FY2026 United Fund Awardees

Abused Women’s Aid in Crisis

$30,000 | www.awaic.org

Survivor Healing & Education Groups Pilot

AWAIC will launch a pilot program to redesign its group offerings for adult survivors of domestic violence. Clinicians from Alaska Behavioral Health will lead two support groups at AWAIC per week. Thanks to our United Fund, this partnership allows survivors to receive deeper therapeutic expertise and more structured trauma support in a safe setting. This program will help them build coping skills, regulate emotions, and develop healthy relationship tools to support healing.

Domestic violence often leaves survivors with trauma symptoms that disrupt safety, decision-making, housing stability, employment, and family life. In 2025, AWAIC documented more than 26,000 advocacy contacts and nearly 15,000 crisis-related calls, underscoring the complexity of survivors’ needs. Its program will test a stronger clinical model to improve engagement, strengthen outcomes, and shape future support groups.

Children’s Resiliency Advocacy Project

AWAIC shelters children who've been exposed to domestic violence (DV), and they make up about a quarter of their clients. Many of them have experienced other adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Because AWAIC operates Anchorage’s only emergency shelter for people fleeing DV, it can support these children by offering trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate services. Our United Fund is furthering the important work making Children’s Resiliency Advocates available.

Under the guidance of these advocates, AWAIC will help children during a critical point of intervention. Youth will learn how to establish trust, express emotions safely, and develop resilience. One-on-one support, therapeutic play, safety planning, group programs, caregiver-child activities, enrichment outings, and referrals to resources will help families address the long-term effects of DV exposure and ACEs on children.-

Alaska Children's Trust

$15,000 | www.alaskachildrenstrust.org

Afterschool AmeriCorps: Expanding Anchorage's Access to Out-of-School Time Programs

ACT will place 15 AmeriCorps STEM Coaches in Anchorage after-school and summer learning programs. They will deliver hands-on activities for students in safe, enriching out-of-school settings. Thanks to our United Fund, students will explore science, technology, engineering, and math with the coaches’ guidance. Afterschool AmeriCorps increases out-of-school programs’ capacity by engaging the young adults who are serving in AmeriCorps and are delighted to take on youth-serving roles.

Persistent staffing shortages limit after-school and out-of-school enrollment and reduce access to programming. ACT is addressing these gaps by offering training and real-world experience for AmeriCorps STEM Coaches. Not only will these opportunities prepare these young adults for future employment by creating a stronger pipeline of qualified afterschool staff, but they will also engage about 200 students in STEM learning.

-

Alaska Literacy Program

$15,000 | www.alaskaliteracyprogram.org

Financial Literacy & Economic Empowerment Program

ALP will launch a program for immigrants, refugees, English-language learners, and adult-education students in Anchorage. Thanks to our United Fund, this nonprofit will provide culturally responsive workshops that are focused on increasing understanding about banking, credit, taxes, budgeting, consumer protection, and financial planning. The project will build the participants’ confidence and inform their financial decisions so that they can become financially secure.

Each year two six-workshop courses are offered by ALP. Now, they will integrate financial literacy into English classes and GED programs. Participants will learn how to build credit, open accounts, avoid predatory lending, plan for housing, and advance their education and careers. Connecting participants with local banks, credit unions, and community partners empowers them to move toward long-term financial stability.-

Anchorage Neighborhood Health Center

$15,000 | www.anhc.org

Prenatal & Postpartum Support Kits Project

ANHC serves a linguistically and economically diverse population, and it recognizes the value of tailored treatment plans for patients. Our United Fund enables this Anchorage nonprofit to reduce its patients’ prenatal and postpartum risks and make care more accessible and practical for the soon-to-be parents by giving them support kits. In doing so, ANHC will help its prenatal patients better prepare for and navigate pregnancy, birth, postpartum stages, and their babies’ infancy.

This project has two parts. First, ANHC will translate its Pregnancy Wellness Guide and publish those versions so more of its patients can read parenting education materials in their primary language. Second, ANHC will provide important maternal and newborn supplies to families with the highest needs. Items may include postpartum and breastfeeding supplies, newborn items, and rear-facing infant car seats.

-

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Alaska

$15,000 | www.bbbsak.org

Big Futures for Anchorage

Big Brothers Big Sisters will launch the first phase of Big Futures for Anchorage, which enhances a mentoring program for youth and young adults, aged 13–25. A selection of Littles and Bigs will participate in a 60-day pilot program. Our United Fund allows them to test career pathway planning, job readiness tools, career exposure, and life skills development. By incorporating existing, trusted matches, the youth will identify clear next steps toward their own employment, enrollment, or enlistment.

