For Immediate Release
Contact: Cassandra Stalzer, 907-334-0520
Anchorage – Rasmuson Foundation’s board of directors met last week and made $9.7 million in awards to support nonprofit activities and continue Foundation initiatives aimed at strengthening the nonprofit sector and Alaska communities. The projects receiving funding were (organized by region):
Anchorage
Affinityfilms, Inc., will advance the production and editing of ‘Backing Out of Time’, a documentary about those caring for family members with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia with a $75,000 award.
Alaska Botanical Garden, Inc., will use $775,000 construct a new greenhouse and restrooms, design a new visitor center and build staff capacity to expand programs and services.
Alaska Native Heritage Center, Inc., will use a $299,890 award and a 1:1 challenge grant up to $100,000 to implement a comprehensive strategic initiative that places art creation at the heart of the Center’s mission and builds staff capacity and financial sustainability.
Anchorage Rotary Community Services (Rotary Club of Anchorage) will collaborate with the Municipality of Anchorage and local businesses to purchase and install raised planters and plant 22 trees on 4th Avenue between E and H Streets with a $25,000 award and a 1:2 challenge grant up to $90,000.
The Foraker Group will receive $1.65 million over three years for technical assistance, training and services to ensure the strength and sustainability of Alaska’s nonprofit sector.
United Way of Anchorage will use $250,000 to support the ongoing work of Housing Anchorage, a group of community and nonprofit leaders, policy makers and housing developers whose work focuses on increasing Anchorage’s workforce housing.
Bering Straits
Chinik Eskimo Community will construct a steel building to house search and rescue equipment in Golovin with an award of $250,000.
KNOM Radio Mission, Inc., a noncommercial radio station in Nome, will use a 1:1 matching grant up to $50,000 to expand the studios and upgrade equipment.
Interior
The Carol H. Brice Family Center, Inc., will receive up to $200,000 in a 2:1 matching grant to upgrade the air quality and improve the energy efficiency of the facility.
Fairbanks Community Food Bank Service, Inc., will purchase a skid-steer loader and forklift to support its warehouse activities with an $85,000 award.
Fairbanks North Star Borough will receive a top-off grant of $500,000 to support furnishings, fixtures, equipment and landscaping for the new North Pole Library contingent on local contributions of at least $100,000.
Fairbanks Youth Soccer Association will build two artificial turf fields in the Wilbur Street Complex with a 1:1 challenge grant up to $75,000 and a top-off award of 375,000.
Mat-Su
Big Lake Lions Foundation Inc., will use a $495,000 award to complete the community room, kitchen and offices of the Big Lake Recreation and Community Center.
Southeast
Haines Assisted Living, Inc., will use a $400,000 award and a 1:1 challenge grant up to $99,900 to construct a new veterans housing complex and centralized nonprofit center to provide wellness services to veterans and the broader community.
Ketchikan Youth Initiatives will receive a $20,000 outright award for capacity building and up to a $98,300 top-off award to complete interior renovations of a community youth center.
Organized Village of Kasaan, will restore the Chief Son-i-Hat Whale House, the last Haida Clan House in Alaska, with a $450,000 award, $50,000 of which requires a 1:1 match.
Statewide
ArtPlace, a multi-funder collaborative to promote livable communities through investment in arts and creative placemaking, will receive a three-year, $1.5 million award.
Foundation Initiatives:
The Pre-Development Program, $900,000 over three years for consulting and technical assistance for nonprofit development projects.
The Sabbatical Program, $900,000 over three years to support the retention of senior leaders in Alaska’s nonprofit sector.
Rasmuson Foundation’s Tier 2 program supports large (more than $25,000) capital projects, projects of strategic importance or innovative nature, or the expansion or start-up of programs that address issues of broad community or statewide significance. The Rasmuson Board of Directors considers Tier 2 grants twice a year at its board meetings. Letters of inquiry are required and accepted year-round.
About the Foundation
Rasmuson Foundation was created in May 1955 by Jenny Rasmuson to honor her late husband “E.A.” Rasmuson. Through grantmaking and initiatives, the Foundation is a catalyst to promote a better life for all Alaskans.
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