The Chugiak-Eagle River Foundation (CERF) is unique among Alaskan community foundations because it formed from the community’s successful staging of the 1996 Arctic Winter Games. A $45,000 surplus from the games was transferred to the foundation to provide its earliest funding, and then a bequest from a local Eagle River pioneer gave that initial funding a big boost in 2004.
Also interesting is the fact that Eagle River is a community within the municipality of Anchorage. It isn’t its own town and has an annexation relationship with Anchorage that has been complicated at times. Here’s what nonprofits working in this part of Alaska should know about CERF to secure grant funding.
Broad philanthropic interests
As a foundation covering a small geographic area, CERF is typically open to funding nearly any type of nonprofit need that serves the people who live there. The foundation’s goals are to “make lasting improvements to our community and its residents, to foster the tradition of neighbors helping neighbors and to promote a healthy and productive community.” These goals lend themselves to many different types of grants, as well as educational scholarships to local students.
Grants need to serve at least one of the following purposes: charitable, educational, eleemosynary, civic, patriotic, social, literary, cultural, athletic, scientific or trade association. However, all grants must benefit populations within the Chugiak-Eagle River area of Alaska. Recent grantees include Gruening Middle School, the Arctic Winter Games Team Alaska and the Blood Bank of AK.
A preference for capital projects
CERF is primarily a funder of capital projects, a major need for nonprofits in the region. Grants from this foundation often go toward furnishings, buildings, audio and video equipment, books, medical equipment, computers, art supplies, sports equipment, musical instruments and vehicles.
On rarer occasions, CERF will consider supporting the creation or expansion of special projects and programs that impact the local community or the state as a whole. To secure special project support, an organization must be well-established and have a good history of accomplishment. As a general rule, CERF does not provide funding for general operations, endowments, overhead costs, reimbursements or loans.
A variety of local donors
After the founding members of the Arctic Winter Games Host Society and the MaryLou Briggs Estate, the next-largest donor at the $5,000+ level is Chugiak-River Women in Business. There are a couple gold-level donors that have given at least $2,500 to CERF and many more silver ($1,000+), bronze ($250+) and friends-level (up to $249) donors including individuals, couples and companies with connections to the region.
An accessible application process
CERF has a straightforward and accessible grant application process that makes it easy for local groups to get involved. Grantseekers can submit an application at any time of the year and there are no hard deadlines to adhere to. The foundation board meets three times a year and reviews submissions sent in by January 1, April 1 and October 1. The foundation provides a link to its grant application on its website, which organizations can print out, complete and submit to the foundation via mail—one original version and three copies.
Read more about this community foundation in IP’s full profile of the Chugiak-Eagle River Foundation, and find details on other Alaska funders in our Northwest funding guide.