Career Pathways for Young People

Alaska Airlines is a well-established airline with a strong commitment to community engagement and corporate social responsibility. Among its various philanthropic initiatives, the airline operates a dedicated funding program through its corporate giving and the Alaska Airlines Foundation. One of the focus areas of its giving is supporting career pathways for young people, with a clear emphasis on fostering career readiness and personal development among youth in select communities. The purpose of this grant opportunity is to provide support to nonprofit organizations that are dedicated to creating meaningful career pathways for young people aged 11 to 24. Alaska Airlines believes that an engaging and inspiring career should be accessible to all, and through partnerships with committed nonprofits, it aims to contribute to this vision. The program supports career exploration, career-connected learning experiences, development of soft skills, critical thinking, empowerment, job training, and leadership development, with particular interest in aviation-related fields but extending to broader areas of career readiness. Funding is geographically restricted to specific counties within California, Oregon, and Washington. Eligible counties in California include Alameda, Contra Costa, Los Angeles, Marin, Napa, San Diego, San Francisco (City and County), San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, and Sonoma. In Oregon, Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington counties are eligible. In Washington, the program supports initiatives in Clark, King, Kitsap, Pierce, Snohomish, and Spokane counties. Organizations operating outside of these designated areas are not eligible to apply. The funding amounts typically range from $5,000 to $20,000 and are intended for overall program support. Nonprofits must serve young people between the ages of 11 and 24. The funds are generally granted on a one-time basis and must be used within one year of receipt. Budgets must demonstrate reasonable per-client costs, and no more than 50% of the requested funds may be allocated to general operating costs or staff salaries. Additionally, the grant should not constitute more than 10% of the organization’s total operating budget or more than 50% of the program budget. Eligibility is limited to nonprofit organizations with a current 501(c)(3) exempt status. The program does not fund political, labor, or fraternal organizations; religious organizations without a secular community designation; hospitals; medical and academic research institutions; individuals; universities; camps; conferences; individual schools, school districts, or PTAs; multi-year grants; capital campaigns; performances; sports teams and tournaments; one-time volunteer events not connected to a program curriculum; trips and travel; contests; festivals; sponsorships; advertising; event tickets; or supply drives. To apply, organizations must review the program’s guidelines and eligibility requirements and submit their applications online before the annual deadline. For 2025, the application deadline is July 31. Applicants will receive responses via email and can check their application status through their online profiles. The program does not explicitly list application questions or provide evaluation criteria, but applicants should ensure that their submissions align closely with the stated objectives and funding restrictions. The program does not provide direct contact details such as email addresses or phone numbers for inquiries, and no pre-application deadlines, Q&A opportunities, or award dates are listed. Applications open immediately and close on the specified deadline. Given that this is an annual funding opportunity, it is recurring, and applicants should plan to revisit the program guidelines for future cycles if they are not selected this year.