As an Affiliate of The Alaska Community Foundation, the Cordova Community Foundation’s (CCF) goal is to support projects that enhance the quality of life for Cordova residents, addressing immediate needs while working toward long-term improvements. We are continually listening and learning about what is important to you.
We use proceeds from our growing permanent endowment to award yearly grants to support charitable organizations and programs in Cordova. Grant awards support healthy communities by addressing a variety of needs, including: health and wellness, compassionate health care, innovative education, community enrichment, active enjoyment of the natural environment, and arts and cultural expression. We seek projects that have the potential to impact a broad range of local residents and show collaboration with other organizations in our hometown. New applicants are strongly encouraged to apply.
Please feel free to contact any member of the Advisory Board if you have a project you hope we’ll support.
2025 Competitive Cycle Opens from September 1 to October 15
Last year, in honor of the 2024 Cordova High School All-Year Reunion held in August, the focus for grant-making was programs and projects that benefit school-aged youth in Cordova. Any focus for the 2025 grant cycle will be announced here in August.
If you are a current grantee and need to complete a grant report or other follow up, please note that these are completed using the online grant system. You must complete your follow ups in order to be eligible to apply for another CCF grant.
For general questions, contact Gayle Groff, Cordova Community Foundation’s Program Manager, at ggroff@alaskacf.org. For eligibility and technical questions about the online grant system, please contact the Alaska Community Foundation’s Affiliate Program staff at affiliate@alaskacf.org or 907-334-6700.
- 2024 CCF Competitive Grant Guidelines
- 2024 CCF Competitive Grant Application
- CCF Fiscal Sponsor Letter Template
- 2024 SLF Competitive Grant Evaluation
- Online Grant Application Tutorial
- Online Grant Reporting Tutorial
2024 Grants Awarded
Cordova Community Foundation’s (CCF) 2024 competitive grant cycle awards were all given to programs that support youth in honor of the 2024 CHS All-Year Reunion. The grants, chosen by a committee consisting of seven community members and eight CCF Advisory board members, were awarded as follows:
Cordova Pounders – $3,000 for team singlets. The Cordova Pounders group has been revitalized in the past few years, and has grown significantly. The group of young wrestlers were competing in an assortment of old uniforms with different designs. The coaches felt that the team would benefit greatly by having new uniforms which would give them unity and pride in their team. The team ordered new singlets in every size so that all participants could wear a symbol of their team as they compete.
Mavis Island Project – $2,500 for Summer Camp Scholarships. Mavis Island Camp strives to provide a healthy summer camp experience to every child in Cordova who desires to attend, whether they can afford the tuition fee or not. The requests for scholarships has risen during their 3 years of operation, and this grant will help fill the need, ensuring that The Mavis Island Project will be able to provide scholarships for summer campes and continue to be able to operate without financial deficit.
PWS Science Center – $2,000 for Copper River Stewardship Program. The Copper River Stewardship Program is a hands-on and life-changing program that takes youth from Cordova throughout the region on an in-depth adventure through the Copper River Watershed. This program helps students see themselves as part of a larger watershed community as they travel and meet representatives from various fields and perspectives along the way. This grant will help with food, lodging, and scholarships for the program in the summer of 2025.
Native Village of Eyak – $1,500 for Jr/Sr Native Youth Olympics. The Native Youth Olympics program is open to ALL Cordova students who desire to learn an appreciation of Alaska Native Traditions through skill building and competition in the various events of NYO. This grant will help support travel to the state meet in Anchorage.
2023 Grants Awarded
Cordova Community Foundation’s (CCF) 2023 competitive grant cycle closed on October 13, 2023. Numerous applications from qualified, tax exempt 501(c)(3) organizations (or equivalents, such as Tribal entities, schools, and faith-based organizations) that support charitable projects and programs in Cordova were reviewed by a grant committee consisting of the seven CCF Advisory Board Members and five other members of the community. Grants were awarded as follows:
Cape St. Elias Lightkeepers Association – $2,600 for Cape St. Elias Boathouse Restoration. The Cape St. Elias Lighthouse complex is historically important to Cordova, and we enjoy the display of the original Fresnel lens that is highlighted in The Cordova Museum windows facing First Street. Phase One of the boathouse renovation project was completed in the summer of 2023 and included stripping off the old cedar siding and wrapping the building in a breathable waterproof membrane. Phase One was completed using in-kind donations of material and volunteer labor. This grant will support Phase Two of the project during the summer of 2024 and will consist of replacing/installing the historically correct cedar shingles.
Cordova Iceworm Swim Team – $1,425 for Swimmer Supplies. Iceworm Swim Team coaches expected to have around 45 swimmers sign up for swim team in 2023 and were surprised to have over 60 children wanting to participate. This taxed the already short supply of items such as swim bridges and junior kick boards. Pool rental was also going to be a large expense, if the team were to successfully host a swim meet in Cordova this year. The grant will cover the necessary supplies and pool rental for an in-town swim meet, allowing all local swimmers to participate.
Cordova 4H Music Camp – $1,000 for Increased Instrumentation. Each year around 30 younger students enjoy a week of Hawaiian Music Camp while around 70 older students participate in Bluegrass Music Camp in Cordova. The 4H Music Camp board has worked continually to expand the capacity for these camps, as they draw not only many students from Cordova, but others from all over the state and country. This grant will allow the acquisition of more violins or perhaps even a student-sized cello for use in the camps. These instruments then continue to be put into students’ hands as part of the Morning Music Program during the school year.
