The Bristol Bay Foundation is a corporate foundation of the Bristol Bay Native Corporation based in Anchorage, Alaska. Established in 1995, the foundation is dedicated to supporting education and preserving the cultural heritage of the Bristol Bay region and its indigenous peoples. The organization operates with a staff of 8 employees and serves Alaska Native shareholders and descendants of Bristol Bay Native Corporation.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$40.8M
+15.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$988K
+10.1% YoY
Grant Count
290
+4.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$3K
+5.2% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: To provide support for and encourage BBNC shareholders and descendants to pursue educational opportunities and to promote and preserve the cultural heritage of the Bristol Bay region, its indigenous people, and subsistence way-of-life.
Vision: Cikiqucaaraq (sharing culture, experiences, food, knowledge, subsistence, philanthropy, caring)
Core Values:
- Liicugtua/Elicugtua/Duhdeldih Yineszen (I want to learn)
- Quyurrluteng (coming together, family, supportive, giving, taking care of each other, community)
- Yaghelich' (the "right way")
- Piniq' (strength, resilience, empowering our people)
Program Areas:
The foundation operates across two primary focus areas:
Educational Scholarships & Support
- Higher Education/Vocational Education (HE/VE) Scholarships for high school seniors
- H. Noble Dick Scholarship (up to $1,000 for college juniors/seniors majoring in accounting or business management)
- Wells Fargo - BBNC Scholarship
- Career-Focused Vocational Education (CFVE) Scholarship Program
- Emergency aid for students experiencing hardship
Cultural Heritage & Preservation
- Community culture camps
- Teacher training in cultural competency
- Educational pathways for high school students and paraprofessionals interested in teaching careers
- Support for revitalization and education of Bristol Bay region's unique cultural heritage
Grantmaking
Ready to take the next step with Bristol Bay Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds educational opportunities and cultural programs in:
- Bristol Bay region, Alaska
- Throughout Alaska
- The Lower 48 states
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $40,794,034
- Total Revenues: $6,317,713
- Total Expenses: $4,857,195
- Total Giving: $955,088
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $35,381,792
- Total Revenues: $5,003,475
- Total Expenses: $3,474,399
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $40,794,034 | $35,381,792 | $29,810,952 |
| Revenue | $6,317,713 | $5,003,475 | $2,557,051 |
| Expenses | $4,857,195 | $3,474,399 | $2,303,388 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,078,015 | $2,000,016 | $2,177,806 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,310,450 | $976,421 | $795,068 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | $1,509,525 |
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
152 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Bristol Bay Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| WILLIAM CHYTHLOOK | CHAIR | 2.5 | — |
| DANIEL CHEYETTE | VICE PRESIDENT | 2 | — |
| ANGRIA AGLI | SECRETARY | 2 | — |
| PATRICK E PATTERSON III | TREASURER | 2 | — |
| CAMERON POINDEXTER | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| PAUL MCDONOGH | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| JAYME SELANOFF | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| TERRENCE SHANIGAN | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| JASON METROKIN | DIRECTOR, JANUARY TO FEBRUARY 2024 | 2 | — |
| HAZEL NELSON | DIRECTOR, JANUARY TO OCTOBER 2024 | 2 | — |
| WASSILIISIA BENNIS | DIRECTOR, OCTOBER 2024 TO PRESENT | 2 | — |
| ALEESHA TOWNS-BAIN | PRESIDENT & CEO | 40 | $225,867 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation celebrated 30 years of supporting students in their educational goals in 2022. Each year, the Bristol Bay Foundation supports more than 250 students to pursue their educational and vocational training goals.
2024 Fall Bristol Bay Foundation News**Alumni Giving Circle:** The foundation launched the 2026 Alumni Giving Circle (March 1-31, 2026), inviting scholarship recipients from the 1990s onward to contribute at a level of $250 or more. This initiative aims to expand scholarships and cultural programs for future generations.
Graduates supported by the foundation work in a wide range of careers serving the Bristol Bay region.
2024 Fall Bristol Bay Foundation NewsSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Mat-Su Crime Stoppers Inc
PALMER, AK
Assets
$123K
Grants
0
Total Given
—
Nea Alaska Inc
JUNEAU, AK
Assets
$21.2M
Grants
6
Total Given
$83K
Peter Van Wyck Charitable Trust
ANCHORAGE, AK
Assets
—
Grants
8
Total Given
$85K
Valdez Lodge No 2537
VALDEZ, AK
Assets
$372K
Grants
1
Total Given
$8K
Kuskokwim Educational Foundation
ANCHORAGE, AK
Assets
$74K
Grants
47
Total Given
$73K
The Children's Place
WASILLA, AK
Assets
$4.7M
Grants
1
Total Given
$16K
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Bristol Bay Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities