About Atwood Foundation
The Atwood Foundation makes targeted, state-focused gifts in Alaska, using the Alaska Community Foundation as an intermediary to support journalism capacity and professional development. Its recent grants explicitly funded the Alaska Center for Excellence in Journalism and the Alaska Press Club, indicating an interest in strengthening local news, reporting standards, and press infrastructure. The foundation appears to prefer channeling support through a statewide community foundation rather than funding many direct beneficiaries.
Focus Areas
Statewide journalism capacity and training in AlaskaSupport for press associations and professional development for journalistsGrantmaking through a statewide community foundation/intermediary
Who They Fund
Alaska-based artists and performing companiesAnchorage and statewide general public/audiencesyouth and students (including scholarship recipients)Indigenous/Native music practitioners and cultural presentersArts organizations and cultural institutions (capacity recipients)
About Atwood Foundation
A defining thread in Atwood Foundation Inc’s recent giving is its support for Alaska journalism infrastructure through the Alaska Community Foundation. In 2025, that intermediary received $210,000 for the Alaska Center for Excellence in Journalism and the Alaska Press Club, following a $159,600 grant in 2024 for the same purpose and a $235,000 grant in 2023 for a third year of in-depth reporting. That pattern shows a funder backing both newsroom capacity and the institutions that shape reporting practice in Alaska. The foundation also supports arts, education, and cultural programming across Anchorage and other Alaska communities. Recent grants include $175,000 to Anchorage Museum Association for education programs, an exhibit, North X North, Seed Lab, and the Atwood Archive Center, plus $150,000 to Alaska Pacific University for Atwood Merit Scholarships. Additional support has gone to Anchorage Opera, Anchorage Symphony Orchestra, Anchorage Concert Association, Alaska Junior Theater, Cyrano's Theater Company, and Perseverance Theater Inc. Atwood Foundation Inc uses recurring grants over multiple years, often returning to the same recipients for operating, season, or capacity-building support.
What Atwood Foundation Funds
Journalism is a clear priority. Through the Alaska Community Foundation, Atwood Foundation Inc gave $210,000 in 2025 and $159,600 in 2024 to support the Alaska Center for Excellence in Journalism and the Alaska Press Club, and it had previously committed $235,000 in 2023 for a third year of in-depth reporting. Arts institutions make up another major part of the portfolio. The foundation awarded $175,000 to Anchorage Museum Association for education programs, an exhibit, North X North, Seed Lab, and the Atwood Archive Center, showing support for both public programming and institutional infrastructure. Education and student support also appear in the recent grants. Alaska Pacific University received $150,000 in 2025 for Atwood Merit Scholarships, following a $150,000 grant in 2024 for the same purpose. Capacity-building support shows up as well. Foraker Group received $60,000 in 2025 for capacity building services for Atwood grantees.
How Atwood Foundation Gives
Typical grant size clusters around $8,000 at the 25th percentile, $12,000 at the median, and $25,000 at the 75th percentile, while the recent grant list also includes many larger operating and program awards. The same recipients appear across multiple years, including Alaska Community Foundation, Alaska Pacific University, Anchorage Museum Association, Anchorage Opera, Anchorage Symphony Orchestra, Anchorage Concert Association, Alaska Junior Theater, Cyrano's Theater Company, and Foraker Group. That repeat pattern suggests an ongoing grant relationship rather than one-off giving. The foundation is an independent foundation and also funds individuals. Its active programs include General Grants and Journalism Grants / New Alaska Center for Excellence in Journalism, and both accept unsolicited requests.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$2.4M
Total Assets
$56.7M
Total Revenue
$5.7M
Total Expenses
$3.1M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $8K and $25K, with a median of $12K.
25th Percentile
$8K
Median
$12K
75th Percentile
$25K
Geographic Reach
Local2 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
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