Alaska Conservation Foundation
Alaska Conservation Foundation is a public charity based in Anchorage, Alaska, and describes itself as the only public foundation solely dedicated to conservation in Alaska. Founded in 1980, it connects donors and businesses with grassroots conservation organizations and supports conservation leaders, organizations, and initiatives working to protect Alaska’s natural resources, ecosystems, communities, and ways of life.
Alaska Conservation Foundation at a glance
In short: Alaska Conservation Foundation gave $2.1M across 57 grants in 2025 (avg $37K), mostly in Alaska. 23% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,120,813
- +2.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 57
- +23.9% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $37,207
- -17.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $15,449
- Total assets
- $17,198,406
- +11.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 23% first-time grantees (13 of 57, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Alaska (94% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Alaska Conservation Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Applications are considered through program-specific processes. The foundation advises applicants to review program guidelines; Rapid Response applicants may submit at any time and are encouraged to contact staff to confirm program fit. Alpenglow applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
- Deadline
- Rolling
- Contact
Mailing address: 1227 W 9Th Ave Suite 300, Anchorage, AK 99501
Phone: (907) 276-1917
Website: https://alaskaconservation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
6 open opportunities from Alaska Conservation Foundation
ACF: Discovery Grants
Alaska Conservation Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Alaska Watchable Wildlife Conservation Trust Grant Program
Alaska Conservation Foundation
Amount
Up to US $5,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Indigenous Voices Fund Grant
Alaska Conservation Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Alaska Conservation Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Alaska Pacific University ($258K). Together the top 10 received $1.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
213 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 176 grants of 213 (83%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s stated work is focused on Alaska. Its website says its office is on the traditional territories of the Dena’ina Peoples and that it works throughout the unceded territories of Alaska’s Indigenous Peoples. In 2025, 94% of grant dollars went to recipients in Alaska; recipients in Washington, DC received 4%, and recipients in Colorado and California received 1% each. The reported share for Arizona was 0%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 57 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Alaska Conservation Foundation open to new grantees?
23%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 13 of 57 grantees (23%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $17K; repeat grants $43K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $25K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2021–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $701K (2021) to $2.1M (2025). In 2025 it made 57 grants totaling $2.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska Pacific University Anchorage, AK | Collective Conserv | $258,378 |
| Native Conservancy Cordvoa, AK | Collective Conservat | $226,439 |
| University of Alaska Southeast Juneau, AK | Kelp Mariculture | $140,732 |
| University of Alaska Fairbanks Fairbanks, AK | Collective Conserv. | $93,386 |
| Alaska Seeds of Change Through ABH Anchorage, AK | Collective Conserv. | $82,566 |
| Sitka Conservation Society Sitka, AK | Collective Conservat | $82,361 |
| Aleut Community of St Paul Anchorage, AK | Collective Conserv. | $78,069 |
| Northern Alaska Environmental Center Fairbanks, AK | ADVOCACY,OPS | $74,299 |
| Spruce Root Inc Juneau, AK | Coastal Resilience | $73,392 |
| Alaska Wilderness League Washington, DC | General Operating | $56,215 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $17,198,406 | $8,028,097 | $6,057,748 | $2,120,813 | 57 | $1,060,560 |
| 2024 | $15,400,459 | $5,705,487 | $5,460,737 | $2,072,067 | 46 | $651,826 |
| 2023 | $14,723,918 | $4,208,390 | $4,489,326 | $1,571,761 | 42 | $554,213 |
| 2022 | $13,696,231 | $4,020,029 | $3,224,653 | $973,590 | 33 | $1,380,561 |
| 2021 | $15,363,165 | $2,747,581 | $2,636,055 | $701,255 | 35 | $831,889 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to protect Alaska’s unique landscapes and ways of life by supporting conservation leaders, organizations, and initiatives. Its stated priorities include mitigating the impacts of climate change and protecting public lands and waters, with current focus areas including the Arctic, Bristol Bay, Tongass National Forest, climate and energy, and oceans.
Its 2024 filing describes collective conservation work coordinating statewide climate change adaptation partnerships, including federal, state, Tribal, corporate, and regional participants. It also describes the Alaska Defense Fund as supporting grassroots advocacy to protect public lands, waters, wildlife, and the cultures they sustain, and movement-building work that includes trainings, facilitated meetings, internships, and strategic grants.
