The Chilkat Valley Community Foundation (CVCF), an Affiliate of The Alaska Community Foundation, offers 2026 Discretionary Grants throughout the year for eligible organizations serving the Chilkat Valley that encounter special opportunities or extraordinary one-time needs outside the regular grant cycle.
Funding: Up to $1,000 per grant. The 2026 guidelines and application do not state a mandatory match or cost share requirement.
Deadline: Year round / rolling. CVCF states that discretionary grants may be awarded throughout the year. There is no fixed submission deadline, clock time, or time zone. Organizations seeking an unsolicited discretionary grant must contact the Grantmaking Committee Chair or Program Manager before submitting.
Eligibility: Qualified tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations and equivalents such as Tribal entities, schools, and faith-based organizations supporting charitable organizations and programs in the Chilkat Valley area. Certain otherwise-ineligible organizations may participate through an eligible fiscal sponsor. Select units of government may be considered when the proposed project extends beyond traditional governmental functions and benefits the broader community.
Program areas: Eligible needs may include health and wellness, education, outdoor/community activities, arts and culture, and community development. Requests must address a special opportunity or extraordinary one-time need that was unforeseen during the regular cycle or does not fit the next regular cycle, and must align with the applicant organization’s mission.
Required request materials: A completed CVCF Discretionary Grant Cover Sheet and a letter describing the project or request, explaining why it is needed outside the fall grant cycle, demonstrating mission alignment, and listing the specific expenses to be paid with CVCF funds. Relevant supporting materials may also be included. Applicants using a fiscal sponsor must submit a signed fiscal sponsor letter, and fiscal sponsor administrative fees may not be included in the discretionary grant budget.
Submission: Send the completed request to chilkatvalley@alaskacf.org or mail it to CVCF, PO Box 1117, Haines, AK. CVCF lists Amanda Hamell, local Program Manager, at ahamell@alaskacf.org for general grant questions. Applicants must make the required pre-submission contact before sending an unsolicited request.
Restrictions and administration: Current guidelines exclude individuals, for-profit entities, certain noncharitable tax statuses, non-Alaska organizations, private/family foundations, state and federal agencies, and ad hoc groups without tax-exempt status, subject to limited published exceptions and fiscal sponsorship. Prohibited activities include religious indoctrination, endowment building, deficit financing, fundraising, lobbying/electioneering or other political activity, ads/sponsorships/special events, and discriminatory proposals. Projects generally must be completed within one year. A discretionary grant report is due within 30 days after completion, and applicants with overdue ACF or CVCF grant reports are ineligible until prior reporting is complete.
Atlas assessment: Atlas Opportunity Score 62/100. N9+ Fit 1/100. General Alaska health, education, and community applicant fit 70/100 conditional. This is a valid year-round community micro grant, but the $1,000 ceiling does not support a meaningful Nonagon N9+ device and platform project, so product-specific fit is not forced.
Official source: Chilkat Valley Community Foundation Grants.