Alaska Conservation Foundation (ACF) is a public foundation dedicated exclusively to conservation in Alaska. Founded in 1980, it is the only foundation in Alaska and the country solely dedicated to the protection of Alaska's natural environment and the diverse cultures and ways of life it sustains. Based in Anchorage, Alaska, the foundation serves as a conduit connecting thousands of committed donors and businesses worldwide with more than a hundred grassroots conservation organizations throughout Alaska.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$17.2M
+11.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.1M
+2.4% YoY
Grant Count
57
+23.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$37K
-17.4% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: Protect Alaska's unique landscapes and ways of life by supporting conservation leaders, organizations, and initiatives.
Vision: A future where Alaska's lands, waters, wildlife, and ways of life are sustained by and for countless generations.
Core Values & Guiding Principles:
- Reverence: Guided by love for Alaska and enduring commitment to protect what sustains us
- Interconnectedness: Work recognizes and prioritizes relationships between Alaska's unique landscapes and peoples
- Integrity: Approach work with honesty and humility
Program Areas:
Collective Conservation: Coordinates a network of statewide climate change adaptation efforts through northern latitudes partnerships, including federal, state, tribal, corporate, and regional players developing collaborative community-supported and indigenous-led solutions to climate change issues
Movement Building: Strengthens grassroots advocacy and collaborative conservation by providing organizations and youth with trainings, facilitated meetings, internships, and strategic grants
Alaska Defense Fund: Supports grassroots advocacy efforts protecting Alaska's public lands, waters, wildlife, and diverse cultures through rapid response, travel funds, and general operating grant programs
Grantmaking
Over the last four decades, Alaska Conservation Foundation has awarded more than $60 million in grants to hundreds of Alaskan organizations and individuals. The foundation supports Alaska's most critical issues through strategic funding, fostering problem-solving and innovation to protect Alaska's ecosystems, communities, and economies.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Alaska statewide. The foundation works throughout the unceded territories of the Indigenous Peoples of Alaska, with office located on the traditional territories of the Dena'ina Peoples.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent (Fiscal Year 2024):
- Total revenues: $5,705,487
- Total expenses: $5,460,737
- Total assets: $15,400,459
- Number of employees: 20
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $17,198,406 | $15,400,459 | $14,723,918 |
| Revenue | $8,028,097 | $5,705,487 | $4,208,390 |
| Expenses | $6,057,748 | $5,460,737 | $4,489,326 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $1,060,560 | $651,826 | $554,213 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
206 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
6 open opportunities from Alaska Conservation Foundation
ACF: Discovery Grants
ALASKA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Alaska Watchable Wildlife Conservation Trust Grant Program
ALASKA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION
Amount
Up to US $5,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Indigenous Voices Fund Grant
ALASKA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Alaska Pacific University ($258,378), Native Conservancy ($226,439), Alaska Seeds of Change ($82,566).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AHTNA INTERTRIBAL RESOURCE GLENNALLEN, AK | COLLECTIVE CONSERV. | $13,962 |
| ALASKA CENTER EDUCATION FUND ANCHORAGE, AK | INTERNSHIP, OPS | $41,440 |
| ALASKA COMMUNITY ACTION ON TOXICS ANCHORAGE, AK | MOVEMENT BUILDING | $32,000 |
| ALASKA LONGLINE FISHERMEN'S SITKA, AK | ALASKA DEFENSE FUND | $32,000 |
| ALASKA MARINE CONSERVATION ANCHORAGE, AK | MOVEMENT BUILDING | $10,000 |
| ALASKA PACIFIC UNIVERSITY ANCHORAGE, AK | COLLECTIVE CONSERV | $258,378 |
| ALASKA SEEDS OF CHANGE ANCHORAGE, AK | COLLECTIVE CONSERV. | $82,566 |
| ALASKA WILDERNESS LEAGUE WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL OPERATING | $56,215 |
| ALASKA WILDLIFE ALLIANCE ANCHORAGE, AK | RAPID RESPONSE | $21,000 |
| ALEUT COMMUNITY OF ST PAUL ANCHORAGE, AK | COLLECTIVE CONSERV. | $78,069 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Celia Hunter: Co-founder and former chairperson of the Trustees
- Denny Wilcher: Co-founder, former President and operating officer
- Michael Barber: Executive Director
- Anna Dalton: Vice President of Program Development
- Aaron Poe: Vice President of Partnerships
- Sophie Komornicki: Director of Communications
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MICHAEL BARBER | PRESIDENT/CE | 40 | $120,881 |
| KERRY ANDERSON | CHAIR | 8 | — |
| JENNA HAMM | ALASKA VICE- | 6 | — |
| ROSA MEEHAN | NATIONAL VIC | 6 | — |
| DEBORAH NIEDERMEYER | TREASURER | 6 | — |
| NAN ELLIOT | SECRETARY | 6 | — |
| FRANKIE BARKER | TRUSTEE | 3 | — |
| NANCY BIRD | TRUSTEE | 3 | — |
| ANNE DONAGHY | TRUSTEE | 3 | — |
| JASON PASKVAN | TRUSTEE | 3 | — |
| CADE EMORY TERADA | TRUSTEE | 3 | — |
| ANDREA WAGNER | TRUSTEE | 3 | — |
| SHAWN WATTS | TRUSTEE | 3 | — |
| MIKE WILLIAMS SR | TRUSTEE | 3 | — |
| PAUL REICHARDT | TRUSTEE (THR | 3 | — |
| BILLY WAILAND | TRUSTEE (THR | 3 | — |
| RUAN DU PLESSIS | DIR OF FINAN | 40 | $113,742 |
| MIKE COUMBE | DEPUTY DIREC | 40 | $126,381 |
| AARON POE | NETWORK OFFI | 40 | $138,497 |
| LEANNA HEFFNER | NW BOREAL DI | 40 | $103,419 |
Contact Information
Address: 1227 W. 9th Ave., Suite 300, Anchorage, Alaska 99501
Phone: (907) 276-1917
Email: info@AlaskaConservation.org
Donor Inquiries: development@alaskaconservation.org
Tax ID: 92-0061466 (501(c)(3) organization)
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Alaska Conservation Foundation fund?
**Mission:** Protect Alaska's unique landscapes and ways of life by supporting conservation leaders, organizations, and initiatives. **Vision:** A future where Alaska's lands, waters, wildlife, and ways of life are sustained by and for countless generations. **Core Values & Guiding Principles:** • Reverence: Guided by love for Alaska and enduring commitment to protect what sustains us • Interconnectedness: Work recognizes and prioritizes relationships between Alaska's unique landscapes and peop…
How do I apply for a grant from Alaska Conservation Foundation?
Over the last four decades, Alaska Conservation Foundation has awarded more than $60 million in grants to hundreds of Alaskan organizations and individuals. The foundation supports Alaska's most critical issues through strategic funding, fostering problem-solving and innovation to protect Alaska's ecosystems, communities, and economies. Grant programs include rapid response grants, general operating support, and project-specific funding. The foundation provides supplementary funds to organizati…
Where does Alaska Conservation Foundation make grants?
Alaska statewide. The foundation works throughout the unceded territories of the Indigenous Peoples of Alaska, with office located on the traditional territories of the Dena'ina Peoples.
What size grants does Alaska Conservation Foundation award?
In 2025, Alaska Conservation Foundation awarded 57 grants totaling $2.1M — an average of about $37K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Alaska Conservation Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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