The Usibelli Foundation
The Usibelli Foundation is a corporate foundation based in Fairbanks, Alaska, established in 1991 and funded by Usibelli Coal Mine, a fourth-generation family-owned operation and Alaska's only operational coal mine. The foundation is designated as a 501(c)(3) organization and has grown from its initial $1 million endowment to become a significant philanthropic force in Alaska's interior communities.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.4M
+8.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$164K
+9.5% YoY
Grant Count
74
+7.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$2K
+2.1% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission centers on enhancing the quality of life in the communities where it operates, with a focus on:
- Education — K-12 and higher education, scholarships, STEM programs, resource education, and reading initiatives
- Health & Social Services — mental health, senior community services, first aid, and food banks
- Arts & Culture — theater, music, museums, and cultural events
- Youth Development — sports and leadership programs
- Civic Organizations — community and environmental programs, military programs, and parks
The foundation prioritizes work that drives widespread community benefit, demonstrates operating credibility, and has volunteer support from company employees and their families.
Grantmaking
The foundation makes approximately 69 grants annually, supporting over 100 organizations each year. Recent grant examples include:
How to Apply
The Allocations Committee meets quarterly to review grant applications. For 2026, meeting dates are:
Ready to take the next step with The Usibelli Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports the communities of Healy and Fairbanks, Alaska, where Usibelli Coal Mine operates.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2023:
- Total Assets: $3,151,436
- Total Revenue: $388,179
- Total Expenses: $155,567
- Total Liabilities: $0
The foundation maintains no employees and operates as a grantmaking organization supported by ongoing contributions from Usibelli Coal Mine.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,430,564 | $3,151,436 | $3,009,607 |
| Revenue | $591,060 | $388,179 | $352,766 |
| Expenses | $175,686 | $155,567 | $165,420 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $166,114 | $151,001 | $150,891 |
| Net Investment Income | $384,382 | $234,017 | $248,508 |
| Distributable Amount | $180,535 | $158,617 | $155,234 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Usibelli Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Joe Usibelli Jr. served as president of the corporation until his passing in 2022. The foundation is governed by an Allocations Committee that reviews grant applications and awards funding.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joseph E Usibelli Jr | Chairman/President | — | — |
| Glen Weaver | Secretary/Treasurer | — | — |
| Mitchel Usibelli | Trustee | — | — |
| Shelley Helzer | Trustee | — | — |
| Karl Hanneman | Trustee | — | — |
| Alan Krause | Trustee | — | — |
| Lisa Cassino | Executive director | 5 | — |
| Katrina Abramowicz | Committee Sec/Treas | 2 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation maintains an active grant application process with quarterly review cycles. In addition to the foundation's work, Usibelli Coal Mine provides corporate matching donations to employee contributions to United Way and select local Denali Borough organizations. The company employs approximately 115 people and operates year-round, producing between 1.2 and 2 million tons of coal annually.
USI receives $1 million Lilly Endowment grant to promote literacy throughRelated 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 The Usibelli 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