Richard L. and Diane M. Block Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- The foundation funds arts and culture and social services organisations in Alaska, so a group working in those areas with at least five years of continuous mission work in Alaska and 501(c)(3) status fits its stated criteria; organisations principally delivering medical services or conducting medical research are excluded.
- A modest request suits it best, as half of its 177 grants to organisations were $10,000 or less and the median was $10,000, although its typical band runs from $355 to $75,000 and its largest grant was $305,000.
- Applications are made online through fixed deadlines, due by 8:00 PM AKST on the final day of the relevant window, so check the window early and contact the foundation for more information, since additional criteria may apply.
- Repeat grantees received 76% of grant dollars to organisations in the filing, so a first-time applicant should not assume a place but should still review What We Fund carefully before applying.
Overview
Richard L. and Diane M. Block Foundation is a US private foundation based in Anchorage, AK.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation supports cultural and arts organisations and social services organisations located in Alaska, providing support for their operations, capital improvements and programmes. An organisation must have carried out its stated mission in Alaska continuously for at least five years and be a qualified charitable organisation under IRS code 501(c)(3); additional criteria may apply. It does not make distributions to organisations engaged principally in medical services or medical research. It also has an Exceptional Teacher Award Fund. Organisational applicants in the cultural and arts or social services categories apply online; applications are checked for legal and foundation eligibility before board review.
Themes
- Arts and culture
- Social services
- Scholarships
- Teacher awards
Geographic Focus
Alaska.
What They Don't Fund
- Organizations engaged principally in the delivery of medical services or engaged in medical research
- Organizations that have not carried out their stated mission in Alaska for a continuous period of at least five (5) years
- Organizations that are not qualified charitable organizations under IRS code 501(c)(3)
How to apply
Organisational applicants begin with the online grant application, answer preliminary qualification questions and complete a questionnaire.
Deadlines: Applications are due by 8:00 PM AKST on the final day of the application window for the relevant cycle.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 76% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 177 grants to organisations were $10,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- An organisation must have carried out its stated mission in Alaska continuously for at least five years.
- The distributee organisation must be a qualified charitable organisation under IRS code 501(c)(3).
- Applicants should review What We Fund before applying to ensure their organisation fits one of the grant categories.
- Additional criteria may apply, and the foundation asks applicants to contact it for more information.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 13% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 76% of grant dollars went to organisations Richard L. and Diane M. Block Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 1% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 72 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $10,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Covenant House Alaska · Covey Academy Operations$300,0002024 tax year
- First Church of Christ Scientist · General & Unrestricted$167,0002024 tax year
- Mat-Su Youth Housing · General & Unrestricted$50,0002024 tax year
- Volunteers of America · Early Intervention through Expansion of Family Services and Kinship Caregiver Supports$50,0002024 tax year
- Habitat for Humanity International · General Operating Support$50,0002024 tax year
- American Red Cross Anchorage Alaska Chapter · General Operating Support$50,0002024 tax year
- Anchorage Opera Company · General Operating Support$35,0002024 tax year
- University of Alaska Foundation · Rose Berry Alaska Art Gallery Upgrades -Friends of the Museum Exhibit Fund$30,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Amanda Weitman — Trustee, Vice President
- Mead Treadwell — Trustee
- Edward McCarty — Trustee
- Juliette Green — Trustee
- Jennifer D Green — Trustee, Secretary
- Patrick Block — Trustee
- Deborah Bellange — Trustee, Treasurer, Chair
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $2,151,545 | $1,811,721 | $34,194,352 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $1,953,401 | $1,557,338 | $36,123,725 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $1,891,630 | $1,358,129 | $37,879,807 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to Richard L. and Diane M. Block Foundation?
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Applying to Richard L. and Diane M. Block Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required