Doyon Foundation
Doyon Foundation is a private nonprofit charitable foundation based in Fairbanks, Alaska, established in 1989 as the private foundation for Doyon, Limited. The foundation supports educational, career, and cultural opportunities for Doyon shareholders and their descendants, with a particular focus on Native Alaskan communities and Indigenous peoples.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$49.2M
+10.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.3M
-11.2% YoY
Grant Count
552
-8.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$2K
-2.6% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to provide educational, career, and cultural opportunities to enhance the identity and quality of life for Doyon shareholders.
Primary funding areas include:
- Scholarships: Basic and competitive scholarships for higher education and vocational training
- Language Revitalization: Programs to preserve endangered languages of the Doyon region, including the "Doyon Languages Online" platform offering free online lessons
- Workforce Development: Programs including information technology training and internship placement services
- Arts and Culture: Support for cultural awareness and heritage initiatives, including the Athabaskan heritage collection series
- Education: Elementary, secondary, vocational, and higher education initiatives
Grantmaking
The foundation is a significant scholarship provider for Native Alaskan students. Since its inception in 1989, it has awarded more than $16.7 million to 18,215 students.
Review Cycle
for degree-seeking students.
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Doyon Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds projects across numerous states in the United States, with significant presence in:
- Alaska (primary focus)
- Washington
- Colorado
- Arizona
- Oregon
- Texas
And additional funding activity in: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, and other states.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets and Revenue (2024):
- Total Assets: $51,276,457
- Total Revenues: $5,091,591
- Total Expenses: $2,503,475
- Total Giving: $1,156,712
Historical Assets:
- 2024: $51,276,457
- Earlier reporting: $44,648,504
Staffing:
- 4 employees (as of recent reporting)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $49,195,391 | $44,648,504 | $41,456,218 |
| Revenue | $5,514,620 | $3,872,560 | $5,774,391 |
| Expenses | $3,625,914 | $3,276,447 | $3,227,187 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,047,461 | $2,800,053 | $2,769,716 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,749,646 | $678,174 | $2,973,438 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,197,444 | $2,084,994 | $2,205,190 |
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
200 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
- President: Jennifer Fate-Velaise
- Executive Directors: Mariah Pitka-Jenkins and Tiffany Simmons
- Deputy Director: Katrina Erick
- Board Vice Chair: Ben Schwartz
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JENNIFER FATE-VELAISE | PRESIDENT | 4 | $6,500 |
| BENJAMIN SCHWARTZ | SECRETARY/TREASURER | 2 | $4,000 |
| JENNIFER ADAMS | VICE PRESIDENT | 2 | $3,500 |
| ORIE WILLIAMS | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | $2,250 |
| MATTHEW CALHOUN | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | $3,750 |
| MARIE CLEAVER | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | $3,250 |
| AARON ROTH | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | $4,000 |
| MARIAH PITKA-JENKINS | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $234,414 |
| EILEEN WHITMER | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | $3,000 |
| CRAIG FLEENER | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | $3,750 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation was awarded a $2.65 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education's Alaska Native Education Program
Doyon Foundation Awarded $2.65 Million Grant from U.S. Department of Education\u2019\New Upper Kuskokwim Dinak'i lessons were made available on Doyon Languages Online
The foundation collaborated with KUAC to highlight Native languages through a "Word of the Week" initiative
The foundation introduced "The Storyteller," a new resource or program
The foundation funds language revitalization projects through competitive grant programs
Doyon Foundation Awarded $2.65 Million Grant from U.S. Department of Education\u2019\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 Doyon 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