Many youth leave high school without a supported plan for what comes next—even when they have strong aspirations. Big Brothers Big Sisters will pilot Big Futures with 25 already-enrolled Littles, gather their feedback, and refine it before expanding more broadly. This effort strengthens mentoring outcomes now while shaping a larger career-readiness program that is expected to reach 100 Anchorage youth by year-end.

-

Camp Fire Alaska

$15,000 | www.campfireak.org

Summer Camp Pop-Up Program: Mountain View

Camp Fire helps young people build confidence, relationships, and independence through hands-on learning and caring adult mentorship. A licensed day camp program at Tyson Elementary School will serve up to 20 youth on weekdays in July 2026. Our United Fund allows this nonprofit to run the program at no-cost to campers’ families—many of whom have limited summer care options. Camp Fire’s project gives Mountain View school-age youth safe, reliable care this summer.

The Summer Camp Pop-Up will offer nature-based learning, creative projects, physical activity, social-emotional skill-building, meals, and outdoor camp experiences. Camp Fire is partnering on activities with Anchorage School District, The Children’s Lunchbox, and National Wildlife Refuge. By removing cost as a barrier, families in Mountain View will be supported, children will be nurtured, and childcare access will be strengthened.

-

Covenant House Alaska

$30,000 | www.covenanthouseak.org

Transitional-Age Youth Homeless Prevention: Aftercare Navigator Project

Covenant House will conduct rapid-cycle testing of an Aftercare Navigators program. These navigators will support transition-age young adults as they exit shelter, transitional housing, or other housing placements. During the first year that young adults live independently, they are most vulnerable to housing instability and return to homelessness. Thanks to our United Fund, this program combines relational support for participants with flexible cash assistance for up to 12 months.

Participants in the Aftercare Navigators program will receive crisis-response help, budgeting support, benefits navigation, landlord mediation, and connections to community services. As a result, these young adults, aged 18-24, can better overcome short-term financial crises, which put them at risk of experiencing homelessness. Covenant House designed this program based on data from its recent pilot program.

ACEs Aware 7 Stress Busters: Listen/Partner/Connect

Covenant House will implement a holistic care initiative grounded in the ACEs Aware 7 Stress Busters framework to serve young people facing trauma, housing instability, disrupted relationships, and chronic stress. Because of our United Fund, this nonprofit will shift from crisis response toward proactive skill-building that supports long-term stability. This project will teaches how to apply resiliency strategies to better manage stress, strengthen relationships, and improve well being.

Using the Listen/Partner/Connect model, Covenant House will embed resilience-building practices into its daily programming. It will help youth identify strengths, develop coping strategies, and engage in activities that support relationships, sleep, mindfulness, physical activity, healthy eating, and nature. The nonprofit staff will also create holistic care plans and track youth confidence in managing stress over time.

-

Denali Family Services

$15,000 | www.denalifs.org

Foster Care Is Love Marketing Campaign

Denali Family Services (DFS) will launch a multi-media campaign in partnership with Alaska Child & Family (ACF) to recruit therapeutic foster parents. Foster Care Is Love will expand the number of available homes and help more youth remain in Alaska for care. Our state has an urgent need for highly trained family settings for youth with complex trauma, behavioral health challenges, and developmental needs. Our United Fund supports their digital outreach and community partnerships to reach prospects.

When trained foster families are not available, children with intensive emotional and behavioral needs may be placed in more restrictive settings. DFS and ACF are Alaska’s largest providers of therapeutic foster care, yet capacity in Anchorage and Mat-Su falls short. Foster Care Is Love will strengthen recruitment, increase licensing pipelines, and create more stable in-state placements for youth who need trauma-informed support.

-

Girls on the Run Southcentral Alaska

$10,000 | www.gotrsouthcentralak.org

Heart & Sole

Girls on the Run creates safe, inclusive spaces where participants move, reflect, and connect. This nonprofit project will support middle school girls from Title I schools and under served communities in the Anchorage area during a critical stage of adolescence, thanks to our United Fund. This physical, activity-based, positive youth-development program will build confidence, coping strategies, healthy relationships, and social-emotional skills with no one turned away for inability to pay.

Heart & Sole will run for 10 weeks. Girls on the Run’s trained volunteer coaches will host 75-minute sessions and oversee small teams through movement-based lessons, group discussions, and team-building activities. Beyond physical activity, participants will learn how to manage emotions, resolve conflict, set boundaries, resist peer pressure, and build support systems—skills with lasting impacts on mental health.