Cordova Jr/Sr High School Close Up Program – $1,500 for Hostel Expenses in New York City. For the last 16 years, Cordova high school students, in addition to being immersed into our national governmental structure and processes for a week at Close Up, have been able to spend 4 days experiencing the culture of New York City. For many, it is a trip of a lifetime with visits to the Statue of Liberty, the Stock Exchange, and Broadway shows, not to mention navigating the subway system and NYC eateries. Parents and students do the bulk of the fundraising for this monumental trip. This grant will help with the lodging cost during the New York City portion of the trip.
Copper River Watershed Project – $2,600 for Increased Aluminum Recycling. While CRWP has been a leader in the push for aluminum can recycling in Cordova since 2002, this latest project has the potential to double the amount of aluminum can recycling that is currently happening. CRWP acquired a baler with funding from The Rasmuson Foundation which is currently used by CRWP to bale recycle fishing web and by the City of Cordova to bale aluminum cans. The bales of aluminum are being shipped with the web, and are helping defray the cost of shipping both the cans and the web. This grant will support the purchase of signage on recycle dumpsters, the purchase of recycle containers that can be used at community events to collect cans (the Cordova Chamber of Commerce will house and loan these cans out), and the identification and removal of barriers to recycling for the high volume can producers in Cordova (i.e. bars, restaurants, fish processors).
Are you inspired by these grants that are supporting the quality of life in Cordova? Do you or your organization have a great idea that could use a little funding? Keep your eyes open for Cordova Community Foundation’s next competitive grant cycle which will open September 1st, 2025.
Please direct general questions to CCF’s Program Manager, Gayle Groff, at ggroff@alaskacf.org. Please direct eligibility and technical questions about the online grant system to The Alaska Community Foundation’s Affiliate Program Staff at affiliate@alaskacf.org or 907-334-6700.
Grantee Resources
If you are a current grantee and need to complete a grant report or other follow-up, please note that these are completed using the online grant system.
Online Grant Reporting Tutorial
2023 Cordova CF Grant Report Questions
If you are looking for resources on how best to promote or share about the Cordova CF grant your organization received, please see communication guidelines and logos below.
Communication Guidelines for Cordova CF Grantees
2019-2025 Grant Awards
| Grantee | Project Name | Amount |
| GRAND TOTAL TO DATE: | $59,235 | |
| Safe and Sober 2025 (through Cordova Family Resource Center) | Safe and Sober 2025 | $250 |
| Valdez Animal Shelter | Spay/Neuter Clinic in Cordova | $1,500 |
| Cordova Jr/Sr High School | Close Up – by CHS Class of 2002 | $1,500 |
| Cordova Arts & Pageants Ltd | 4H Music Camp – by CHS Class of 2002 | $1,500 |
| Mavis Island Project | Summer Camp Scholarships | $2,500 |
| PWS Science Center | CR Stewardship Program | $2,000 |
| Cordova Pounders | Pounders Team Singlets | $3,000 |
| Native Village of Eyak | Jr/Sr Native Youth Olympics | $1,500 |
| Cordova Little League | Mya Bingham – winner’s choice grant | $250 |
| Cordova Family Resource Center | Jhoan Natera – winner’s choice grant | $250 |
| Copper River Watershed Project | Increased Aluminum Recycling | $2,600 |
| Cordova Jr/ Sr High School | Close Up – New York City Hostel | $1,500 |
| Cordova 4H Music Camp | Increased Instruments | $1,000 |
| Cordova Iceworm Swim Team | Swimmer Supplies | $1,425 |
| Cape St. Elias Lightkeepers Association | Cape St. Elias Boathouse Restoration | $2,600 |
| Mavis Island Project (thru PWS Economic Development District) | Recreational Use Improvement | $1,700 |
| 2×2 Cancer Walk | Kay Groff – winner’s choice grant | $250 |
| Copper River Watershed Project | Shae Bowman – winner’s choice grant | $250 |
| Alaska Hummingbird Project | Banding Demonstration Equipment | $1,300 |
| Cordova 4H Music Camp | Course Expansion + | $2,000 |
| Cordova Trail and Covered Spaces | Strategic Planning | $2,000 |
| Cordova Arts & Pageants, Ltd. | Event Tent Purchase | $3,000 |
| Prince William Sound Science Center: Discovery Room | Science Education Field Trips | $3,000 |
| Copper River Watershed Project | Net Recycling | $2,860 |
| Cordova Jr/Sr High School: Art Class | Collaborative Mural | $2,000 |
| Prince William Sound Science Center | Capital Campaign | $2,250 |
| Copper River Watershed Project | Net Recycling | $2,250 |
| Salvation Army | Food Bank | $7,500 |
| Native Village of Eyak | Food Bank | $2,500 |
| Grand Igloo Foundation Inc | Winner’s choice grant | $250 |
| Salvation Army | Winner’s choice grant | $250 |
| Cordova Jr/Sr High School | Close Up | $1,000 |
| Mt. Eccles Elementary Swim Program | Youth survival suits | $1,000 |
| Cordova 4H Music Camp | Winner’s choice grant | $250 |
| The Little Chapel | Winner’s choice grant | $250 |
Photo credit: Loren Bank