Kuskokwim Educational Foundation
Kuskokwim Educational Foundation (KEF) is a private foundation based in Anchorage, Alaska. It offers scholarships to shareholders of The Kuskokwim Corporation (TKC) to support educational goals, including post-secondary study and non-degree learning.
Kuskokwim Educational Foundation at a glance
In short: Kuskokwim Educational Foundation gave $56K across 36 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), mostly in Alaska. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $56,055
- -23.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 36
- -23.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,557
- +0.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,250
- Total assets
- $71,940
- -2.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Alaska (78% 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 Kuskokwim Educational Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The website provides scholarship applications for general and competitive scholarships, and a separate process for non-traditional scholarships. Post-secondary applicants must be TKC shareholders, have a high school diploma or GED, meet academic-standing requirements, enroll in an accredited post-secondary or vocational program, and submit an application with supporting documents. New applicants are asked for transcripts, two letters of recommendation, an acceptance letter, an upcoming class schedule, and a digital photo; returning applicants submit transcripts and an upcoming schedule. Non-traditional applicants must be TKC shareholders aged 14 or older and provide proof of enrollment, registration, or acceptance into a course, training, or workshop. The website says these applications must be submitted at least two weeks before the activity begins. The 2023 filing also states that awards are restricted to TKC shareholders.
- Review Cycle
- The website lists July 31 for fall-semester applications and December 31 for spring-semester applications. The July 31, 2026 fall-semester date has passed. For non-traditional scholarships, the stated deadline is at least two weeks before the activity begins.
- Deadline
- The website lists July 31 for fall-semester applications and December 31 for spring-semester applications.
- Contact
Application contact: Kuskokwim Educational Foundation
Mailing address: 4300 B Street Suite 405, Anchorage, AK 99503
Phone: (907) 243-2944
Website: HTTPS://KEFALASKA.ORG/
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Kuskokwim Educational Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
163 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 163 grants of 163 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In filing year 2025, 78% of grant dollars went to recipients in Alaska. Other recipient states were Ohio (9%), Oregon (6%), New Mexico (5%), and New York (2%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 36 itemized grants.
Cities
How Kuskokwim Educational Foundation gives
- Giving grew 65% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $34K (2022) to $73K (2024). In 2025 it made 36 grants totaling $56K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 36 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $56,055 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $71,940 | $75,101 | $73,552 | $56,055 | 36 | $64,806 | $2,576 |
| 2024 | $73,783 | $47,100 | $95,733 | $72,940 | 47 | $84,963 | $3,065 |
| 2023 | $116,093 | $50,530 | $70,864 | $53,786 | 32 | $62,902 | $4,780 |
| 2022 | $136,258 | $53,662 | $53,169 | $33,875 | 20 | $44,212 | $5,445 |
| 2021 | $137,318 | $48,539 | $57,346 | $46,400 | 28 | — | $5,929 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Kuskokwim Educational Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
KEF’s mission is to provide TKC shareholders equitable access to funding and culturally responsive support for lifelong learning, fostering leadership in and outside the Middle Kuskokwim Region. Its stated priorities include supporting shareholders’ educational opportunities across generations and providing culturally responsive funding and resources.
The foundation offers general scholarships for eligible applicants attending accredited institutions; competitive scholarships with additional criteria for particular fields of study or academic standing; and non-traditional scholarships for personal development, professional development, and cultural learning.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, KEF reported 36 grants totaling $56,055. Individual grants ranged from $95 to $4,250, with a median of $1,250. The largest reported awards were to individual recipients for scholarships, including $4,250 and $3,125 to recipients in Alaska, and $3,000 to recipients in Alaska and New Mexico.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Dana Diehl as president, Quentin Simeon as vice president, Christina Beshaw as secretary/treasurer, and Amanda Hoffman, Shenai Simeon, and Isha Twitchell as directors.
Kuskokwim Educational Foundation is led by Dana Diehl, President on every filing since 2021; none of the 6 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Dana Diehl
President
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Amanda Hoffman
Director
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shenai Simeon
Director
On filings since 2022
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Isha Twitchell
Director
New on the 2025 filing
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christina Beshaw
Secretary & Treasurer
Director → Secretary & Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Quentin Simeon
Vice President
On filings since 2021
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Charlene Hoffman (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Amarin Pokrivnak (2021) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Kuskokwim Educational Foundation
How much does Kuskokwim Educational Foundation give each year?
Kuskokwim Educational Foundation gave $56K across 36 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $73K across 47 grants.
What is Kuskokwim Educational Foundation's typical grant size?
Kuskokwim Educational Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $1,250, and its average grant was $1,557, across 36 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Kuskokwim Educational Foundation give grants?
Kuskokwim Educational Foundation gives mostly in Alaska: 78% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Ohio (9%) and Oregon (6%).
Does Kuskokwim Educational Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 36 grants with a stated purpose on Kuskokwim Educational Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Scholarship" (36 grants).
How large is Kuskokwim Educational Foundation?
Kuskokwim Educational Foundation reported $72K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $65K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Kuskokwim Educational Foundation fund?
KEF’s mission is to provide TKC shareholders equitable access to funding and culturally responsive support for lifelong learning, fostering leadership in and outside the Middle Kuskokwim Region. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Kuskokwim Educational Foundation?
The website provides scholarship applications for general and competitive scholarships, and a separate process for non-traditional scholarships. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Kuskokwim Educational Foundation's EIN?
Kuskokwim Educational Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 92-0081529. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS January 9, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 21, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 17, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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