Choosing Our Roots
The mission of Choosing Our Roots is to ensure that all queer Alaskan youth & young adults have access to safe home, supportive communities, and opportunities to thrive.
Choosing Our Roots at a glance
- Total assets
- $1,093,950
- +53.9% vs 2024
- Revenue (2025)
- $598,341
- +1.9% vs 2024
- Net investment income (2025)
- $60
- -25.9% vs 2024
- Expenses (2025)
- $621,939
- +4.3% vs 2024
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Choosing Our Roots funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
1 grant across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 1 grant of 1 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
In 2021 it made 1 grant totaling $10K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Native Movement Fairbanks, AK | Technology purchases (inc. laptop computers) for the Advocates In Residency Program. | $9,950 |
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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 | $1,093,950 | $598,341 | $621,939 | — | — | $60 |
| 2024 | $710,754 | $587,460 | $596,089 | — | — | $81 |
| 2023 | $721,344 | $809,970 | $918,547 | — | — | $78 |
| 2022 | $828,521 | $1,264,803 | $611,969 | — | — | $205 |
| 2021 | $280,707 | $514,476 | $431,131 | $9,950 | 1 | $129 |
| 2020 | $192,911 | $201,166 | $180,518 | — | — | $44 |
About Choosing Our Roots
Based on IRS filings
Choosing Our Roots is a public charity focused on Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy, based in Anchorage, AK. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $1.1M in total assets. Net investment income was $60.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Choosing Our Roots is led by Laura Reijns, Co-Executive Director Operations since 2025 (on filings since 2024); 1 of 7 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Laura Reijns
Co-Executive Director Operations
Co-Executive Director Operat → Co-Executive Director Operations, 2025
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$110K (2025)
Adam Lees
President
New on the 2025 filing
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Torrey McClain
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Leah Zettler
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robin Moffet
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Melody Bechberger
Secretary
Director & Secretary → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Andrew Harnish
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2024
15 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (25)
- Former: Katie McKay Bryson (2020–2024) — President
- Former: Sydney Tarzwell (2023–2024) — Director
- Former: Sheri Heritage (2024) — Treasurer
- Former: Bonnie Bladow (2021–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Kaegan Koski (2021–2023) — Vice President
- Former: Ptery Lieght (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Ray MacFarlane (2023) — Director
- Former: Valorraine Dattan (2023) — Director
- Former: Aria Phillips (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Ariel Berg (2020–2022) — President
- Former: Dameron Terry (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Diana Valkyrie (2022) — Director
- Former: Emily Mercy Bigelow (2022) — Director
- Former: Amy Kelley (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Charlie Mills (2020–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Christine Terry (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Clara Robertson (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: David Clark (2020–2021) — Director & Secretary
- Former: Hunter Dill (2020–2021) — Treasurer
- Former: Lillian Lennon (2020–2021) — Vice President
- Former: Luka Kondratyeva (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Naomi Cat Chythlook (2020–2021) — Vice President
- Former: Enigma Jindra (2021) — Director
- Former: David Lockard (2020) — Director
- Former: Jo Tandy (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 $110K, to Laura Reijns (Co-Executive Director Operations).
Frequently asked questions about Choosing Our Roots
How large is Choosing Our Roots?
Choosing Our Roots reported $1.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $598K.
What is Choosing Our Roots?
Choosing Our Roots is a public charity focused on Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy, based in Anchorage, AK. It holds $1.1M in total assets as of 2025.
Where does Choosing Our Roots operate?
Choosing Our Roots has awarded grants in Alaska.
What is Choosing Our Roots's EIN?
Choosing Our Roots's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 82-3583339. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Choosing Our Roots's focus areas in our free grants database
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