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Natrona Collective Health Trust

Annual Giving
$13.5M
Grant Range
$15K - $0.2M
Decision Time
3mo

Natrona Collective Health Trust

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $13.5+ million (5% of endowment annually)
  • Total Assets: $270 million endowment
  • Success Rate: Data not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Approximately 10-12 weeks from application deadline
  • Grant Range: $15,000 - $160,000 (over 2 years)
  • Geographic Focus: Natrona County, Wyoming only

Contact Details

Website: https://collectivehealthtrust.org
Phone: (307) 243-2160
Physical Address: 421 S. Center Street, Casper, WY 82601
Grant Inquiries: Samantha Smith, Senior Program Director - (307) 243-2707, [email protected]

Overview

Founded in 1977 as the Wyoming Medical Center Foundation, the Natrona Collective Health Trust transformed into Wyoming's first—and largest—health conversion foundation following Wyoming Medical Center's 2021 affiliation with Banner Health. The conversion created a $270 million private foundation dedicated exclusively to improving health and well-being in Natrona County. The Trust's mission is to "build the foundation for lifelong health among Natrona County community members by advancing the mental wellbeing of young people through trust-based philanthropy and systems change." Operating under six core principles—including centering community expertise, fostering transparency, and leaning into systemic change—the Trust is required to distribute at least 5% of its endowment annually (approximately $13.5 million) to both Banner Health and Natrona County nonprofits. The foundation emphasizes "trust-based philanthropy," which prioritizes multi-year unrestricted funding, streamlined processes, and meaningful partnerships over traditional compliance-heavy grantmaking.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

General Operating Grants (Spring and Fall cycles)

  • Amount: Up to $80,000 per year for two years (total $160,000)
  • Type: Unrestricted, multi-year general operating support
  • Application Method: Online portal with fixed spring and fall deadlines
  • Eligibility: 501(c)(3) nonprofits serving Natrona County residents (current Boost Grant recipients are not eligible)

Resource Grants (Annual cycle)

  • Amount: Varies - covers consultant costs for up to one year
  • Types:
    • Grant writing consultation to build funding capacity
    • Translation services through GLOBO partnership (350+ languages)
  • Note: Currently closed for 2025; future cycles to be announced

Boost Grants (Currently paused)

  • Amount: Previously up to $15,000 annually
  • Purpose: Internal capacity building (technology upgrades, board development, strategic planning)
  • Status: Paused pending community needs assessment; timeline for reopening not announced

Justice-Involved Participatory Grantmaking (Occasional special cycles)

  • Amount: Variable - $235,000 distributed to 8 organizations in 2024 cycle
  • Unique Feature: Grant decisions made by panel of justice-involved individuals themselves

Priority Areas

The Trust funds organizations whose work aligns with these focus areas:

  1. Early Childhood Development (Ages 0-5): Evidence-based home visitation, quality childcare, parenting education, social/emotional learning programs

  2. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Prevention: Programs addressing root causes of trauma including abuse, neglect, substance use disorders, incarceration, domestic violence, and houselessness

  3. Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs): Initiatives connecting youth to caring adults and meaningful activities, teaching life skills, providing stable relationships and sense of belonging

  4. Mental and Behavioral Health Services: Licensed counseling and therapy, suicide prevention, addiction support and treatment

  5. Advocacy: Organizations championing policies and systems that strengthen generational health and well-being for Natrona County residents

What They Don't Fund

The Trust explicitly excludes funding for:

  • Lobbying or political activities
  • Basic research
  • Single-disease focus programs
  • Capital campaigns
  • Endowments
  • Legal expenses
  • Organizations with discriminatory practices

Governance and Leadership

Executive Staff

  • Beth Worthen, CEO - Sixth-generation Wyomingite, former Executive Director of Natrona County Public Library Foundation (2008-2022), former policy analyst for Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal
  • Kylie Gibson, CFO
  • Paula Mongold, VP of Operations
  • Samantha Smith, Senior Program Director
  • Kristy Oster, Director of Community Engagement
  • Leanne Loya, Director of Programs
  • Rachel Bouzis, Director of Policy and Learning
  • Michael Romero, Masterson Place Director
  • Daniel Mwangi, Office Manager

Board of Directors

Nine members, all Natrona County residents (seven board-appointed, two appointed by Natrona County Commission):

  • Eric Nelson (Chairman), City of Casper Attorney
  • Mark Dowell, MD, Rocky Mountain Infectious Disease
  • Jennifer Gladson, The J Team Casper RE/MAX the Group
  • Abby Breaux, True Companies
  • Amanda DeDiego, PhD, University of Wyoming
  • Conrrado Saldivar, Natrona County Library
  • Melissa Knudson, MD, Children 1st Pediatrics
  • Kate Johnson, Ashton Thomas
  • JoAnn True, AB Resources LLC

