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
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Usibelli Foundation reported a distributable amount of $181K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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:
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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
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Neighbor to Neighbor ($12,600), Denali Borough School District ($10,000), Denali Preschool and Learning Center ($7,685).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska Mining Hall of Fame Foundation Fairbanks, AK | For educational services | $1,000 |
| Alaska Center for Children and Adults Fairbanks, AK | For health/social services | $2,000 |
| Alaska Childrens' Trust - Mush for Kids Fairbanks, AK | For health/social services | $2,000 |
| Alaska International Senior Games Fairbanks, AK | To provide operating funds for this civic organization | $1,000 |
| Alaska Resource Education Anchorage, AK | For educational services | $5,645 |
| Alaska Songbird Institute Fairbanks, AK | To provide operating funds for this civic organization | $1,000 |
| Alaska Special Olympics of the Tanana Valley Fairbanks, AK | For health/social services | $1,000 |
| American Cancer Society Anchorage, AK | For health/social services | $1,686 |
| American Heart Association Fairbanks, AK | For health/social services | $1,130 |
| American Red Cross of the Tanana Valley Fairbanks, AK | For health/social services | $1,500 |
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 throughFrequently Asked Questions
What does The Usibelli Foundation fund?
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** — commun…
How do I apply for a grant from The Usibelli Foundation?
The foundation makes approximately 69 grants annually, supporting over 100 organizations each year. Recent grant examples include: • Denali Preschool & Learning Center: $11,900 (2023) • Neighbor To Neighbor: $9,280 (2023) • Road Runners Club of America Running Club North: $8,000 (2023) Typical grant awards range from $25 to $12,600, with total giving of $164,285 in recent years. The Allocations Committee meets quarterly to review grant applications. For 2026, meeting dates are: • February 11, 2…
Where does The Usibelli Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily supports the communities of Healy and Fairbanks, Alaska, where Usibelli Coal Mine operates.
What size grants does The Usibelli Foundation award?
In 2024, The Usibelli Foundation awarded 74 grants totaling $164K — an average of about $2K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Usibelli Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Usibelli Foundation reported a distributable amount of $181K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Usibelli Foundation's EIN?
The Usibelli Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-3152617. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Usibelli Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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