positions within the foundation. The dean of Alaskan Conservationists, Celia Hunter, was named the chairperson of the trustees. Denny Wilcher was named president, making both Wilcher and Hunter the founders of the Alaska Conservation Foundation. Other early members were expanded and appointed to advising positions of their own. By the end of 1983, The Alaska Conservation Foundation had received a total of $1,156,000 in funding. This led to them being able to disburse grants to 26 different Alaskan conservation organizations, totaling $610,000 in grants by the end of 1983. Capacity building Alaska Conservation Foundation seeks to build the influence of Alaska's conservation movement through its community capacity initiative. Organizational capacity grants promote effective operations and leadership within Alaska's conservation organizations. The new Alaska Native Fund, launched in partnership with an Alaska Native steering committee, advances Alaska Native priorities for protecting our land and sustaining our ways of life. The conservation internship program focuses on developing the next generation of conservation leaders. Investments in the Future The Alaska Conservation Foundation hires interns each Summer and appoint them to a non-profit organization. These organizations are devoted to conserving Alaskan land. ACF is directly involved in the Arctic Youth Ambassador program, a system that puts young people from different Arctic regions in a position to learn about conservation efforts. They're then able to participate in conversations and conferences that cover climate change, subsistence, and other conservatory efforts. ACF also houses staff members that represent the Northern Latitudes Partnership (NLP). The NLP collaborates with organizations from Alaska and Western Canada to find indigenous-lead solutions to issues in arctic regions. The NLP works to design resources and strategies that will mitigate the effect of floods and storms, while spreading knowledge about the perseverance of rural Alaska and different regions of Canada. Recognition ACF received a four-out-of-four star rating from Charity Navigator, an independent organization that rates non-profits. In 2010, ACF met the Better Business Bureau's 20 standards for charity accountability. The watchdog service American Institute of Philanthropy awarded ACF an "A−" rating as one of the nation's top rated environmental nonprofits. GuideStar recognizes ACF as a valued partner in the Guidestar exchange. ACF received a Green Star Award for demonstrating strong environmental and business ethics by implementing the eight Green Star Standards. References Nature conservation organizations based in the United States Organizations based in Anchorage, Alaska Environmental organizations based in Alaska Environmental organizations established in