Chugach Heritage Foundation
Chugach Heritage Foundation (CHF) is a private foundation based in Anchorage, Alaska. It supports education and cultural heritage in the Chugach region, including scholarships for eligible Chugach Alaska Corporation shareholders and their direct lineal descendants, cultural programs, and Nuuciq Spirit Camp.
Chugach Heritage Foundation at a glance
In short: Chugach Heritage Foundation gave $737K across 158 grants in 2025 (avg $5K), mostly in Alaska. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $736,615
- -0.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 158
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $4,662
- -0.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $4,646
- Total assets
- $41,881,564
- +11.3% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Alaska (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Chugach Heritage Foundation
- How to Apply
-
CHF says scholarship, class, and camp applications can be obtained online or in person. Scholarship applicants are required to submit a new application for each term. Scholarship recipients must be Chugach Alaska Corporation shareholders or direct lineal descendants of shareholders.
- Review Cycle
- The 2025 filing states that deadlines are the last Fridays of August, December, March, May, and June, depending on the term and scholarship type. The website lists program-specific 2026 deadlines; dates before October 2, 2026 are past.
- Deadline
- The 2025 filing states that deadlines are the last Fridays of August, December, March, May, and June, depending on the…
- Contact
Application contact: Program Manager
Mailing address: 3800 Centerpoint Drive 1200, Anchorage, AK 99503
Phone: (907) 563-8866
Website: https://chugachheritagefoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Chugach Heritage Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
768 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 767 grants of 768 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars reported for filing year 2025 went to recipients in Alaska. CHF’s programs and stated cultural focus relate to the Chugach region.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 158 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Chugach Heritage Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+7%). Method
- In 2022 it paid out 72% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $683K (2021) to $823K (2023). In 2025 it made 158 grants totaling $737K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 50 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $364,148 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $41,881,564 | $1,908,550 | $1,966,950 | $736,615 | 158 | $1,766,254 | $1,943,509 | — |
| 2024 | $37,621,182 | $4,281,268 | $1,930,973 | $740,227 | 158 | $1,788,813 | $3,956,173 | — |
| 2023 | $35,377,096 | $1,720,305 | $2,052,859 | $822,844 | 156 | $1,827,155 | $1,223,197 | — |
| 2022 | $32,887,349 | $2,116,003 | $1,324,008 | $688,343 | 135 | $1,195,597 | $1,483,699 | $1,657,321 |
| 2021 | $38,483,395 | $5,166,986 | $1,178,209 | $683,083 | 161 | $1,025,551 | $2,474,806 | $1,775,681 |
| 2020 | $34,441,750 | $4,199,570 | $1,142,742 | $712,279 | 176 | — | $475,181 | $1,497,676 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
CHF’s stated mission is to support the self-determination of Chugach Native people through education of original shareholders and descendants, and to utilize, preserve, and promote the Chugach region’s cultural heritage.
Its programs include scholarships and education support; Nuuciq Spirit Camp, where students, elders, and instructors share and learn about Chugach Native arts, lifestyle, and language; and cultural classes and events involving traditional knowledge and skills. CHF describes its education support as including help navigating the education process, meeting prerequisites, connecting students with other Alaska Native students, and transitioning to urban areas. Its cultural programming includes Alaska Native history, crafts, dance, music, traditional boat construction, and Chugach languages and dialects.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, CHF reported 158 grants totaling $736,615. Awards ranged from $200 to $17,100, with a median of $4,646. The listed grants went to individual recipients in Alaska and were designated for scholarships. The largest listed award was $17,100; other largest awards included two of $12,100 and one of $10,875.
CHF’s scholarship offerings include support for vocational training and certificates, college and graduate study, and a regional-focus incentive scholarship. The website lists a maximum of $5,750 per calendar year for vocational scholarships, up to $5,750 per academic year at the associate level and $7,250 at the bachelor’s level, and up to $12,100 per academic year for graduate study. These are program award limits, not reported grant totals.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Sheri Buretta as president; Marchele Espe as vice president; Violet Yeaton as treasurer/secretary; and Connie Hedrick and Lauren Johnson as president/executive director.
Chugach Heritage Foundation is led by Lauren Johnson, President & Executive Director since 2021 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 5 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Lauren Johnson
President & Executive Director
Executive Director → President & Executive Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$102K (2020) → $149K (2025)
Sheri Buretta
President
Chairman → President, 2023
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Connie Hedrick
President & Executive Director
On filings since 2024
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marchele Espe
Vice President
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
$4K (2020) → $0 (2025)
Violet Yeaton
Treasurer & Secretary
Treasurer → Treasurer & Secretary, 2021
On filings since 2020
1.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Matt McDaniel (2021–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Stephen J. Grantier (2020–2022) — Program Manager
- Former: Michael McCanna (2020) — Chairman
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 $149K, to Lauren Johnson (President/Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Chugach Heritage Foundation
How much does Chugach Heritage Foundation give each year?
Chugach Heritage Foundation gave $737K across 158 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $740K across 158 grants.
What is Chugach Heritage Foundation's typical grant size?
Chugach Heritage Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $4,646, and its average grant was $4,662, across 158 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Chugach Heritage Foundation give grants?
Chugach Heritage Foundation gives mostly in Alaska: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there.
Does Chugach Heritage Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 158 grants with a stated purpose on Chugach Heritage Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Scholarship" (158 grants).
How large is Chugach Heritage Foundation?
Chugach Heritage Foundation reported $41.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $1.9M.
What does Chugach Heritage Foundation fund?
CHF’s stated mission is to support the self-determination of Chugach Native people through education of original shareholders and descendants, and to utilize, preserve, and promote the Chugach region’s cultural heritage. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Chugach Heritage Foundation?
CHF says scholarship, class, and camp applications can be obtained online or in person. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Chugach Heritage Foundation's EIN?
Chugach Heritage Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 92-0116128. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 18, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Chugach Heritage Foundation funds
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Browse active grant opportunities in Chugach Heritage Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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