Best Grants for Community Service Projects in Alaska

Alaska nonprofits, tribal entities, schools, and government units can receive funding to cover travel and freight for touring arts presentations and exhibitions in Alaska communities. Alaska State Council on the Arts supports theater, dance, music, visual arts, media, folk and traditional arts that build local cultural participation, especially in rural or underserved areas and multi-community tours.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) and government-related organizations in Alaska can seek funding for workforce development, sustainability, and thriving community initiatives that deliver measurable outcomes. With a mission to strengthen communities, Marathon Petroleum Corporation / Marathon Petroleum Foundation provides support to eligible U.S.-incorporated groups, with preference for areas where it has significant operations and employees, including Alaska.

Tribal governments and intertribal consortia in Alaska can use this funding to plan, develop, and establish tribal environmental protection programs and climate adaptation efforts. With a mission to strengthen tribal environmental governance, Environmental Protection Agency provides support for core program capacity, baseline assessments, and initial equipment that may benefit community-focused environmental projects.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations in Alaska can seek funding for community development, social services, education, health, and engagement projects that serve local residents. Foster Foundation supports under-resourced programs in the Pacific Northwest, including Alaska, that strengthen communities, address basic human needs, and expand cultural, recreational, and civic opportunities for underserved children, women, seniors, and other disadvantaged groups.

Recent and soon-to-graduate law students and judicial clerks planning civil legal projects for low-income clients in Alaska can apply for Skadden Foundation’s two-year public interest law fellowships. Fellows work full time at a U.S.-based host organization, strengthening legal services that support community well-being and economic independence for people living in poverty.

The ASCA: Community Arts Development Grants support Alaskan nonprofit organizations, schools, and tribal entities to foster grassroots arts activities across the state. These grants, capped at $5,000, aim to enhance public participation in the arts and assist in developing programs in underserved areas. Eligible organizations can receive one grant per fiscal year, provided their activities are open to the public and not solely for academic credit. Priority is given to volunteer-run organizations.

Focused on community development, The Alaska Community Foundation invites Alaska 501(c)(3) nonprofits, tribal entities, schools, faith-based groups, and local governments to apply for grants supporting programs on the Kodiak Archipelago. Awards of US $1,000 - US $3,000 can fund community service, health, education, outdoor, arts, and related local projects.

Alaska museums and cultural centers that are 501(c)(3), government, or tribal entities holding collections in the public trust can access funding for collections care, training, and conservation projects. Through the Rasmuson Foundation’s Collections Management Fund, organizations may strengthen behind-the-scenes stewardship and public-facing exhibitions, programs, and digitization that benefit their communities.

The Community Facilities Grant Program in Alaska provides essential funding for rural areas to develop vital community facilities. Eligible projects include healthcare, public safety, and educational services in communities with populations under 20,000. Grants can cover up to 75% of project costs, depending on the median household income of the area. This program aims to enhance quality of life and ensure access to necessary services in underserved regions, fostering community growth and sustainability.

Alaska rural villages and the State of Alaska seeking to improve community drinking water and waste disposal systems can access funding through USDA Rural Development. Grants support projects that remedy dire sanitation conditions, such as waterborne disease risks or lack of community-wide water and sewer, and may benefit community development and service initiatives in remote Native and rural Alaskan hubs.

Public agencies and nonprofit organizations in Alaska planning historic preservation or community revitalization projects can apply for National Trust for Historic Preservation’s National Trust Preservation Funds, awarding US $2,500 - US $5,000 for planning, education, and outreach. Eligible efforts may include feasibility studies, design guidelines, community forums, or innovative public education reaching new audiences.

Nonprofits, government agencies, and universities supporting family or informal caregivers of adults with Alzheimer’s and related dementias in Alaska and across the U.S. can receive recognition awards of US $20,000 for existing programs. Grants from Family Caregiver Alliance honor innovative work in creative expression, increasing access and reducing stigma, and public policy advocacy.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3)s, eligible tribal and select government entities in Alaska planning capital construction, renovation, or property purchase can apply for M J Murdock Charitable Trust’s Strategic Projects: Capital Grants, with awards of More than US $50,000. Community service and community development projects that build long-term organizational capacity may be competitive, especially when a portion of project funding is already secured.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, tribal entities, and select government institutions in Alaska can seek more than US $50,000 to expand community-focused programs and staff through Strategic Project Grants. Grants from M J Murdock Charitable Trust help Alaska community development and service organizations build capacity in areas like civic engagement, education, health, environment, and scientific research on a three-year declining funding schedule.

