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The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950 "to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense..." NSF is vital because we support basic research and people to create knowledge that transforms the future. This type of support:

• Is a primary driver of the U.S. economy.

• Enhances the nation's security.

• Advances knowledge to sustain global leadership.

With an annual budget of $8.3 billion (FY 2020), we are the funding source for approximately 24 percent of all federally supported basic research conducted by America's colleges and universities. In many fields such as mathematics, computer science and the social sciences, NSF is the major source of federal backing.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s mission is to protect human health and the environment. Generally, this is done by establishing regulations once Congress writes an environmental law. The EPA sets standards to these regulations and when a community is having trouble meeting them, they are here to help. The EPA ensures their mission by initiating grants for a variety of projects. At the YRITWC, EPA helps fund our Indian Governmental Assistance Program (IGAP) and Brownfields Program.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development is dedicated to helping communities in rural America. In a single year, they administer $38 billion in loans and grants to help rural communities with a variety of different programs. Here at the YRITWC, USDA Rural Development funds our Solid Waste Management Program and our Drinking Water Improvement Program. Both of these projects directly relate to one another and have both positively impacted our watershed communities.

The Rasmuson Foundation is dedicated to helping Alaskans through a wide range of grants to nonprofits. The Rasmuson Foundations philosophy is similar with YRITWC by “helps Alaskan’s help themselves and embraces diversity.” Since the Foundation’s birth in 1995, they have given out $285,000,000 in charitable donations. Fortunately, YRITWC up to date office technology is among one of their gracious donations.

Each fiscal year, Administration for Native Americans has a budget of nearly $50 million to administer grants to Native Americans for technical assistance, trainings, and other finical assistance. ANA’s goal is to do short term funding in order to reduce long term dependency on public assistance. Each funding project is specific to the needs of community’s needs. YRITWC greatly benefits from ANA due to the funding for our Science Department. Because ANA’s philosophy is so promote long term, positive change with in communities, our Science Department directly improves the health of communities through water quality testing.

Alaska Conservation Foundation has awarded over $49 million in grants to hundreds of individuals and organization who strive to protect Alaska’s natural beauty and resources. Not only does ACF help the organization fund environmental projects, they are responsible for paying for individuals to complete their internship at YRITWC. We have had the pleasure of hosting some excellent interns over the years thanks to ACF.

Honor the Earth is dedicated to preserving the Native American way of life by raising awareness about environmental issues through financial support to organizations. At YRITWC, Honor the Earth funds our Fish Passage Program, an ongoing project researching the natural and human caused fish routes in rural Alaska.

Lannan Foundation supports YRITWC's Mining Program. In this program, we gather community input about mining activities in their community. A goal of this program is to encourage participation between mining companies and community members. 

The Bureau of Indian Affairs’ mission is to enhance the quality of life, to promote economic opportunity, and to carry out the responsibility to protect and improve the trust assets of American Indians, Indian tribes and Alaska Natives. At YRITWC, the BIA funds our program directed around climate change resiliency. This includes a resiliency workshop, weather station in the Koyukuk region, and erosion monitoring. This program also supports our existing Active Layer Network (ALN) project. 

The Charlotte Martin Foundation is a private, independent foundation dedicated to enriching the lives of youth and preserving and protecting wildlife and habitat. This foundation is funding our youth education program. Within this program, education kits will be created by YRITWC staff and sent out to villages.