The Role of Oil and Gas
in Alaska's Economy
IV. Charitable Contributions
Figure 8: Regional Distribution of Charitable Contributions by Primary Companies ($ millions)
The oil and gas industry fuels multiple aspects of the Alaska economy. Its impacts come not only in the form of direct wages and as a driver of indirect services; the industry also actively and directly contributes to the well being of Alaska as a community through its charitable spending. The primary companies make a substantial impact to Alaska via direct charitable contributions through charities representing a wide scope of interests, from the arts to education, to social and community groups. In 2007, the charitable contributions from the primary companies totaled in excess of $28 million.
While almost 30% of charitable spending goes to organizations, events and activities that originate in Anchorage, the pie chart below shows that over $14 million benefits Alaska at a statewide level.
Table 48: Regional Distribution of Charitable Contributions
Region |
Amount |
Percent of Total |
Anchorage |
$8,562,612 |
30.5 % |
Fairbanks |
$2,206,968 |
7.9 % |
Kenai |
$994,078 |
3.5 % |
Mat-Su |
$400,317 |
1.4 % |
North Slope |
$1,144,715 |
4.1 % |
Valdez |
$$342,768 |
1.2 % |
Statewide Organizations |
$14,048,503 |
50.0 % |
Other Statewide (outside other designated area) |
$380,230 |
1.4 % |
Total |
$28,080,190 |
100% |
The nonprofit sector in Alaska is big; in 2004 there were 2,602 registered 501(c)(3) charitable organizations (Alaska has more nonprofit organizations per capita than any other state). Of these, roughly half – or 1,364 – filed an informational tax return. These filing non-profits had revenue in 2004 of $2.2 billion.
Total giving to other charitable organizations from all Alaska-based foundations totaled $21.6 million in 2004.[1] Because foundation giving in Alaska continues to increase, this figure provides a relative gauge rather than a current total.
The $28 million in charitable contributions described in Table 48 represents the spending of the primary companies. It does not include charitable spending of individual oil and gas workers or charitable contributions made by support activity businesses throughout the state.
[1] The Foraker Group Report on the Alaska Nonprofit Economy, by Scott Goldsmith at the Institute for Social and Economic Research, December 2006