GCI Suicide Prevention Fund

Alaska's suicide rate is more than twice the national average — and even higher in rural areas. GCI is committed to doing something about it.

A collage of pictures showcasing GCI Gives community outreach related to suicide prevention

988: Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

As of 2022, all Americans can dial 988, the mental health version of 911. The other lifeline phone number (1-800-273-8255) is still available.

The application window is open May 1 – June 15 each year.

The 2026-2027 application window is closed.

About the GCI Suicide Prevention Fund grant application

Preventing suicide starts with making meaningful connections. Our nonprofit partners create life-saving suicide prevention programs that promote mental wellness through strengthened community and personal connections.

Each year, we provide $100,000 in grants administered by the Alaska Community Foundation. Through our grant funding, we strive to build a stronger, more resilient future for all Alaskans.

Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofit or equivalent organizations located in the state of Alaska. Equivalent organizations may include tribes, schools, churches, local government agencies, and programs.

Eligible projects: Preference will be given to projects that:

  1. Empower Alaskans to work together to promote community wellness.
  2. Demonstrate measurable results, accountability, cultural sensitivity, and unify communities.

  3. Include an element of suicide prevention training in the project plan.

    Applicants can reference the Resources section below for free training programs.

  4. Impact communities that might not have easy access to suicide prevention support programs.



Application Criteria

Application will be evaluated on the following criteria:

View the full grant application guidelines

Mission

Organizations or projects focused on advancing suicide prevention and awareness.

Resources for Suicide Prevention Training

Applicants are encouraged to include suicide prevention training in their projects. Below are training programs to support this requirement. They are offered free of charge by the Alaska Division of Behavioral Health.

UAA Center for Human Development Training
Available programs include:

  • Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS)
  • CAMS4Teens
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Suicide Prevention
  • QPR Institute Training: Question, Persuiade, and Refer (QPR)
  • Be Sensitive, Be Brave

Assisting and Managing Suicide Risk (AMSR)
Training tailored for direct staff providing inpatient and outpatient care.

  • Format: Virtual or in-person (In-person only available in Anchorage)
  • Contact: Mya Robinson at mya.robinson@alaska.gov to request a free enrollment coupon code.

Lethal Means Reduction
Focused on collaborating with families to create safer environments for students at risk of suicide.

Connect Program
A community-based intervention program available upon request. Options include:

  • Connect Online Training: Specialized curricula designed for mental health providers, healthcare providers, school staff, and community members
  • Connect Youth Leaders: A youth-led training initiative tailored for high school audiences
  • Building a Safety Net: A two-day interactive training designed to develop a community-wide suicide prevention plan using national best practices
  • Developing a community Suicide Postvention Plan: Participants collaborate to create a comprehensive community response plan during this two-day session
  • Contact for all Connect trainings: Sheli DeLaney at sheli.delaney@alaska.gov

Suggested Suicide Prevention Programs and Resources

Want to make a difference but unsure what kind of program to implement? Below is a list of evidence-based programs that have proven to be successful in Alaska. Applicants can use these as inspiration and include program details in their application.

Sources of Strength

This program has been used successfully by past fund recipients and offers a variety of programs tailored to different audiences, including:

  • Elementary, middle school, and high school programs
  • Community-based initiatives
  • Staff wellness training

If you're interested in learning more about program options or have questions about costs, contact Sources of Strength to discuss the best fit for your community. Mention your organization is interested in applying for the GCI Suicide Prevention Fund.

AK-ECHO Program

Uses technology to expand access to expert knowledge and best practices in health care across Alaska, including suicide prevention. Learn more or join virtual learning communities through the program's website.

Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC)

Provides resources specifically for Alaska Native communities, including:

  • A store order form for suicide prevention materials tailored to Alaska communities
  • Information and request forms for various training and education opportunities

Download list of local and national suicide intervention resources (PDF)

Download information on 988 Careline services (PDF)

Get involved

Do you want to contribute to suicide prevention in Alaska? Make a donation to the GCI Suicide Prevention Fund through the Alaska Community Foundation.

