Arctic Slope Community Foundation Grants

The Arctic Slope Community Foundation offers grants to enhance the quality of life in Arctic Slope communities. With a focus on food security, education, and cultural preservation, these grants support 501(c)(3) organizations, government entities, and tribes. The application process requires a pre-interview and aims for projects that address community needs. Funds are allocated based on structured models, ensuring sustainability and meaningful impact in the region. Applications are accepted year-round, promoting ongoing community development.

NOTE: ASCF has grant funds available on an annual basis with a rolling quarterly deadline. A Pre-Application Interview is required prior to application. Schedule a Zoom interview to discuss your project’s mission, goals, and potential impact.
Arctic Slope Community Foundation is changing lives and improving the quality of life for the people of the Arctic Slope through grants to a variety of non-profit organizations in the region. The ASCF grant program is designed to help improve the quality of life for the Arctic Slope region. ASCF focuses on areas like food security, education and Inupiaq language and culture, granting funds to eligible organizations across 8 communities, to lift up local needs.
Mission and Goal of Projects
ASCF encourages applicants to design projects that align with the Foundation’s mission to improve the quality of life in Arctic Slope communities. Projects should:
Address community needs in one of the four funding categories: Food Security, Education, or Inupiaq Arts, Culture, and Language Preservation.Define clear goals, timelines, and budgets.Focus on meaningful, sustainable outcomes for the community.
Funding Areas
The 2025 Local Grants Program focuses on four key funding areas:

• Food SecurityEducation and Inupiaq Arts, Culture, Language Preservation.
• 2025 Local Grants Budget Allocation

ASCF’s funding is distributed to communities based on a structured model to address local needs. Here’s how the funds are allocated by category:

• Food Security:

Each community receives a base allocation of $52,500.Up to $4,218.75 may be used as discretionary "slush funds."Non-NPRA (National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska) communities receive an additional $11,250.Communities with populations over 1,000 receive an additional $37,500.
Education:

• Each community has access to $14,062.50 for educational initiatives.For sports and youth activities, there is a $750 limit per student.
• Inupiaq Arts, Culture, and Language Preservation:

Up to $14,062.50 is available for cultural initiatives in each community.A maximum of $5,000 can be used per cultural event participation.A maximum of $5,000 can be used per cultural event participation.
We accept grant applications on a rolling basis. You can submit a grant application at any time of the year.

Eligibility

Applicants must fit into one of the following categories: 501(c)(3) organizationGovernment entityFederally recognized tribePublic educational institutionReligious institutionProposal Requests demonstrate the following:Supports the mission and goals of the Arctic Slope Community Foundation.Supports one or more of the following Arctic Slope communities:Anaktuvuk PassAtqasukKaktovikNuiqsutPoint HopePoint LayUtqiagvik (Barrow)WainwrightThe proposal must have support from the community leaders and the Arctic Slope community.The proposal is not a reproduction of efforts carried out by similar organizations in the community; andThe proposal complies with State and Federal statutes for eligibility. Level of Funding RequirementsMicro-purchases (Up to $10,000)Decision of approval or denial will be delivered in no longer than ten business daysMust include the following Tier I grant requirements:Tier ICharitable designation documents.Financial statements or tax records for the most recent year.Amount requested and budget.General narrative for the grant requests. Small purchases (Requests up to $150,000)For Grants under $10,000 a decision of approval or denial will be delivered in no longer than ten business days. Grant requests of $35,000 or more are evaluated quarterly.Must include the following Tier I & Tier II grant requirements:Tier ICharitable designation documents.Financial statements or tax records for the most recent year. Amount requested.General narrative for the grant requests. Tier IIThird-party price quote for the basis of the grant request.One letter of support from community organization officials or grant applicant partners.Large purchases ($150,000 and higher)Grants over $150,000 are evaluated quarterlyMust include the following Tier I, Tier II. and Tier III grant requirements:Tier ICharitable designation documents.Financial statements or tax records for the most recent year.Amount requested.General narrative for the grant requests. Tier IIThird-party price quote for the basis of the grant requestsTier IIITwo letters of support from community organization officials or grant applicant partners.One Resolution of support passed by the applicant organization.

Ineligibility

Arctic Slope Community Foundation does not fund the following types of expenditures:General operations, administrative, indirect, or overhead costsDeficits or debt reductionReimbursements for items or services already purchasedPolitical activities or attempts to influence action on specific legislationGrants to individuals, including scholarship awardsCharitable activities that require participation in a religious activity as a condition for receiving services.  However, grants may be made to faith-based organizations for non-religious purposes.Proposals that discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age, national/ethnic origin, political beliefs, veteran's status, disability, or any other factor prohibited by applicable law.