Alaska's environmental movement is alive and well, at least financially. The Alaska Conservation Foundation on Monday announced a record-breaking year in terms of the money it was able to dole out to groups pursing environmental causes.

For the year ended June 30, the foundation awarded $4.1 million in grants, an amount the group says puts it among the Top 10 philanthropic institutions in the state.

"We're proud of the vital conservation work performed by groups across the state, and that we were able to bring them record amounts of support," ACF executive director Nick Hardigg said in a prepared statement.

The group said its grants helped win a key legal victory in the Pebble Mine case. Money from ACF helped Trustees for Alaska successfully pursue a case that argued against the state's contention it could issue mine exploration permits without public notice or evaluating potential harm to the public interest.

The group also gave money to groups that helped push through legislation resulting in a comprehensive energy policy that emphasizes renewable energy and makes investments in energy efficiency programs.

ACF is the only public foundation in Alaska dedicated to environmental protection. In the past year, it made 159 grants to 62 groups across the state.

ACF was founded in 1980 by well-know environmental activists Celia Hunter and Denny Wilcher. Over the past 30 years, it has made more than $33 million in grants to conservation causes, the foundation said in a press release.