The CIRI Foundation

What The CIRI Foundation does

The CIRI Foundation (TCF) is a private 501(c)(3) public charity founded in 1982 and headquartered at 3201 C Street, Suite 506 in Anchorage, Alaska. It is a non-profit grant-making foundation affiliated with, but legally separate from, Cook Inlet Region, Inc. (CIRI), an Alaska Native regional corporation. TCF's mission is to promote individual self-development and economic self-sufficiency through education and training for CIRI shareholders and their lineal descendants. The foundation operates with a small staff of approximately 10 employees and no disclosed parent, subsidiary, or external ownership.

TCF's core products are educational scholarships and cultural-heritage grants. The scholarship portfolio includes Higher Education Scholarships (up to $9,000 per year for undergraduate and graduate study), Career Technical Education (CTE) Scholarships (up to $9,000 per year, with rolling 365-day availability), Jump Start Awards for high school students, the Raven Fund for non-direct-descendant Alaska Native voting shareholders, and the Cap Lathrop competitive scholarship. Cultural preservation is delivered through A Journey to What Matters project grants, Heritage Project Grants, ARTShops (in partnership with the Alaska State Council on the Arts), and the Litnaurluni Program funding 18-month intergenerational arts transmission projects. The AK/Now Workforce Initiative coordinates Alaska workforce pathways across welding, CDL/transportation, construction, and health/safety. The Na'eda Network serves as an alumni directory, and the Plan Your Pathway program provides career exploration resources.

TCF is not a technology organization and does not offer commercial products or pricing. All programs are funded through endowments, donations, partner contributions (e.g., Henry Luce Foundation), and raffle proceeds (Alaska Gaming Permit 164305, Fuel the Future Raffle). Distribution runs through a Wizehive-based online application portal, the TCF website, SMS (TCF Texts), social media, and community events such as Coffee Chats. Since 1982, TCF has issued over 15,000 individual awards and over $4.1M in cultural grant funding. Eligible recipients span CIRI shareholders and descendants across the United States and internationally.

Name

The CIRI Foundation

Legal name

The CIRI Foundation

Website

https://thecirifoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The CIRI Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation established in 1982 in Anchorage, Alaska, that provides educational scholarships (up to $9,000/year), vocational training grants, and cultural-heritage project grants to CIRI shareholders and their lineal descendants, having issued over 15,000 awards since inception.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Educational Foundation

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK), Grantmaking Agencies & Education Program Grants Administration (EDADAHAD)

Keywords

• Educational scholarships
• Alaska Native grants
• Cultural preservation
• Career technical education
• Nonprofit foundation

Headquarters

HQ city

Anchorage

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Educational Scholarships and Grants: TCF provides scholarships for higher education (up to $9,000/year), Career Technical Education (CTE) scholarships (up to $9,000/year), and vocational training grants to CIRI shareholders and descendants.
2. Cultural Project Grants: Heritage Project Grants and A Journey to What Matters project grants supporting Alaska Native art and culture preservation initiatives, including ARTShops, museum partnerships, and artist mentorship programs.
3. Fundraising and Donations: TCF raises funds through raffles (Fuel the Future Raffle), direct donations, and planned giving programs to sustain scholarship and grant operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The CIRI Foundation administers scholarships and grants to Alaska Native shareholders and descendants of Cook Inlet Region, Inc., funding basic education, career and technical education, and cultural heritage preservation. It has awarded more than 15,000 individual awards since 1982, including over $4.1 million in grant funding across its program areas.

Product overview

The CIRI Foundation is a scholarship and grant-making organization offering a portfolio of educational support programs for CIRI shareholders and descendants. The core offerings include Higher Education Scholarships (up to $9,000/year) and Career Technical Education (CTE) Scholarships for vocational training, along with specialized funds like the Raven Fund for non-direct descendants and Jump Start Awards for high school students. Cultural preservation is supported through Project Grants including A Journey to What Matters (Alaska Native art & culture), Heritage Project Grants, ARTShops, and the Litnaurluni Program. The AK/Now Workforce Initiative strengthens career pathways across Alaska, while the Na'eda Network provides alumni engagement. The organization has awarded over 15,000 individual awards since 1982 and over $4.1 million in grants.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Educational Scholarships Scholarships provided to CIRI shareholders and their descendants to support higher education pursuits. The program is the foundation's flagship award category and has been a primary program since the foundation's 1982 inception.
• Career and Technical Education Grants Grants for CIRI shareholders and descendants pursuing vocational, trade, or career technical education pathways, complementing the foundation's academic scholarship offerings.
• Cultural Preservation Grants Grants supporting Alaska Native cultural heritage preservation activities among CIRI shareholders and descendants, including heritage and cultural project funding that totals more than $4.1 million in grant funding.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 15,000 individual awards since 1982
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers25 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Alaska State Council on the ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to provide the Alaska Native Artist Resource Workbook and support Alaska Native artists in advancing their careers. ASCA provides assistance with grants and programs at 907-269-6610.
• Museums AlaskacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting the Access to Alaska Native Collections program that connects Alaska Native artists with museum collections by supporting research visits to storage areas in Alaska.
• First Peoples' Cultural Council of British ColumbiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership adapting the First Peoples' Cultural Council Grant Writing Handbook to provide information and resources specific to Alaskan artists for the Grant Writing Handbook.
• Alaska Native Heritage CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Litnaurluni program and various cultural projects including ARTShops and artist gatherings. Hosts programs that connect Alaska Native art and culture.
• Calista Education and Culture Inc.coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFirst Litnaurluni project partner on 'Nelson Island Traditional Clothing' documenting and constructing traditional atasuaq (baby one-piece bird skin parka) and studying seal skin processing.
• Cook Inlet Tribal CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization providing internship programs and legal department opportunities for CIRI descendants. TCF recipients have interned at CITC and received mentorship.
• Kenai Peninsula Driving InstructionminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCDL training provider in Kenai, Alaska used by TCF CTE scholarship recipients for commercial driver's license training.
• AVTECminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAlaska Vocational Technical Center in Seward offering Plumbing & Heating program used by TCF CTE scholarship recipients for vocational training.
• Rasmuson FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing Communications Toolkit resource for grantees sharing their stories and project outcomes.
• Foraker GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity education calendar provider offering free and low-cost educational opportunities for nonprofit sustainability and resource development.
• University of Washington PressminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPublisher partner for Litnaurluni program book project 'Tengautuli Atkuk/The Flying Parka' being developed with Ann Fienup-Riordan, Alice Rearden, and Marie Meade.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/thecirifoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-ciri-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The CIRI Foundation