-

Hillcrest Children's Center

$15,000 | www.hillcrestak.org

Anchorage Childcare Sustainability Through Shared Services Initiative

Hillcrest will commission a study about using shared administrative services for a network of licensed childcare providers in Anchorage. This project explores centralizing functions to improve sustainability, reduce overhead, and support workforce development. Our United Fund allows Hillcrest and its partners to identify a cost-effective service model and pricing structure for providers. With that info, they can develop a registered apprenticeship pathway for childcare workers and administrators.

Childcare programs remain under intense strain as providers struggle to cover costs while families face unaffordable prices. Hilcrest is responding to the financial instability and workforce burnout, especially among administrators who juggle staffs’ needs with payroll, billing, compliance, and licensing demands. This study provides data to shape a scalable program that strengthens licensed childcare access and supports providers.

-

Kids' Corps, Inc.

$15,000 | www.kcialaska.org

Anchorage Childcare Access Partnership

Kids’ Corps will renovate 9,578 square feet of space inside an Anchorage School District (ASD) elementary school, thanks to our United Fund. This renovation creates a new early childhood education and childcare center, which will serve children ages 4 months to 5 years. It will include six licensed classrooms—Early Head Start, Head Start, and child care. It will have capacity for 78 children, including 17 full-day childcare slots guaranteed for ASD employees.

This project expands access to affordable, high-quality childcare while supporting Anchorage’s workforce, particularly ASD employees who struggle to secure care. Because of our United Fund, Kids’ Corps will also purchase classroom furniture that is essential for opening the new ASD childcare classroom. It allows them to outfit the room to meet early learning, licensing, and safety requirements.

-

Rural Alaska Community Action Program, Inc.

$30,000 | www.ruralcap.org

Little Haven Pre-Licensure Support

RurAL CAP will secure licensure for its childcare program and run it on-site at Safe Harbor Muldoon, thanks to our United Fund. Little Haven will provide free drop-in care for children who are living with their parents and guardians in transitional housing. Children have a safe, fun place to be while adults access services, attend appointments, and work toward stability. By addressing staffing, training, and licensure needs, RurAL CAP will move Little Haven toward long-term sustainability.

Safe Harbor Muldoon serves about 330 people each year. More than half are children, and many have never been in childcare or need extra support. RurAL CAP designed Little Haven to address childcare factors while families take steps to stabilize. By getting licensed, the program can serve children more fully, strengthen its supports, and remain free for families who are preparing to move into permanent housing.

AmeriCorps Seniors Program Expansion

RurAL CAP connects adults aged 55 and older with service opportunities through AmeriCorps Seniors. It will use our United Fund resources to extend its reach in targeted Anchorage neighborhoods. First, RurAL CAP will expand AmeriCorps Seniors’ presence by recruiting older adult volunteers to support youth and aging-Alaskan community members. Second, it will create Senior Support Groups to reduce isolation, build trust, and create pathways for intergenerational support.

The Senior Support Groups will occur five times each week. RurAL CAP will facilitate memory cafés, walking groups, craft projects, and discussion groups and will encourage participants to offer suggestions. Adults aged 55+ will strengthen their social bonds by working with RurAL CAP staff to identify their volunteer interests and match with community needs that help them, other Alaskans, and our community thrive.

-

Volunteers of America Alaska

Promoting Behavioral Health Services for Youth, Young Adults, and Families

$15,000 | www.voaak.org

VOA offers prevention, early intervention, and outpatient services as well as higher levels of behavioral health care for youth and young adults. With United Fund support, it will launch a community-wide marketing initiative to increase awareness of its behavioral health services. By expanding its communications infrastructure, VOA will highlight pathways to care and improve behavioral health access so that young people and their families can find the right level of care at the right time.

A youth-friendly continuum of care framework and culturally responsive materials will be developed by VOA. It will engage in school and community outreach, improve its website, and make referral partner toolkits. This clear, coordinated, and targeted messaging will help families, schools, healthcare providers, and community organizations understand VOA’s available services for youth and young adults before needs escalate to crisis.

-

YMCA of Alaska

Youth Enrichment Program

$15,000 | www.ymcaalaska.org

The YMCA is expanding its childcare and youth development programs in Anchorage, made possible by our United Fund. They're doing so to address the ongoing shortage of affordable childcare in Anchorage, so that youth can be nurtured during critical developmental years. This expansion will make programming year-round and keep it affordable. The YMCA will be better able to support parents and caretakers in our community while helping youth thrive during out-of-school hours.

This nonprofit estimates that it will serve hundreds of youths in Anchorage through its new summer and afterschool programs. Opportunities for physical recreation, academic support, outdoor exploration, STEM projects, and social engagement will help youth stay safe, be active, build relationships, and engage in meaningful learning. The YMCA will offer financial assistance for families with kids in kindergarten through eighth.-

Your Alaska Link reported on United Way's $250,000 community investment through grants to local nonprofits!