$5.75 million approved by Rasmuson Foundation Board

Anchorage, Alaska – The Rasmuson Foundation Board of Directors is pleased to announce $5.75 million in grants supporting organizations driving progress in higher education, housing and cultural revitalization across Alaska. These new grants bring the 2024 total to $7.5 million in Foundation investments while traditional grant programs remain paused.  

The University of Alaska will receive $5 million from Rasmuson Foundation over five years to strengthen its Arctic Leadership Initiative, investing in Alaskans to be future Arctic leaders and problem solvers. The Juneau Housing First Collaborative was awarded $500,000 toward its permanent supportive housing expansion at Forget-Me-Not Manor, and the U.S. Department of Interior – Bureau of Indian Affairs will receive $250,000 toward the collection of oral histories, curation of a traveling museum exhibit, and creation of a memorial educating the public of the historic negative impacts of Indian boarding schools. These were approved by the Rasmuson Foundation Board of Directors at its summer board meeting in Kenai.  

“Each of these projects represent the strength and power of Alaskans coming together to serve Alaska,” said Rasmuson Foundation President and CEO Gretchen Guess. “We are blessed to invest in each organization and project and thank them for the work they do each day.”   

Arctic Leadership Initiative 

The $5 million grant to support the Arctic Leadership Initiative represents our work as a catalyst and early investor in Big Ideas. In 2021, the Board and staff asked University of Alaska President Pat Pitney to think big. In 2022, the Foundation provided seed money to put her team’s idea into action. Now, we are an early investor.  

“It’s an ambitious strategic endeavor intended to reshape Alaska’s role in the Arctic and make significant contributions to people living in the Arctic region,” said Tasha Pineda, vice president of strategy for Rasmuson Foundation. “As residents of our nation’s only Arctic state, younger Alaskans are uniquely positioned to lead into the future. This funding will accelerate the development of solutions, innovations, and new economic opportunities for Alaskans across the state.”  

The Rasmuson Foundation Board of Directors, made up of family members and community representatives, met in Kenai in late June for its annual summer board meeting. In addition to approving $5.75 million in grants, it set the Foundation’s mission, vision, values, strategies, and priorities for the next three years, affirming the Foundation’s mission to invest, connect, convene, and empower Alaskans to help each other. 

Earlier this year, the Foundation invested nearly $2 million in projects to address homelessness in Alaska. Recipients included the Alaska Coalition on Housing and Homelessness ($760,000 over two years), Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness ($720,000 over two years), Housing Alaska Public Private Partnership ($100,000), Covenant House Alaska ($75,000), and Volunteers of America Alaska ($75,000).   

While the Foundation continues to fund time-sensitive and emergency needs, traditional Foundation grantmaking programs re-open Aug. 15, with Letters of Inquiry currently being accepted for Legacy grants.