Office of Children's Services

ACT Funding Process

Each year, the Alaska Children’s Trust spends a portion of the trust’s earnings to fund community based prevention programs.  Since 1988, the ACT has awarded over $3.5 million in grants across the state aimed at strengthening families, protecting children and developing healthy communities. 

Funding Priorities

Historically, the ACT has funded both primary and secondary prevention programs.  Primary prevention is defined as those services and programs that positively influence families, parents, caretakers, and children in the general population before abuse or neglect occurs. Primary prevention services:

  • are accessible to everyone in the community;

  • are received voluntarily;

  • seek to promote positive family functioning rather than just preventing problems;

  • attempt to influence social forces which impact parents and children;

  • are culturally responsive to the program participants, building on the cultural strengths of the family and community; and

  • utilize methods which are educational and supportive, rather than clinical or treatment-oriented.

Secondary prevention services are offered to populations considered “at risk”. Child abuse or neglect may not have occurred within these families, but there is a higher probability that it may occur (or it may have occurred without clear recognition).  Secondary prevention services:

  • are offered to a predefined group of vulnerable or “at risk” individuals;

  • are received voluntarily;

  • focus on particular stressors or parenting issues for identified parents and caretakers;

  • seek to promote positive family functioning rather than just preventing problems;

  • build upon participants’ strengths and are not based on a deficit approach;

  • offer solutions oriented to specific problems experienced by the target group; and

  • are culturally responsive to the program participants, build on the cultural strengths of the family and community.

 

Who is Eligible to Apply for ACT Grants?

To be eligible for funding consideration, an applicant organization must have tax-exempt non-profit status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code, or as a public or governmental agency including tribal organizations.

Funding is not provided for:

  • Individuals

  • Endowments

  • Political campaigns or candidates

  • Lobbying activities

  • Capital, facility or equipment expenditures (unless incidental expense as part of overall budget)

  • Deficits or debt-retirement

  • Organizations that unfairly discriminate in any manner

How much funding can be received?

In the first year of a program, awards typically range between $5,000 and $50,000. Multi-year awards are offered with the following stipulations:

  • First year funding cannot exceed 75% of program costs.

  • Second year funding cannot exceed 50% of the first year program costs.

  • Third and fourth year funding cannot exceed 25% of the first year program costs.

  • As ACT funding levels decline in each continuation year, grantees are expected to increase funding provided from other sources – not reduce the level of services provided.

  • The grantee must show satisfactory completion of identified project goals and objectives for prior year.

  • The grantee must have provided timely submission of all required financial and progress reports.

  • The grantee must submit a continuation application each year.

  • Funding is available.

  • The ACT cannot provide funding to a program for more than four years.

 

How and when can my agency apply?

When new funding is available, the ACT will issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) through the Department of Health and Social Service’s online public notice system.  RFPs are typically issued in the Spring for a program implementation date of July 1.

Applicants must complete the posted grant application in its entirety and provide all requested supplemental documentation in order to be considered for funding.

You may request that your agency be notified by e-mail that an RFP has been issued by sending an e-mail to akchildrenstrust@alaska.net.