The 2025 grantees illustrate the range of organizations supported. Alaska Pacific University describes its mission as providing hands-on, culturally responsive education in collaboration with students, communities, and Tribal partners. Sitka Conservation Society says it educates the public about conservation issues. Northern Alaska Environmental Center describes work promoting conservation and sustainable resource stewardship in Interior and Arctic Alaska through education and advocacy. Alaska Wilderness League says it works to protect Alaska’s wild lands and waters by inspiring support for federal policy action. Trustees for Alaska describes providing legal counsel to protect and defend Alaska’s lands, waters, wildlife, and people.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 57 grants totaling $2,120,813. Grants ranged from $7,000 to $258,378, with a median of $15,449. The largest listed awards included $258,378 to Alaska Pacific University for “COLLECTIVE CONSERV,” $226,439 to Native Conservancy for “COLLECTIVE CONSERVAT,” and $140,732 to University of Alaska Southeast for “KELP MARICULTURE.” Other large awards included $93,386 to University of Alaska Fairbanks and $82,361 to Sitka Conservation Society.
The foundation describes its grantmaking as a comprehensive, competitive process. Program requirements vary. The Alpenglow program supports Alaska-based grassroots organizations and accepts applications on a rolling basis; eligible applicants include certain nonprofits and federally recognized Tribes. Rapid Response grants support urgent or unforeseen conservation advocacy opportunities or threats of statewide or national significance, with awards up to $15,000 made on a rolling basis. Eligible applicants must be conservation advocacy nonprofits or equivalent, based in Alaska or with an Alaska-based program. Rapid Response funds may support legal assistance, grassroots advocacy, communications and outreach, meetings with decision-makers, scientific or technical support, travel, and contract services. The guidelines exclude operating expenses, equipment, land acquisition, research, literary or film projects, conference fees, and scholarships.
The foundation also lists programs including the Watchable Wildlife Conservation Trust, Alaska Defense Fund, Conservation Achievement Awards, Martha Levensaler Leadership Fund Grants, donor-advised and restricted grants, and the Alaska Mining Impacts and Prevention Fund. Its Indigenous Voices Fund supports travel, lodging, and digital organizing for advocacy related to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Bristol Bay, and Tongass National Forest. Discovery Grants support activities such as staff and board training, meeting facilitation, legal assistance, travel, outreach, advocacy, and strategic program expansion.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Michael Barber as President/CE, Kerry Anderson as Chair, Jenna Hamm as Alaska Vice-, Rosa Meehan as National Vic, Deborah Niedermeyer as Treasurer, Nan Elliot as Secretary, and Frankie Barker, Nancy Bird, Anne Donaghy, and Jason Paskvan as trustees. The filing abbreviates the titles for Jenna Hamm and Rosa Meehan.
Alaska Conservation Foundation is led by Michael Barber, President since 2024 (on filings since 2021); 5 of 19 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Michael Barber
President
Executive Di → President, 2024
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$118K (2021) → $121K (2025)
Kerry Anderson
Chair
National Vice → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2021
8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ruan Du Plessis
Director of Finan
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$89K (2021) → $114K (2025)
Billy Wailand
Trustee Thr
Trustee → Trustee Thr, 2025
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Frankie Barker
Trustee
Trustee → Alaska Vice, 2024
Alaska Vice → Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nancy Bird
Trustee
Trustee → Treasurer, 2023
Treasurer → Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Paul Reichardt
Trustee Thr
Trustee → Trustee Thr, 2025
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shawn Watts
Trustee
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Andrea Wagner
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cade Emory Terada
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jason Paskvan
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mike Williams Sr.
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Aaron Poe
Network Officer
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$132K (2021) → $138K (2025)
Mike Coumbe
Deputy Director
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$99K (2021) → $126K (2025)
Leanna Heffner
Nw Boreal Di
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$103K (2025)
Nan Elliot
Secretary
Trustee → Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2021
6 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rosa Meehan
National Vice
Trustee → Treasurer, 2022
Treasurer → National Vice, 2025
On filings since 2021
6 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Deborah Niedermeyer
Treasurer
Trustee → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2023
6 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jenna Hamm
Alaska Vice
Trustee → Alaska Vice, 2025
On filings since 2024
6 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (13)
- Former: Anne Donaghy (2021–2025) — Trustee · Filing note: Through nov 23
- Former: Amy Gulick (2021–2024) — Former Trustee · Filing note: Through nov 23
- Former: Rachael Posey (2021–2024) — Chair · Filing note: Through nov 23
- Former: Marina Anderson (2022–2024) — Trustee · Filing note: Through nov 23
- Former: William Wailand (2022–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Rosa Meehan Current Chair (2023–2024) — Chair
- Former: Kerry Anderson Current Vice-Chair (2024) — National Vice
- Former: Rick Caulfield (2021–2023) — Former Trustee
- Former: Rachael Posey During Year (2023) — Chair
- Former: Rachael Posey Current Chair (2022) — Alaska Vice
- Former: Michelle Ravenmoon (2021) — Past Trustee
- Former: Reggie Luedtke (2021) — Trustee
- Former: Stacy Studebaker (2021) — Alaska Vice
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $138K, to Aaron Poe (Network Offi). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Alaska Conservation Foundation
How much does Alaska Conservation Foundation give each year?
