First Alaskans Institute
First Alaskans Institute (FAI) is an Alaska Native advocacy nonprofit based in Anchorage, Alaska. It works to protect and advance Alaska Native peoples, with a vision of “Progress for the next 10,000+ years,” and centers its work on leadership development, policy and advocacy, and external relationships, communications, and strategy.
Key facts about First Alaskans Institute
In short: First Alaskans Institute gave $546K across 16 grants in 2024 (avg $34K), mostly in Alaska. 94% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 92-0174854
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $545,800
- Grants made (2024)
- 16
- Average grant
- $34,113
- Median grant
- $10,900
- New grantees (estimate)
- 94% first-time grantees (15 of 16, 2024)
- Total assets
- $3,326,182
- Primary geography
- Alaska (57% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- Applications are listed for the Public Policy Fellowship, Rural Governance Fellowship, and Summer Internship Program. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$3.3M
+88.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$546K
+143.1% YoY
Grant Count
16
+45.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$34K
+67.1% YoY
Is First Alaskans Institute open to new grantees?
94%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 15 of 16 grantees (94%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $30K; repeat grants $102K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $102K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
FAI’s stated mission is: “True to identity, heritage, and values, Alaska Natives are informed and engaged in leading the decisions that shape the future.” Its website emphasizes Indigenous values, Alaska Native languages and ways of life, community leadership, self-determination, and intergenerational connection.
Its 2024 filing lists grants for culture, legal defense funds, an Indigenous grant, an Alaska funders tour, and travel. Grantees describe a range of related work in their own missions: Alaska Federation of Natives says it promotes the common good and general welfare of the Alaskan Native community; Kake Tribal Heritage Foundation says it promotes Tlingit culture and youth education; and TKC Fish Wheel says it supports education, capacity building, sustainable economic growth, cultural knowledge sharing, and community partnerships in the Middle Kuskokwim. Ocean Conservancy, which received the largest listed grant, describes its mission as uniting science, people, and policy to protect the ocean.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, FAI reported 16 grants totaling $545,800. Grant amounts ranged from $5,010 to $235,000, with a median of $10,900. The largest listed grants were $235,000 to Ocean Conservancy for an Indigenous grant; $101,545 to Alaska Federation of Natives for a culture grant; $50,000 to Native Peoples Community Action Fund for legal defense funds; and $30,000 to Gwich'in Social and Cultural for a culture grant.
Open Grants
7 open opportunities from First Alaskans Institute
Al Adams Young Political Leader Fellowship
First Alaskans Institute
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Fellowship Opportunities for Young Alaska Natives in Healthcare
First Alaskans Institute
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
First Nations Futures Program (FNFP)
First Alaskans Institute
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Ready to take the next step with First Alaskans Institute?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
FAI is based in Anchorage. Its website describes the Summer Internship Program as Alaska-wide and its governance fellowship as placing participants with a Tribe in a rural Alaska community. For 2024 grant dollars, 57% went to recipients in Alaska and 43% to recipients in Washington, DC.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $170K (2021) to $546K (2024). In 2024 it made 16 grants totaling $546K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Ocean Conservancy ($235K). Together the top 10 received $506K.