For more information or to add the the fund:

info@alaskacf.org | (907) 334-6700 | www.alaskacf.org

GCI has awarded grants to the following organizations

  • Alaska Behavioral Health — Improving Suicide Assessment in Alaska
  • Alaska Children's Trust — Strengthening Alaska's Out-of-School Time Programs & YMHFA
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of Alaska — Connected to Care: Suicide Prevention Through Trusted Relationships
  • Cook Inlet Tribal Council — CITC's Suicide Prevention Trainer & Cultural Wellness Expansion
  • Fairbanks North Star Borough School District — Sources of Strength, Seeds of Hope: A Multi-faceted Approach to Youth Suicide Prevention
  • Maniilaq Association — Regional Community Wellness Taskforce
  • NAMI Juneau — Building Community to Support Community
  • Native Village of Kipnuk — Our Way Towards Wellness: Kipnuk Community-wide Wellness Program
  • Native Village of Selawik — Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) education
  • Norton Sound Health Corporation — Norton Sound Health Corporation Native Connections
  • Providence Alaska Foundation — Providence Alaska Behavioral Health Service Line
  • Seward Prevention Coalition — Sources of Strength
  • Aleut Community of St. Paul Island — Txin Kaangux Team Wellness Resilience
  • Annette Island School District — The Watchmen
  • Big River Public Broadcasting — Big River Futures- "Life is Your Big River. Let's Go!"
  • Fairbanks North Star Borough School District — Sources of Strength
  • Gold Star Peak, Inc. — A project connecting veterans and their families with nature through outdoor excursions, yoga, and self-care.
  • Kawerak, Inc. — Bering Strait Suicide Prevention Project
  • Kenai Peninsula Borough School District — Building Students Strengths- SEL to support Suicide Preventions Initiatives across KPBSD
  • Kuspuk School District — Kuspuk Empowers
  • Maniilaq Association — Suicide Prevention Awareness Campaign
  • NAMI Juneau — Building Community to Support Community - Increasing Suicide Prevention Resources in South Alaska
  • Native Village of Napaimute — 2025 Jacob Wise Memorial Spirit Camp
  • Norton Sound Health Corporation — NSHC Native Connections
  • STAR — Training for Crisis Line and Continued Support
  • Alaska Eating Disorders Alliance — Addressing the Blind Spot
  • Aleut Community of St Paul Island — Living Our Culture
  • Gold Star Peak, Inc. — A project connecting veterans and their families with nature through outdoor excursions, yoga, and self-care.
  • Kuspuk School District — Kuspuk Empowers
  • Maniilaq Association — Carry The Cure / Committed to Life, Village Outreach
  • NAMI Juneau — Collaborating with Remote Southeast Communities to Create Sustainable Suicide Prevention Plans
  • Native Village of Buckland — Celebration of Life
  • Native Village of Scammon Bay — Qungasvik: Toolbox, Reasons for Life
  • Norton Sound Health Corporation — NSHC Native Connections
  • Polynesian Association of Alaska, Inc. — Pacific Island Suicide Prevention Awareness
  • Railbelt Mental Health & Addictions — Cultural Community Night
  • The American Legion Jack Henry Post 1 — Esports veterans program
  • YoungLife — LyfePact Expansion
  • Alaska Children's Institute for the Performing Arts (Triumvirate Theatre)
  • Center for Safe Alaskans
  • Camp Fire Alaska
  • Challenge Alaska
  • Choosing Our Roots
  • Gold Star Peak, Inc.
  • Kenai Peninsula Borough School District
  • Maniilaq Association
  • NAMI Juneau
  • Native Village of Kwigillingok
  • Native Village of Scammon Bay
  • Southeast Regional Resource Center
  • United Service Organizations, Inc.
  • Women In Safe Homes

