Explore the history of Rasmuson Foundation and Alaska.
1901
Jenny Olson arrives in Alaska.
1904
E.A. Rasmuson arrives in Alaska.
1905

E.A. and Jenny marry in Yakutat.
1909
Elmer Rasmuson is born in Yakutat.
1912
Alaska receives territorial status.
1916

Rasmuson family moves to Skagway.
1918

E.A. Rasmuson assumes leadership of Bank of Alaska, saving it from failure.
1943

Elmer Rasmuson leaves career with Arthur Andersen to become president of the Bank of Alaska.
1945

Nation's first anti-discrimination act enacted in territory of Alaska through activism of Elizabeth Peratovich. Alaskans now honor her with Elizabeth Peratrovich Day every Feb. 16.
1949
E.A. Rasmuson dies; Elmer continues bank leadership.
1959
Alaska becomes a state.
1960
Merger makes what was by then National Bank of Alaska into the state’s largest bank.
1961

Elmer Rasmuson marries Mary Louise Milligan, who goes on to serve 45 years on the Foundation board.
1964
Good Friday Earthquake devastates Southcentral Alaska.
1966
Jenny Rasmuson dies, leaves the bulk of her estate to the Foundation.
1967
Prudhoe Bay oil discovered.
1967

Ed Rasmuson joins the Rasmuson Foundation board.
1971
Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act enacted.
1976

Alaska Permanent Fund established through constitutional amendment; Elmer Rasmuson becomes first chairman.
1980

Alaska Legislature repeals state personal income tax.
1989
Exxon Valdez oil spill puts world attention on Alaska.
1995

First employee, Diane Kaplan, begins at the Foundation. Here, Diane is pictured at her fifth anniversary at the Foundation.
1997

Foundation leads first tour of Alaska for Outside grantmakers. Many elements of that first tour continue to this day.
1997

Judy Rasmuson, Cathy Rasmuson and Lile Gibbons join Rasmuson Foundation board. Cathy later becomes vice chair.
1999

On his 90th birthday, Elmer Rasmuson gives away $90 million: $50 million to the Anchorage Museum and the rest to the Foundation.
1999
Deal reached by Rasmuson family to sell National Bank of Alaska to Wells Fargo.
2000
Elmer Rasmuson dies, leaves most of his $400 million estate to the Foundation.
2000

Ed Rasmuson becomes Rasmuson Foundation board chairman.
2000
Foundation launches grant programs that remain today: Tier 1 for small awards and Tier 2 for those over $25,000.
2000

Foundation awards $700,000 to help start The Foraker Group to strengthen the nonprofit sector.
2002

Foundation helps launch Dental Health Aide Therapist program.
2003

Creation of Anchorage Community Land Trust with $5 million award to revitalize Mountain View.
2003

$2 million challenge grant for Alaska Native Science & Engineering Program building; Foundation commitments now top $14 million.
2003
Start of $20 million, 10-year Foundation initiative to put focus on arts and culture.
2004

Support for workforce, family and senior housing begins; total investment now tops $34 million.
2004
Foundation board authorizes Pre-Development Program to support sustainable right-sized capital projects.
2004

Effort to improve Anchorage parks and trails begins with $400,000 award to create Anchorage Park Foundation.
2005

First sabbaticals awarded to give nonprofit, tribal and local government leaders a break; 92 sabbatical awards to date.
2005
Initiative begins to create local affiliates of The Alaska Community Foundation and increase giving across the state; 11 local funds now exist.
2005
The first Rasmuson family members from the next generation join the board: cousins Adam Gibbons and Natasha von Imhof.
2005

Foundation board approves $900,000 to create Pick.Click.Give., an easy way for Alaskans to share their Permanent Fund dividend with nonprofits.
2006

Rasmuson Foundation and 3 other funders launch United States Artists to support outstanding creative individuals. Tlingit carver Tommy Joseph, whose work is pictured here, became one of the first USA Fellows in 2007.
2008-2009
Foundation assets plunge by 40 percent during Great Recession; grantmaking impacted.
2009
Alaska celebrates 50 years of statehood.
2009

Recover Alaska initiative begins with goal of reducing harm from alcohol.
2012
Mary Louise Rasmuson dies, leaves $42.5 million to Foundation.
2012
Rasmuson Foundation crosses threshold of $200 million in grantmaking to improve life in Alaska.
2015

Foundation turns 60, awards largest grant in its history, $12 million for Anchorage Museum's new wing.
2015

Launch of Plan4Alaska campaign to educate the public about state budget.
2015
Another next generation family member joins the board, Jay Gibbons.
2018
Foundation and 10 other funders respond to magnitude 7.1 earthquake with emergency grants to 49 nonprofits.
2019
$40 million investment into solutions for homelessness begins with Foundation and three partners.
2019
Foundation crosses threshold of $400 million in grantmaking.
2020

Foundation commits $2 million to help Alaska respond to COVID-19 pandemic.
2020
Rasmuson Foundation celebrates 65 years.