RurAL CAP Foundation Grant

The RurAL CAP Foundation, a private nonprofit organization headquartered in Anchorage, Alaska, offers small grants for fiscal year 2025 through its foundation to support educational and charitable efforts. Its funding focus is specifically on low-income individuals and rural communities throughout Alaska. The Foundation emphasizes local empowerment and aims to expand opportunities through projects that promote education, cultural preservation, leadership development, and community sustainability. The grants aim to build capacity, preserve traditions, and equip local residents with lifelong skills. Typical grants from the Foundation range between $2,500 and $10,000, though award amounts may span from as low as $500 to as high as $25,000. In exceptional cases, awards exceeding the stated maximum may be considered. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofit or governmental entities located in rural Alaska. These organizations must not have any active grants with the Foundation nor have received funding in the previous 12 months. Only organizations serving or located in rural Alaskan communities will be considered. Applications from individuals or for-profit entities are not eligible. The Foundation is primarily interested in funding projects that support educational and training programs for low-income people, especially those that strengthen local leadership and cultural heritage. Examples of past funded initiatives include community events such as youth music camps or elder-led subsistence skill workshops, long-term infrastructure projects like gardens or recycling centers, and capacity-building events such as workshops on proposal writing. While Foundation funds typically cover supplies and transportation, they are not used to pay stipends for roles that could be filled by volunteers or for purchasing equipment that only serves a few individuals. To apply, applicants must complete the official RurAL CAP Foundation application form and submit it alongside their IRS determination letter (for nonprofits) and a one-to-two-page proposal letter. This proposal should detail the organization’s background, describe the project and its community benefits, name the individual responsible for the project (with contact details), and provide a thorough budget outlining how the requested funds will be allocated. Any additional sources of funding, whether financial or in-kind, must also be disclosed. If the request includes travel support, the name of the traveler must be provided. Applicants are also required to specify who will be responsible for documenting the project with photos and submitting a final one-page report. The Foundation reviews applications on a triannual basis, with submission deadlines on April 30, August 31, and November 30. The Foundation’s volunteer board of directors meets the month after each deadline—May, September, and December—to approve or deny applications. Awards are issued within 30 days of the application deadlines, and projects must be completed within 12 months of receiving funds. The Foundation does not fund projects scheduled to occur before the anticipated award date. Late applications are held for consideration in the following cycle, and applicants are encouraged to reach out if their funding request is time-sensitive. Interested applicants may contact the RurAL CAP Foundation for additional information at info@ruralcapfoundation.org or call (907) 278-7441. Faxed applications may be sent to (907) 868-1766. The Foundation's office is located at 6637 Arctic Spur, Anchorage, Alaska, 99518.

Ensure projects start after award date; reach out if timeline-sensitive.