RASMUSON FOUNDATION

Contact information:

301 West Northern Lights Blvd., Suite 400
Anchorage, AK 99503
Phone: 907-297-2700
Fax: 907-297-2770
Website: www.rasmuson.org

Type of foundation: Independent

Types of grants: Program, capital, planning grants to organizations serving Alaskans through a base of operations in Alaska and to individuals for projects and sabbaticals. The Foundation also makes some program-related investments.

Description: The Foundation was established in 1955 by Jenny Rasmuson to honor the memory of her late husband, E.A. Rasmuson, a Swedish immigrant and missionary who became head of the Bank of Alaska.

In 2003, the Foundation launched a 10-year, $20 million Arts and Culture Initiative, that includes funding for:

• Acquisition by Alaska museums of art created by Alaskan artists.
• Arts education, including making arts experiences available in schools and neighborhoods.
• Matching grants to augment and enrich the programs offered by Alaska's arts and cultural organizations.
• Matching funds to support the programs offered by Alaska arts organizations.
• Travel grants to organizations that present performing arts to underserved communities.
• Capacity-building.
• Technical assistance to help organizations plan successful for building projects.
• Capital projects.
• Sabbatical funds.
• Grants to individual artists.

The Foundation's ongoing funding is divided into "Tier 1" capital grants of $25,000 or less and "Tier 2" grants for projects of clear strategic importance or innovation (can be more or less than $25,000). Tier 2 grants can also be used for capital projects.

Sample grants:

• $418,397 to Alaska Public Broadcasting to match a federal grant for conversion to high-definition broadcasting for 15 public radio stations.
• $200,000 to Capital Community Broadcasting for production of three Alaska-based episodes of the public TV show, Plein Air, Painting the American Landscape.
• $182,959 for the Rasmuson Foundation Public Broadcasting Initiative providing matching funds for capital improvements to several public radio stations in Alaska.
• $30,000 to Koahnic Broadcast Corporation for a three-month sabbatical for the Executive Director (2010).
• $25,000 to Kachemak Bay Broadcasting for the Purchase and installation of an emergency generator and automatic transfer switch (2010).
• $24,999 to Rainbird Community Broadcasting for KRBD building renovations.
• $17,920 to Narrows Broadcasting Corporation for facility renovation for electric heat transition and an electric capacity upgrade.
• $9,777 to Aleutian Peninsula Broadcasting for purchase of a satellite downlink.
• $3,725 to Unalaska Community Broadcasting for a management assistance grant to bring an Apple-certified instructor to Unalaska.           

Fit for public broadcasting: The Foundation is a very strong supporter of public broadcasting in Alaska.

Eligibility: The Foundation supports organizations in Alaska. The Foundation typically does not like to be the first, largest or only funder of a project. The Foundation does not provide general operating support, endowment support or debt reduction funding.

Deadline: Tier 1 applications are accepted at any time, as are Tier 2 proposals of $25,000 or below. Tier 2 proposals above $25,000 require a letter of inquiry, to be submitted by early January for consideration at the summer Board meeting and by early July for the winter meeting.

How to apply: The Foundation uses application forms and/or letter of inquiry checklists for the various programs. 

Giving range: $500 – $5,000,000

Assets: $400,836,205 (2008)

Total giving: $4,643,604 (2009). This is significantly down from giving of $28.9 million in 2007 and $21.3 million in 2008.