Governance Philosophy

Board recruitment prioritizes "centering on community with membership representative of the diverse voices of Natrona County." The Trust emphasizes inclusive, community-based governance that values "the expertise of proximity to place and experience."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are submitted through the Trust's online grant portal (accessible via https://collectivehealthtrust.org/grantmaking/ or the SmartSimple system). The process includes:

  1. Registration: New applicants create an account; returning partners use existing login
  2. Online Application Submission: Complete application including:
    • Contact information and inclusivity statement
    • Funding request with detailed use explanation
    • Audited or board-approved financials (balance sheet and profit/loss statement)
  3. In-Person Meeting: Following submission, Trust staff schedule meetings with applicants using their assessment rubric

Decision Timeline

2026 Spring Cycle:

  • Opens: February 11
  • Closes: February 25
  • Award Notification: On or before April 29
  • Funds Dispersed: Approximately May 6

2026 Fall Cycle:

  • Opens: August 12
  • Closes: August 26
  • Award Notification: On or before October 28
  • Funds Dispersed: Approximately November 5

Total Timeline: Approximately 10-12 weeks from application deadline to notification, with funding distributed within one week of notification.

Success Rates

Specific success rate percentages are not publicly disclosed. However, recent cycles provide context:

  • Spring 2025: 27 organizations funded from undisclosed number of applicants
  • Spring 2024: 35 organizations funded (17 past recipients, 18 first-time recipients)
  • Fall 2024: 13 organizations awarded funding totaling $1.33 million
  • Justice-Involved PGM 2024: 8 organizations funded from 11 applicants (73% success rate)

The Trust notes receiving over $1 million in requests for the $235,000 Justice-Involved cycle, suggesting competitive demand.

Reapplication Policy

No explicit reapplication restrictions are documented publicly. The Trust's track record shows both:

  • Repeat funding: Many organizations receive continued support across multiple cycles
  • New partnerships: Each cycle includes significant numbers of first-time recipients (e.g., 18 of 35 in Spring 2024)

Multi-year general operating grants are awarded for two-year periods, after which organizations presumably can reapply.

Application Success Factors

Trust-Based Philanthropy Values

The Trust emphasizes its commitment to "trust-based philanthropy," which means they prioritize:

  • Learning over compliance: Assessment focused on partnership and growth rather than rigid metrics
  • Multi-year unrestricted funding: General operating support provides flexibility
  • Streamlined processes: Reduced administrative burden compared to traditional grantmaking
  • Meaningful relationships: In-person meetings and ongoing engagement with partners

Alignment with Focus Areas

Applications should demonstrate clear connection to the Trust's priority areas—particularly how the work:

  • Prevents or mitigates adverse childhood experiences
  • Promotes positive childhood experiences creating "stable, caring relationships with adults, feeling a sense of belonging, and learning coping and problem-solving skills"
  • Advances mental wellbeing of young people
  • Addresses systemic barriers to lifelong health

Community-Centered Approach

The Trust values "expertise of proximity to place and experience," meaning:

  • Organizations deeply embedded in Natrona County communities
  • Programs designed by and with the populations served
  • Engagement of underserved communities directly in decision-making
  • Evidence of understanding local context and needs

Assessment Criteria

The Trust uses a rubric that evaluates:

  • Alignment with Trust goals: Clear connection to focus areas
  • Effectiveness: Evidence of impact and sound approach
  • Grant matching capability: Financial stability (though not required to match)
  • Evidence-based practices: Use of proven approaches where appropriate
  • Service duplication: How the work complements rather than duplicates existing services
  • Reporting abilities: Capacity for reasonable accountability (not burdensome compliance)

Examples of Funded Work

Recent recipients illustrate priorities:

  • Central Wyoming Counseling Center: Intensive outpatient programs in detention center
  • Wyoming 211: Free Lyft rides to medical appointments for vulnerable populations
  • Thrive Together Initiative: Life skills education materials in detention centers
  • David Street Station: Arts and mentoring initiatives (new 2025 partner)
  • Platte River Judo: Youth sports programs (new 2025 partner)
  • Casper Family Connections: Early childhood support systems
  • Wyoming Food for Thought: Food security programs

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Geographic requirement is absolute: Only Natrona County-serving 501(c)(3) nonprofits are eligible—this is non-negotiable

  • General operating support is the primary opportunity: The Trust prefers unrestricted multi-year funding over project-specific grants, allowing organizations maximum flexibility

  • Youth mental health is the throughline: All funding areas connect to "advancing the mental wellbeing of young people"—demonstrate how your work contributes to this overarching goal

  • The Trust values relationships over paperwork: Expect in-person meetings and ongoing engagement; this is a partnership-focused funder that prioritizes connection

  • New applicants are welcomed: Recent cycles show 50%+ of recipients are first-time partners—don't be discouraged if you haven't received funding before

  • Multi-year funding provides stability: Two-year general operating grants up to $160,000 total offer significant unrestricted support for organizational sustainability

  • Competitive but transparent timeline: Clear deadlines and notification dates allow planning; 10-12 week turnaround is reasonable for this funding level

References

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