Alaska Conservation Foundation

Founded in 1980, the Alaska Conservation Foundation is the only public foundation solely dedicated to conservation in Alaska, connecting thousands of committed donors and businesses worldwide with more than a hundred grassroots conservation organizations in Alaska.

Alaska Conservation Foundation serves as funder and supportive resource for a diverse community of nonprofits working to protect and wisely manage Alaska’s natural resources. Over the last four decades, Alaska Conservation Foundation has awarded more than $52 million in grants to hundreds of Alaskan organizations and individuals. Through strategic funding, Alaska Conservation Foundation supports Alaska’s most critical issues, fosters problem-solving and innovation, and protects Alaska’s incredible yet vulnerable ecosystems, communities and economies.

Michael Barber, Executive Director

Michael started as a Program Officer at Alaska Conservation Foundation in 2013; he now serves as Executive Director. His professional career in conservation began at the Municipality of Anchorage as the LED Lighting Project manager, a project that saved the city millions of dollars and reduced energy consumption by 60%.

Prior to joining Alaska Conservation Foundation, Michael co-founded an energy efficiency development company to engage utilities, cities, and military facilities in large-scale efficiency retrofits. As a research economist for renewable energy projects, he applied his energy efficiency experience across rural Alaska. Michael also managed the complex merger of Alaska Center for the Environment, Alaska Conservation Alliance and Voters and Alaska Youth for Environmental Action, a project supported by Alaska Conservation Foundation. Prior to that, he served as Board Treasurer for Alaska Conservation Alliance.

Born in Anchorage, Michael is a fourth-generation Alaskan. He received his undergraduate degree from St. John’s College in Santa Fe, and his MBA in Sustainable Management from the Presidio School of Management in San Francisco. He is an avid winter sports enthusiast and musician.