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Alaskans Receive Lowest Ever Permanent Fund Dividend Checks

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Alaskans woke up on Friday, October 6, 2025, to find their Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) checks deposited into their bank accounts. This year’s payment of $1,000 marks the lowest PFD in five years and, when adjusted for inflation, the smallest amount in the state’s history.
Despite the decrease in the PFD amount, Alaskans have not wavered in their generosity. Many continue to contribute to Pick Click Give, a program that allows residents to donate a portion of their PFD to non-profits of their choice. This year, we take a closer look at how donations through Pick Click Give are being utilized and what the impact of smaller dividends may be on this philanthropic effort.
The PFD is a unique financial program benefiting residents by sharing a portion of the state’s natural resource wealth, primarily from oil revenues. Since its inception in 1982, the program has aimed to provide residents with a financial stake in the state’s assets. However, this year’s modest payment has sparked discussions about the sustainability of the fund amid rising costs of living in Alaska.
In related news, over the years, the PFD has been a topic of contention among lawmakers, with ongoing debates about how much money should be allocated for dividends vs. funding government services. Many believe that reducing the PFD alters the way the state manages its finances, leading to potential repercussions for public services.
In our October 6 broadcast, host Dave Waldron explored these themes with guests Jennifer Cross from Pick Click Give and Daniel Bentle, Chief Philanthropy Officer at the Food Bank of Alaska. Their insights shed light on how the community is responding to these economic challenges and on the viability of charitable giving amidst a shrinking dividend.
As 2024 approaches and the economic landscape continues to shift, many Alaskans are left wondering what lies ahead for the PFD program and how it will affect their financial well-being in the future.