GCI awarded grants ranging from $2,000 to $20,000 for a total of $114,000. The following nonprofits received funding:

  • Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association, Inc.
  • American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
  • Bethel Community Services Foundation, Inc. – Healing through Music and Dance
  • Camp Fire Alaska
  • Central Council Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska – Native Youth Olympics
  • Gold Star Peak, Inc.
  • Maniilaq Association
  • Metlakatla Indian Community
  • MyHouse
  • NAMI Juneau
  • Native Village of Port Heiden
  • OPT-In Kiana
  • Soldotna Area Senior Citizens, Inc.
  • Team Red, White & Blue
  • Alaska Council of School Administrators — Share your Story, Make your Mark
  • Alaska Eating Disorders Alliance — Empowering families and health care providers to treat eating disorders and reduce suicide risk
  • Aleut Community of St. Paul Island — Re-imagining Hope Through Reunifying Community
  • Bethel Community Services Foundation, Inc. — Healing through Music and Dance (HMD)
  • Camp Fire Alaska — Camp Fire Rural Alaska Program
  • Choosing Our Roots — COR GCI Suicide Prevention Project Proposal
  • Community Connections — Sensory Room & Art Room Equipment
  • Kuspuk School District — Student Health Intervention Program (SHIP)
  • NAMI Juneau — "Why I Stay" Oral History Project
  • Native Village of Buckland — Native Village of Buckland Suicide Prevention Program
  • Native Village of Tanacross — Tanacross Wellness Team
  • Native Village of Unalakleet — Youth Cultural Education
  • OPT-In Kiana — Cultural and Leadership Development
  • Team Red, White & Blue — Supporting Veterans in Rural Alaska Through Events and Virtual Engagement
  • Women in Safe Homes — Ketchikan Peer Education Program
  • Maniilaq Association — We Need You Suicide Prevention Campaign
  • Fairbanks North Star Borough School District — Mega Mental Wellness Boost!
  • Youth Advocates of Sitka, Inc. — Sources of Strength
  • Kokhanok Village Council — Kokhanok Suicide Prevention Project
  • Kenai Peninsula Borough School District — Connecting Our Sources of Strength
  • Northwest Arctic Borough — Selawik Wellness Program
  • Perseverance Theatre, Inc. — “The Winter Bear”
  • Paws for Purple Hearts — Operation Paws for Purple Hearts, Suicide Prevention Assistance
  • Native Village of Kotzebue — Kotzebue Teen Suicide Prevention
  • Anchorage School District — First Responders: A Suicide Prevention Instructor Training Program
  • Bethel Community Services Foundation, Inc. — Healing through Music and Dance Program
  • City of Newhalen — Arrcaqalrairuten - Your Special
  • Juneau Youth Services — Suicide Prevention Coalition Efforts
  • Kenai Peninsula Borough School District — KPBSD Student Wellness - Sources of Strength
  • Maniilaq Association — PC-CARES Youth Suicide Talking Circles
  • MyHouse — STAY Community Awareness to Prevent Suicide
  • Native Village of Chuathbaluk — Chuathbaluk Suicide Prevention Program
  • Nome Community Center — safeTALK Trainings
  • Native Village of Unalakleet — Youth Cultural Project
  • AK Child & Family — Youth Suicide Prevention through Mental Wellness
  • Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC) — Native Ways of Knowing Craft Group
  • Covenant House and Southcentral Foundation — Building the DenaaYeets' program
  • Juneau Youth Services — Sources of Strength
  • Kenai Peninsula Borough School District — Sources of Strength
  • Native Village of Paimiut — Beauty from Ashes workshop
  • Native Village of Tununak — Tununak Suicide Prevention Project
  • Perseverance Theatre — Touring Production of "The Winter Bear" (Kenai and Anchorage)
  • Wellspring Revival Ministries — Sources of Strength (Fairbanks)