Alaska Conservation Foundation gave $2.1M across 57 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $2.1M across 46 grants.
What is Alaska Conservation Foundation's typical grant size?
Alaska Conservation Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $15,449, and its average grant was $37,207, across 57 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Alaska Conservation Foundation that year got $17K on average.
Where does Alaska Conservation Foundation give grants?
Alaska Conservation Foundation gives mostly in Alaska: 94% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Anchorage, AK (17 grants), Juneau, AK (6 grants), Fairbanks, AK (5 grants) and Sitka, AK (3 grants).
Does Alaska Conservation Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 5% of Alaska Conservation Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (3 of 57) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990. Recurring purposes include "Collective Conserv." (7 grants), "Movement Building" (6 grants) and "Alaska Defense Fund" (5 grants).
Who are Alaska Conservation Foundation's largest grantees?
Alaska Conservation Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Alaska Pacific University ($258,378), Native Conservancy ($226,439) and University of Alaska Southeast ($140,732), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 29% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Alaska Conservation Foundation?
Alaska Conservation Foundation reported $17.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $8.0M.
What does Alaska Conservation Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to protect Alaska’s unique landscapes and ways of life by supporting conservation leaders, organizations, and initiatives. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Alaska Conservation Foundation?
Applications are considered through program-specific processes. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Alaska Conservation Foundation's EIN?
Alaska Conservation Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 92-0061466. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS December 2, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 27, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 23, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS January 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Alaska Conservation Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
True North Foundation
Grass Valley, CA
TRUE NORTH FOUNDATION’s 2024 grants supported conservation, environmental protection, clean water, and mining-related work, primarily in Alaska, with funding also going to Montana, Washington, Idaho, and California. Its eight grants ranged from $80,000 to $961,087, with a median of $141,500; it accepted only preselected organizations’ requests, not unsolicited applications. The foundation terminated operations in December 2024 and is no longer making grants.
Assets
—
Grants
8
Total Given
$2.1M
Rasmuson Foundation
Anchorage, AK
Rasmuson Foundation funds Alaska nonprofits, tribes, and local governments across a broad range of community needs, from small purchases to major capital and strategic projects. Grants range from $50 to $1 million, with a 2024 median of $5,000; Tier 1 awards are up to $35,000, Community Support grants up to $250,000, and Legacy grants exceed $250,000. Tier 1 applications are accepted year-round on a rolling basis; strategic grants are by invitation.
Assets
$845.4M
Grants
300
Total Given
$17.7M
444S Foundation
Bellevue, WA
The 444S Foundation funds conservation, wilderness and public lands, wildlife, and environmental policy, with recent grants supporting organizations in the U.S. and Canada, especially in D.C., Alaska, California, and Idaho. Its 2024 grants ranged from $15,000 to $275,000, with a median of $50,000. It gives only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$45.8M
Grants
31
Total Given
$2.5M
The Alaska Community Foundation
Anchorage, AK
The Alaska Community Foundation supports Alaska nonprofits and other eligible applicants through grants for community needs, youth programs, skills development, and other charitable work, as well as scholarships. In 2024, grants ranged from $5,019 to $1,359,483, with a median of $10,750; its Vocational Fund grants $10,000–$50,000. Competitive grants generally require applicants to serve Alaska, and applications are accepted through specific grant opportunities, but the profile does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$243.9M
Grants
343
Total Given
$12.3M
Charlotte Y Martin Foundation-Ima
Seattle, WA
The Charlotte Y Martin Foundation-Ima funds youth programs in education, athletics, and cultural expression, especially rural BIPOC organizations, as well as wildlife and habitat conservation. Its 2024 grants ranged from $5,000 to $312,020, with a median of $15,000, and went mainly to organizations in Washington, Alaska, Montana, Oregon, and Idaho. The filing says grants are not restricted to preselected organizations; application instructions are provided, but unsolicited requests are not explicitly addressed.
Assets
$20.8M
Grants
58
Total Given
$1.3M
Patagoniaorg
Ventura, CA
PATAGONIAORG funds environmental organizations and projects addressing root causes of environmental problems, including place-based protection, environmental campaigns, and broader inclusion in the movement. Its 2025 grants ranged from $5,000 to $5,174,555, with a median of $15,000, and funding was concentrated in Virginia and California, with grants also reported in Oregon and Colorado. It does not accept unsolicited requests and gives only to preselected organizations.
Assets
—
Grants
425
Total Given
$13.2M
More similar funders
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Alaska Conservation Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/alaska-conservation-foundation-morg_99b610661a824a029ae159e6e003d8dd
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_920061466_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Alaska Conservation Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/alaska-conservation-foundation-morg_99b610661a824a029ae159e6e003d8dd},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Alaska Conservation Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Alaska Conservation Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?