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Non-profit

First Alaskans Institute (FAI)

Website:

www.firstalaskans.org
Location:

Anchorage, AK
Tax ID:

92-0174854
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2022):

Revenue: $2,447,334
Expenses: $2,584,598
Assets: $1,754,763
Type:

Environmental advocacy group
Formation:

1991
President and CEO:

Roy Agloinga
Budget (2023):

Revenue: $2,870,082
Expenses: $2,930,304
Net Assets: $1,479,123 14

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First Alaskans Institute (FAI) is a research, leadership development, and advocacy organization that focuses on retaining Alaska Native culture and community leadership. It advocates for several left-of-center causes including anti-racism and environmental justice in support of Alaska Natives. 1

It is funded by several left-of-center organizations including the Ocean Conservancy, the First Nations Development Institute, the Windward Fund, the Tides Foundation, and the Rasmuson Foundation. 2 3

Background

First Alaskans Institute is an advocacy organization working to advance Alaska Native voices through community engagement, leadership development, and policy research and advocacy. 4 It was established in 1991 to ensure that Alaska Natives were “informed and engaged in leading decisions that shape the future.” 5 While FAI’s mission is rooted in Native cultural preservation and leadership, its advocacy often intersects with broader left-of-center causes such as anti-racism, environmental justice, and inclusive education. Its principal office is in Anchorage, with team members working across Alaska including Yakutat and Fairbanks. 1

Advocacy

The Indigenous Leadership Continuum includes several components that focus on developing leaders in the Alaskan communities who support a continuation of Native knowledge and culture. These include an annual Statewide Elders and Youth Conference and a Summer Internship Program that provides intern positions at organizations across the state. 6

The Alaska Native Policy Center is a think tank under the First Alaskans Institute. It performs research, produces resources and guides, and encourages civic engagement to support traditional Native ways of life, including civic engagement trainings and the Get Out The Native Vote campaign. The Protecting Our Ways of Life working group is a collective of tribes, Native corporations and nonprofits, tribal advocates, researchers, and other allies that advocates for Native ways of life and the retention of Native lands. It works to address environmental issues caused by the fish and game management systems. 7 8

FAI publishes the First Alaskans magazine which includes articles on Native culture and identity, leadership and advocacy, issues on land and the environment, and other issues affecting Native communities in Alaska. 9

Activities

The First Alaskans Institute engages in advocacy aligned with broader left-of-center causes such as anti-racism, environmental justice, and inclusive education. Its Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation tribunals, initially funded by the W. K. Kellogg Foundation, were formed to address “the institutional and systemic nature of racism.” 10

In June 2022, then-president Liz Medicine Crow testified at a federal oversight hearing on the traumatic experiences of federal boarding schools, advocating for a broader recognition of Native experiences and reparative justice. 11

In March 2025, the First Alaskans Institute issued a letter to the University of Alaska urging it to reverse a vote that removed the term “Alaska Native” from the Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program website in an action to remove diversity, equity and inclusion language.  FAI claims that the Alaska Native tribes are a political class rather than a racial one and are therefore exempt from any executive orders that address DEI. 12

The FAI analyzes how executive actions to freeze federal grants, loans, and funding impact Native communities and advocates for change if these orders harm Native interests. 13

Funding

The First Alaskans Institute reported net assets of almost $1.5 million in 2023. Its revenues were over $2.8 million, and expenses were over $2.9 million. 14

Donors to the FAI include the National Urban Indian Family Coalition, the Ocean Conservancy, the NDN Collective, the First Nations Development Institute, the Windward Fund, the Inatai Foundation, the Tides Foundation, the Rasmuson Foundation, and the New Venture Fund. 15 3

FAI also awards grants to organizations that support Alaska Native culture and communities. In 2023, it awarded a total of almost $225,000 to 11 organizations including the Alaska Federation of Natives, the Arctic Education Foundation, and Native villages of Afognak, Eyak, Akhiok, and Napaimute. 16

Leadership

Roy Agloinga became president and CEO of the First Alaskans Institute in January 2024. Previously, he was a program officer for the Rasmuson Foundation for over eight years. Before joining the foundation, Aploinga had several leadership roles within Alaska municipal, tribal, business, and political organizations. 17 18