Grant Size Distribution
47 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 39 grants of 47 (83%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ocean Conservancy Washington, DC | Indigenous Grant | $235,000 |
| Alaska Federation of Natives Anchorage, AK | Culture Grant | $101,545 |
| Native Peoples Community Action Fun Anchorage, AK | Legal Defence Funds | $50,000 |
| Gwich'in Social and Cultural Institute to Alaska Inc Fairbanks, AK | Culture Grant | $30,000 |
| Nudlaghi Leadershp Institute Anchorage, AK | AK Funders Tour | $25,000 |
| The Mobilization Center LLC Anchorage, AK | Travel Grant | $20,000 |
| Kake Tribal Heritage Foundation Kake, AK | Culture Grant | $15,000 |
| Friends of Anccs Inc Anchorage, AK | Culture Grant | $11,800 |
| Chilkoot Indian Association Haines, AK | Culture Grant | $10,000 |
| Central Council Tlingit & Haida Juneau, AK | Culture Grant | $8,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $3,326,182 | $4,506,180 | $3,099,079 | $545,800 (16) |
| 2023 | $1,768,877 | $2,870,082 | $2,930,304 | $224,520 (11) |
| 2022 | $1,754,763 | $2,447,334 | $2,584,598 | $213,500 (5) |
The filing type is 990T.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,326,182 | $1,768,877 | $1,754,763 |
| Revenue | $4,506,180 | $2,870,082 | $2,447,334 |
| Expenses | $3,099,079 | $2,930,304 | $2,584,598 |
| Net Investment Income | $39,727 | $22,359 | $5,494 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 16, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Willie Iggiagruk Hensley as chair; Sam Kito Jr. as vice chair; Valerie Davidson as secretary/treasurer; and Sven Haakanson Jr., Sylvia Lange, Georgianna Lincoln, and Rosita Kahaani Worl as trustees. It lists Roy Agloinga as president/CEO, Elizabeth Medicine Crow as outgoing president/CEO, and Joyce Field as finance director.
First Alaskans Institute is led by Elizabeth Medicine Crow - Outgoing, President & Finance Director on the 2024 filing; 3 of 10 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Elizabeth Medicine Crow - Outgoing
President & Finance Director
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$107K (2024)
Roy Agloinga
President
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$170K (2024)
Willie Iggiagruk Hensley
Chair
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joyce Field
Finance Director
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$12K (2024)
Georgianna Lincoln
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sven Haakanson Jr.
Trustee
Audit Chair → Trustee, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sylvia Lange
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rosita Kahaani Worl
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sam Kito Jr.
Vice Chair
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Valerie Davidson
Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (7)
- Former: Ayyu Qassataq (2020–2023) — Director Org
- Former: Elizabeth David (2020–2023) — Finance Director
- Former: Elizabeth Medicine Crow (2020–2023) — President
- Former: Richard Savik Glenn (2022–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Oliver Leavitt (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Albert Kookesh (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Byron Mallott (2020) — Senior Fello
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $170K, to Roy Agloinga (President/Ce). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 2525 C Street 400, Anchorage, AK 99503
Phone: (907) 677-1700
Website: https://firstalaskans.org
Frequently asked questions about First Alaskans Institute
How much does First Alaskans Institute give each year?
First Alaskans Institute gave $546K across 16 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $225K across 11 grants.
What is First Alaskans Institute's typical grant size?
First Alaskans Institute's median grant in 2024 was $10,900, and its average grant was $34,113, across 16 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from First Alaskans Institute that year got $30K on average.
Where does First Alaskans Institute give grants?
First Alaskans Institute gives mostly in Alaska: 57% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was District of Columbia (43%). The most frequent recipient cities were Anchorage, AK (7 grants) and Fairbanks, AK (2 grants).
Does First Alaskans Institute give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 16 grants with a stated purpose on First Alaskans Institute's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Culture Grant" (11 grants).
Who are First Alaskans Institute's largest grantees?
First Alaskans Institute's largest 2024 grantees include Ocean Conservancy ($235,000), Alaska Federation of Natives ($101,545) and Native Peoples Community Action Fun ($50,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 71% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is First Alaskans Institute?
First Alaskans Institute reported $3.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $4.5M.
What does First Alaskans Institute fund?
FAI’s stated mission is: “True to identity, heritage, and values, Alaska Natives are informed and engaged in leading the decisions that shape the future.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from First Alaskans Institute?
Applications are listed for the Public Policy Fellowship, Rural Governance Fellowship, and Summer Internship Program. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is First Alaskans Institute's EIN?
First Alaskans Institute's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 92-0174854. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching First Alaskans Institute by hand.
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