The Juneau Community Foundation proudly announces the allocation of $3,022,367 in grants to 20 local nonprofit organizations and programs. These grants were developed through extensive collaboration with social service providers to identify critical needs in Juneau and address them.
Since its inception in 2015, the Juneau Hope Endowment/CBJ Social Service Grant process has provided over $22.6 million in grants, underlining the Foundation’s unwavering commitment to supporting the most pressing needs in our community. Funding comes from the Juneau Community Foundation’s Hope Endowment Fund and other funds of the Foundation amounting to $1,113,467 and the City & Borough of Juneau’s Social Service Funds contribution of $1,908,900. Additionally, the CBJ Utility Waiver Program provides $47,500 in utility waivers each year to nonprofits that house vulnerable populations as part of their mission.
Amy Skilbred, Executive Director of the Foundation, emphasized the significance of the grant allocation process, “Every year we bring together the nonprofits working to assist people in our community. Through their collaboration, they identify needs and develop projects to address gaps in services. These grants provide vital funding to help people in our community. Most of the grant recipients rely on a combination of earned revenue, donations, and grants to operate. We’re privileged to support their invaluable work in our community.”
The grants target a diverse range of services, assisting Juneau’s most vulnerable residents: support for individuals experiencing homelessness, food insecurity, domestic violence, substance abuse disorders, mental or physical health issues, as well as programs focusing on suicide prevention, senior care, adult education, and income stability. A significant portion of the funding is directed toward preventing and assisting individuals experiencing homelessness. Specific grantees such as the Juneau Housing Collaborative dba The Glory Hall, AWARE, Gastineau Human Services, St. Vincent de Paul, Family Promise of Juneau, and Shéiyi X̱ aat Hít Youth Shelter provide housing. Others, such as Alaska Legal Services, United Human Services, the community navigator program, and Alaska Housing Development Corporation provide programs to assist those experiencing homelessness and to aid individuals and families at risk of becoming homeless. Without the people working at these front line critical community service organizations, many of our neighbors would not have enough food to eat, a place to sleep, a person to talk with when in crisis, or someone to help them through the next day. Supporting each of these organizations contributes to the collaborative continuum of care they provide to so many in Juneau.
Grant awards were determined based on local nonprofit social service priorities, interviews with applying agencies, thorough review of applications by the Foundation’s Professional Advisory and Grants Committees, input from other Alaska funders, and final grant approval by the Foundation’s board.
The Juneau Hope Endowment Fund was established in 2014 and is managed by the Juneau Community Foundation to provide annual social service grants. The Foundation’s combined grant process incorporates CBJ Social Service Grants to maximize impact and efficiency.
Photo: One of many youth-oriented programs administered by NAMI Juneau through Hope Endowment/CBJ Social Service Grant funding.
