Alaska Conservation Foundation

Founded in 1980, the Alaska Conservation Foundation (ACF) is a nonprofit organization located in Anchorage, Alaska. As of 2011, it is the only public foundation dedicated to conservation in Alaska. Through the support of individuals and foundations over 30 years, ACF has awarded more than $33 million in grants to over 200 grassroots organizations and individuals working to protect and manage Alaska’s natural resources.

Mission

ACF builds strategic leadership and support for Alaskan efforts to take care of wildlands, waters, and wildlife - which sustain diverse cultures, healthy communities, and prosperous economies.^[1]

Organization

ACF is a non-profit organization with approximately 13 full-time employees located in Alaska. It is governed by a national, 18-member volunteer board of directors. Nancy Lord, Alaska's poet laureate from 2008–10, was elected to serve as board chair in 2010. The board of trustees includes Jimmy Carter and Doug McConnell.

History

ACF was founded the same year the United States Congress passed the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act. Co-founders Celia Hunter and Denny Wilcher were veterans of that campaign to protect more than 100 million acres (400,000 km²) of Alaska’s parks, refuges and national forests. They started Alaska Conservation Foundation to help build an Alaska-based conservation movement and support the groups working to protect the state's natural wonders. ACF started small, raising about a half-million dollars a year. That funding nurtured the early growth of today's conservation groups, such as Alaska Center for the Environment, Southeast Alaska Conservation Council and Northern Alaska Environmental Center.

In 1993, ACF superseded the Alaska Conservation Society.

Issue areas

ACF has been at the center of many successful environmental initiatives since its inception, including the long-standing protection of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Today, ACF provides funding, leadership and coordination expertise on critical conservation issues, including Bristol Bay, climate and energy, Tongass National Forest and the Arctic and oceans.

Capacity building

Alaska Conservation Foundation seeks to build the influence of Alaska’s conservation movement through its community capacity initiative. Organizational capacity grants promote effective operations and leadership within Alaska's conservation organizations. The new Alaska Native Fund, launched in partnership with an Alaska Native steering committee, advances Alaska Native priorities for protecting our land and sustaining our ways of life. The conservation internship program focuses on developing the next generation of conservation leaders.

Recognition

ACF received a four-out-of-four star rating^[2] from Charity Navigator, an independent organization that rates non-profits.

In 2010, ACF met the Better Business Bureau's 20 standards for charity accountability.^[3]

The watchdog service American Institute of Philanthropy awarded ACF an "A-" rating as one of the nation’s top rated environmental nonprofits.^[4]

GuideStar recognizes ACF as a valued partner in the Guidestar exchange.^[5]

ACF received a Green Star Award ^[6] for demonstrating strong environmental and business ethics by implementing the eight Green Star Standards.

References