Liz Medicine Crow was the FAI’s prior president and CEO for twelve years. 18 Previously, she was director of the Alaska Native Policy Center. She has a law degree from the University of Arizona and has served as a board member for several Alaska advocacy organizations including the Alaska chapter of the ACLU, Get Out The Native Vote, and Philanthropy Northwest. 19 20 She was the interim executive director of left-of-center Alaskan activist group Native People’s Action. 21

Willie Hensley is a founding member of FAI and as of 2025 was serving as board chair. Hensley grew up in northern Alaska and graduated from George Washington University with degrees in political science and economics. He was an politician serving in the Alaska House and in the Senate as a Democrat and an activist for Native land rights. He co-founded the Alaska Federation of Natives as well as the First Alaskans Institute and advocated for the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act which returned 44 million acres and provided compensation to Alaska Natives. 22 23

References

  1.  First Alaskans Institute homepage. Accessed August 7, 2025. https://www.firstalaskans.org/
  2. “We invest, connect, and convene.” Rasmuson Foundation. Accessed August 7, 2025. https://rasmuson.org/helping-alaskans/?grant_region=&grant_type=&grant_year=&grant_loc=&grant_area=&grant_org=First+Alaskans+Institute&adv_filter=&do_search=true&sub_group_by=Year+Awarded#grants-search-results
  3. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer search. Accessed August 7, 2025. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/full_text_search?form%5B%5D=IRS990ScheduleI&q=92-0174854&sort=best&submit=Apply&year%5B%5D=2021&year%5B%5D=2022&year%5B%5D=2023&year%5B%5D=2024
  4. “First Alaskans Institute.” National Urban Indian Family Coalition. Accessed August 7, 2025. https://www.nuifc.org/first-alaskans-institute
  5. First Alaskans Institute. Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990 – Part III). 2023.
  6. “Indigenous Leadership Continuum.” First Alaskans Institute. Accessed August 7, 2025. https://www.firstalaskans.org/indigenous-leadership-continuum
  7. “What is ANPC?” First Alaskans Institute. Accessed August 7, 2025. https://www.firstalaskans.org/what-is-anpc
  8. “Protecting Our Ways of Life.” First Alaskans Institute. Accessed August 7, 2025. https://www.firstalaskans.org/protecting-our-ways-of-life
  9. [1] First Alaskans Magazine. First Alaskans Institute. Accessed August 7, 2025. https://magazine.firstalaskans.org/
  10. “Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation with First Alaskans Institute.” Philanthropy Northwest. September 5, 2023. Accessed August 7, 2025. https://philanthropynw.org/news/truth-racial-healing-transformation-fai
  11. Yvonne Krumrey. President of First Alaskans Institute testifies at committee hearing on federal boarding schools.” KTOO. June 22, 2022. Accessed August 7, 2025. https://www.ktoo.org/2022/06/22/first-alaskans-institute-president-boarding-schools-hearing-senate-committee-indian-affairs/
  12. Erica Khan. “Urgent Request to Rescind UA Board of Regents vote to exclude DEI language, restore Alaska Native to the ANSEP website and Affirm Tribal Sovereignty.” First Alaskans Institute – News / Hot Topics. March 13, 2025. Accessed August 7, 2025. https://www.firstalaskans.org/urgent_request_to_rescind_ua_board_of_regents_vote_to_exclude_dei_language_restore_alaska_native_to_the_ansep_website_and_affirm_tribal_sovereignty?utm_source=Blog%20Post&utm_medium=Deegwinyaa?%20|%20What%27s%20the%20news?&utm_keyword=Urgent%20Request%20to%20Rescind%20UA%20Board%20of%20Regents%20vote%20to%20exclude%20DEI%20language,%20restore%20Alaska%20Native%20to%20the%20ANSEP%20website%E2%80%AFand%20Affirm%20Tribal%20Sovereignty
  13. Erica Khan. “Current Administration Action & Indigenous Rights: The Impact of Executive Orders on Native Communities.” First Alaskans Institute – News / Hot Topics. January 31, 2025. Accessed August 7, 2025. https://www.firstalaskans.org/current_administration_action_indigenous_rights_the_impact_of_executive_orders_on_native_communities?utm_source=Blog%20Post&utm_medium=Deegwinyaa?%20|%20What%27s%20the%20news?&utm_keyword=Current%20Administration%20Action%20&%20Indigenous%20Rights:%20The%20Impact%20of%20Executive%20Orders%20on%20Native%20Communities
  14. First Alaskans Institute. Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990 – Part I). 2023.
  15. [1] “We invest, connect, and convene.” Rasmuson Foundation. Accessed August 7, 2025. https://rasmuson.org/helping-alaskans/?grant_region=&grant_type=&grant_year=&grant_loc=&grant_area=&grant_org=First+Alaskans+Institute&adv_filter=&do_search=true&sub_group_by=Year+Awarded#grants-search-results
  16. First Alaskans Institute. Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990 – Schedule I). 2023.
  17. LinkedIn – Roy Agloinga. Accessed August 7, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/in/royagloinga99784/
  18. “First Alaskans Institute Chooses Next President/CEO.” Alaska Business. January 29, 2024. Accessed August 7, 2025. https://www.akbizmag.com/industry/alaska-native/first-alaskans-institute-chooses-next-president-ceo/
  19. [1] Natasha Lane. “Honoring La quen nay Medicine Crow’s Impact at Philanthropy Northwest.” Philanthropy Northwest. January 9, 2024. Accessed August 7, 2025. https://philanthropynw.org/news/honoring-la-quen-n-ay-medicine-crow-s-impact-philanthropy-northwest
  20. “Liz Medicine Crow.” Center for Native American Youth. Accessed August 7, 2025. https://www.cnay.org/bios/liz-medicine-crow/
  21. “Laaganaay Tsiits Git’anee.” Native Peoples Action – Leadership. Accessed August 7, 2025. https://nativepeoplesaction.org/about/staff/interim-executive-director/
  22. [1] “Iggiagruk Willie Hensley.” First Alaskans Institute. Accessed August 7, 2025. https://www.firstalaskans.org/willie_i_ia_ruk_hensley
  23. Willie Iggiagruk Hensley. “ANCSA at 50: How Alaska Natives Won the Land Claims Battle.” Alaska Magazine. October 3, 2021. Accessed August 7, 2025. https://alaskamagazine.com/authentic-alaska/culture/ancsa-at-50-how-alaska-natives-won-the-land-claims-battle/
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: March 1, 1991

