3,500
Fairbanks, Alaska
Support for travel to defend the Arctic Refuge - Native American Rights Fund – $12,970, $11,910 & $10,000
Boulder, Colorado
Support for ensuring that tribal leadership is heard at the national level concerning the future of the Arctic Refuge. Second grant supported travel to defend the Arctic Refuge. Third grant supported for travel of tribal leaders from Bristol Bay to meet with federal agency leaders. - Trustees for Alaska – $1,090.18
Anchorage, Alaska
Support for indigenous travel to Fairbanks convening of Arctic Refuge stakeholders
Small Grants
Grant awards to support small, grassroots organizations working to advance the conservation movement in Alaska. Grants were awarded totaling $5,000 to:
- The Alaska Center Education Fund – $5,000
Anchorage, Alaska
Travel support for Alaska Youth for Environmental Action graduates to attend 20th-anniversary celebration
