Grant Opportunities

Grantmaking Objectives

The Alaska Oceans Program's mission is "to protect and restore the amazing diversity of the North Pacific's ocean ecology, including fish, wildlife, and seabirds and their habitat, while providing for sustainable human uses." The Alaska Oceans Program (AOP) concentrates on funding Alaska-focused activities that promote the conservation of biological diversity and advance sustainable ecosystem management. Our sole emphasis is on marine resources conservation with a geographic focus on the North Pacific. AOP accepts proposals by invitation only.

At this time, our primary targets for funding include:

1. Habitat Protection re-granting project focused on deep-sea cold water coral gardens.
2. Fisheries Management Reform re-granting project focused on moving the Alaska State Board of Fish and the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council toward ecosystem based management through protecting special areas, increasing monitoring, reducing overcapacity, reducing by-catch, eliminating overfishing, and recognizing traditional Alaska Native subsistence uses and cultural values of ocean resources.
3. Species Protection re-granting project focused on marine mammals and seabirds in the Aleutian and Pribilof Islands.

Ineligible Requests:

• Projects outside the state of Alaska with no benefit to the state
• Film projects including documentaries
• Basic scientific research
• Restoration projects
• Capital campaigns
• Endowments
• Scholarships
• Projects or activities that lead to direct action
• Multi-year grants
• Grant requests asking for more than 10% overhead, administrative or infrastructure costs

Grant Guidelines

AOP will invite short proposals, not to exceed four pages. The four-page narrative should include the following (in this order):

1. A one-page cover letter that includes full contact information for primary contact (including website).
2. Amount and duration of financial support requested.
3. History of the organization.
4. Description of the project or program, reasons justifying the proposed activities, and expected results (including information on how the project will be evaluated).
5. Qualifications of key personnel.

Attach the following items to the narrative:

1. A current organizational budget (not to exceed one page).
2. A project/program budget.
3. List of Board of Directors and their affiliations.
4. List of organization funders.
5. A copy of the organization's (or its fiscal agent's) proof of non-profit status.

Please do not send any extra information or attachments other than what is requested above. We prefer to receive your proposal via e-mail (mspalding@akcf.org).

Deadlines for proposal submission are as follows:

• June 1
• February 1

Upon submission of the proposal, organizations should expect a response approximately eight weeks after the deadline regarding the status of the request.

Grant Proposal Review Process

AOP will be following a consultative grant review process as follows:

• AOP staff will review all grant proposals turned in on time.
• AOP staff will reject all proposals that constitute "Ineligible Requests" (per the guidelines) on their face.
• AOP staff will summarize the grant proposals into a docket of grants memorandum to be circulated to selected AON, SSP, OCS, AOF and IBSF representatives via email (a Review Panel). The summary will be used to maintain confidentiality. Grant renewal proposals will be included. No staff person of an organization with a pending proposal will be included in the Review Panel.
• Review Panel members will then be given five business days to comment on, or ask questions about, the grant proposals.
• AOP's Senior Program Officer will review the grant proposals in relation to AOP grantmaking objectives and our current focus priorities for funding. Review Panel comments will be taken into account as will the availability of funds and anticipated AOP cash flow.
• AOP's Senior Program Officer will make grant recommendations to Alaska Conservation Foundation.

Other Grant Opportunities

Fund for Indigenous Rights and the Environment (FIRE) is a new Alaska-based foundation dedicated to supporting Indigenous human rights and the development of empowered, healthy, and environmentally sustainable Indigenous communities and territories.