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2022 Dec Form 990 $2,447,334 $2,584,598 $1,754,763 $1,071,709 Y $2,089,776 $375,718 $5,494 $257,488 PDF
    2021 Dec Form 990 $2,412,213 $1,968,966 $1,838,053 $1,117,735 Y $2,102,735 $241,451 $43 $260,979 PDF
    2020 Dec Form 990 $2,079,385 $2,072,383 $1,252,602 $975,531 Y $1,813,871 $227,369 $573 $282,266 PDF
    2019 Dec Form 990 $2,505,635 $2,610,562 $1,110,515 $840,446 Y $2,244,304 $237,243 $8,104 $245,308
    2018 Dec Form 990 $2,653,172 $2,603,674 $1,782,595 $1,407,599 Y $2,303,325 $319,030 $2,864 $241,176 PDF
    2017 Dec Form 990 $2,252,015 $2,222,850 $1,910,619 $1,585,121 N $1,087,408 $256,203 $3,831 $156,163 PDF
    2016 Dec Form 990 $2,439,563 $2,434,211 $1,430,496 $1,134,163 N $1,268,110 $247,197 $2,078 $140,000 PDF
    2015 Dec Form 990 $2,088,232 $2,338,965 $868,659 $578,824 N $720,810 $458,250 $2,296 $140,000 PDF
    2014 Dec Form 990 $1,905,595 $2,020,015 $1,061,270 $522,190 N $473,115 $291,075 $3,056 $140,000 PDF
    2013 Dec Form 990 $1,848,019 $1,863,860 $760,536 $104,945 N $498,959 $178,039 $3,277 $140,000 PDF
    2012 Dec Form 990 $2,004,914 $1,994,751 $672,337 $0 N $389,533 $355,743 $3,301 $223,120 PDF
    2011 Dec Form 990 $1,851,582 $1,580,774 $763,760 $98,323 N $715,776 $110,728 $3,390 $140,000 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    First Alaskans Institute (FAI)

    2525 C ST STE 400
    Anchorage, AK 99503-2632