Alaska 501(c)(3) nonprofits, schools, tribal entities, and other groups delivering arts-based cultural heritage programming for children and youth can receive up to US $10,000 for projects in Alaska. With a mission to strengthen arts and cultural heritage, Alaska State Council on the Arts funds artist and culture bearer fees, supplies, travel, space, and limited administrative costs.

Alaskan municipal governments (except Anchorage) can receive funding for community development, public facilities, planning, and special economic development projects that benefit low- and moderate-income residents. Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development provides Alaska community development and revitalization efforts with competitive Community Development Block Grants of up to US $850,000 per community; nonprofits may participate as co-applicants.

Alaska municipal governments and co-applicant nonprofits seeking to improve community facilities, plan local projects, or support economic development can access funding through the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development. Competitive Community Development Block Grants of up to US $850,000 support projects that enhance health and safety, reduce essential service costs, and create jobs for low- and moderate-income residents.

Alaska-based 501(c)(3)s, fiscally sponsored groups, Tribes, schools, local governments, and similar charitable entities advancing social justice can receive up to US $15,000 for general operating or project support. Grants from The Alaska Community Foundation help Alaska community organizations strengthen equity, empower under-resourced communities, and support community service initiatives statewide.

Alaska and other U.S. nonprofit academic, research, and cultural heritage institutions preserving at-risk audio or audiovisual collections can access funding through the Council on Library and Information Resources for digital reformatting projects. Grants of US $10,000 - US $50,000 support using qualified external service providers to digitize rare, fragile, or obsolete time-based media of high scholarly value.

Charitable 501(c)(3) organizations, faith-based social service providers, tribal nonprofits, and local governments in Alaska’s Ketchikan area can apply for Alaska Community Foundation’s Ketchikan Community Foundation Grant Program; awards Up to US $40,000 for projects that strengthen physical and emotional well-being. Community service initiatives enhancing safety, stability, connection, and resilience may be eligible.

Libraries, health organizations, and other NNLM Region 5 member institutions in Alaska can seek funding to support professional development that strengthens health information services and community health education. The National Library of Medicine’s Network of the National Library of Medicine offers US $2,000 for U.S.-based conferences, workshops, classes, or trainings on health literacy, outreach, data science, public health, and related topics.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations and equivalents serving Palmer-area communities in Alaska can seek funding for community development, health, education, outdoor, and arts projects through the Palmer Community Foundation, an affiliate of The Alaska Community Foundation. Grants of US $1,000 - US $5,000 support projects completed within one year that benefit a broad range of local residents.

Nonprofits, tribes, local governments, and faith-based groups in Alaska can fund special community projects in the central Kenai Peninsula through grants up to Up to US $3,000. With a mission to strengthen local quality of life, The Alaska Community Foundation supports initiatives in community development, education, health and wellness, arts and culture, and outdoor programs that benefit broad segments of residents.

Charitable organizations, tribes, local governments, and faith-based groups in Alaska’s northern Susitna Valley can seek $500 to $3,000 for community projects from the Alaska Community Foundation’s Jessica Stevens Community Foundation. Focus areas include arts, health, education, social engagement, recreation, and the natural environment, supporting community service efforts in Talkeetna, Trapper Creek, Sunshine, and nearby areas.

Eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofits, tribal organizations, local governments, and K–12 schools in Alaska can apply for the GCI Suicide Prevention Grant, awarding US $1,000 - US $15,000 for suicide prevention and mental wellness projects. Funding from The Alaska Community Foundation can support community-based efforts, especially in rural areas, that strengthen connections and address high-risk populations.

The Grants for Coordination of Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Child Welfare Services aim to support tribal families at risk of abuse or neglect. This funding encourages innovative projects that enhance case management, supportive services, and prevention strategies. Eligible applicants include federally recognized tribal governments and organizations. ACF prioritizes sustainable systems changes, enabling lasting improvements in the coordination of TANF and child welfare programs to better serve vulnerable tribal families.