Alaska Community Foundation

Which state are you working in?

Alaska

What is your relationship with the funder for this experience?

Current or former grantee

If you were funded, tell us the outcome

Other

What year was this experience?

2017

How would you rate this funder's accessibility?

Bad

How successfully do you think this funder is accomplishing its current philanthropic goals?

Average

We were surprised that they do not have a more transparent process. They have lovely goals and we think they are well intentioned but clearer expectations of applicants to the social justice fund are needed.

If you had one piece of advice to give to this funder (about grantmaking or anything else), what would it be?

Thank you for all the work you do! Please know that our community is grateful for it and we know your hearts are in the right place! Take this advice as encouragement: Please know that it helps so much when you give clearer expectations (possibly even evaluation criteria) for all applications. And it can really leave nonprofits in a tizzy when you don't. For example, because the initial Social Justice fund application process was somewhat vague (no rubric, not very clear guidelines) and because so many organizations and projects then haphazardly applied to it, it may have unnecessarily taken energy away from social justice projects in our community.

Is there anything else that'd be useful for others to know to understand this funder?

Nope.

Enter funding details

Have successfully applied for some grants (and full amount awarded) but was not awarded others.

Tell us one thing that this funder does really well

Their Strengthening Organization application process is clear and easy to complete.

How many hours did the grant application process take?

10