University of Alaska Foundation

About University of Alaska Foundation

The University of Alaska Foundation’s recent grantmaking is dominated by large, recurring support for the University of Alaska in Fairbanks, with grants of $26,615,329 in 2025, $18,244,756 in 2024, and $9,638,458 in 2023 for student, program, and other department support. That pattern points to a funder built around institutional support rather than a broad external grantmaking portfolio. The foundation’s work is tied closely to the University of Alaska system and to Alaska-focused education, research, and campus operations. Beyond general university support, the foundation’s stated focus areas include higher education, scholarships, Arctic and Alaska research, public broadcasting through KUAC, cultural and Indigenous programs, and campus facilities and faculty support. Its scholarship activity is especially central: the organization administers and awards scholarships through the AWARDED system for students at UAA, UAF, UAS, and community campuses. It also maintains named programs such as the Angus Gavin Migratory Bird Research Grant and the Alaska Education Tax Credit initiative, which connects charitable gifts to education in Alaska. The overall picture is a foundation funding the university system’s core capacity, student access, and Alaska-centered academic and cultural work.

What University of Alaska Foundation Funds

Scholarships are a major strand of the foundation’s work. Through the AWARDED scholarship management system, the University of Alaska Foundation administers scholarships for students at UAA, UAF, UAS, and community campuses, including merit-based, need-based, field-of-study, and other donor-specified awards. It also notes that University of Alaska Foundation Scholarships total over $6.1 million annually. Research support is another clear theme. The Angus Gavin Migratory Bird Research Grant is listed as a named grant program for wildlife and migratory bird research, linking the foundation to environmental and conservation science in Alaska. In addition, the Angus Gavin Grant is identified as a scholarship opportunity tied to the University of Alaska system. The foundation also supports education-related funding infrastructure. Its Alaska Education Tax Credit activity facilitates gifts that may qualify for state education tax credits, connecting donors with education and workforce development in Alaska.

How University of Alaska Foundation Gives