Bill Stroecker Foundation
The Bill Stroecker Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established through the will of Bill Stroecker, who passed away on November 8, 2010. Based in Anchorage, Alaska, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to continuing Bill Stroecker's philanthropic legacy in the Fairbanks and Interior Alaska communities. The foundation's motto is "Shining a Light on Fairbanks," reflecting its commitment to preserving the culture, heritage, and character of the region.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$1.2M
+23.7% YoY
Grant Count
76
+5.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$16K
+17.2% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The Bill Stroecker Foundation works to preserve Fairbanks' culture, heritage, and "Golden Heart" through strategic philanthropic investments. The foundation supports a diverse range of causes reflecting Bill Stroecker's varied interests, including:
- Education — scholarships and endowments at the University of Alaska Fairbanks
- Music and the Arts — jazz and brass music programs
- Museum and Cultural Programming — educational exhibits and K-12 programming
- Professional Development — business and technical education
Grantmaking
The foundation has created eight scholarships and endowments at the University of Alaska Fairbanks:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily focuses its grantmaking on Fairbanks and the Interior of Alaska, with particular emphasis on supporting institutions and programs within the region.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $23.5 million
- Annual Revenue: $1.94 million
- Annual Expenses: $1.63 million
- Total Liabilities: $0
The foundation has maintained tax-exempt status since November 2013 (EIN: 45-2761890).
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| 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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The Bill Stroecker Foundation was established through Bill Stroecker's will and testament as a testamentary trust. The original trustees named in his will were:
- Don Dennis
- Ted Cox
- Cory Borgeson
- Rich Hompesch
- Jerry Walker (elected first Chair of the foundation)
- Richard Heieren
The foundation held its first formal board meeting on February 25, 2011, to elect officers and establish itself as a working organization.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PEAK TRUST COMPANY | CO-TRUSTEE | 1 | $145,925 |
| DONALD DENNIS | CO-TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| JERRY WALKER | CO-TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| JON COOK | CO-TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| RICK SCHIKORA | PRESIDING OFFICER | 4 | — |
| PAUL JOHNSON | CO-TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| GEORGE LOUNSBURY | CO-TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation continues to support educational initiatives at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Recent activity includes ongoing scholarship distributions to students in petroleum engineering, business, accounting, journalism, and music programs, as well as continued support for the UA Museum of the North's educational programming.
Empowering futures | Aurora - University of Alaska FairbanksSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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