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Wyoming Community Foundation

Annual Giving
$13.0M
Grant Range
$1K - $0.0M
Decision Time
3mo

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $13 million (2024)
  • Assets: $214.4 million
  • Decision Time: 12 weeks
  • Grant Range: $1,000 - $25,000 (most grants $1,000-$10,000)
  • Geographic Focus: Statewide Wyoming
  • Application Cycles: Two per year (March 15 and September 15 deadlines)

Contact Details

Website: https://wycf.org/

Address: 1472 N. 5th Street, Suite 201, Laramie, WY 82072

Phone: 307-721-8300

Email: wcf@wycf.org

Programs Associate: Cassandra Hunter - cassandra@wycf.org

Director of Programs: Allison Anderson - allison@wycf.org (307-721-8300)

Overview

Established in 1989, the Wyoming Community Foundation (WYCF) is a statewide community foundation that connects people who care with causes that matter to build a better Wyoming. With assets of $214.4 million and annual giving of $13 million in 2024 (up from $8 million in 2023), WYCF has granted more than $120 million to charitable causes over its 35-year history. The foundation is governed by a statewide board of directors and operates through both competitive grant cycles and various specialized programs. WYCF is most recognized for their competitive grant cycles and serves as one of more than 700 community foundations in the country. The foundation accepts a wide range of gifts and works with donors and communities in every corner of Wyoming.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Competitive Grant Cycles: $1,000 - $10,000 (typical range)

  • Two annual cycles with deadlines March 15 and September 15
  • Applications open 12 weeks prior (December 15 for spring, June 15 for fall)
  • Online application process with rolling entry (no timeout)

Wyoming Intertie Community Investment Program (WICIP): Up to $25,000

  • Serves Albany, Carbon, and Platte Counties
  • Two cycles per year (mid-December and mid-June deadlines)
  • Established in 2023 by Grid United to support communities during transmission line development

Childcare Provider Start-Up Grant: Up to $20,000

  • Supports new/start-up childcare businesses (open one year or less) and established businesses increasing enrollment capacity
  • Application period: January 2 - March 1 annually
  • Must be licensed, working toward licensure, or accept childcare subsidies

Wyoming Women's Foundation (WYWF): Various amounts

  • Priority fund of WYCF focused on economic self-sufficiency for women and opportunities for girls
  • Application period: March 15 - May 15, decisions by August 15
  • Three funding priorities: Income and Asset Development, Mentoring and Leadership, Systems Change

Local Board Grants: Various amounts

  • Six local boards serving specific geographic areas (Casper Area, Dubois/Crowheart, Evanston Area, Sheridan-Johnson, Sublette, Sweetwater)
  • Total of 128 local grants worth $1,067,862 awarded in 2024

Priority Areas

WYCF accepts applications in five broad categories:

  • Arts and Culture
  • Health and Human Services
  • Education
  • Environment and Conservation
  • Civic and Community Building

WYCF gives priority to nonprofit organizations that:

  • Address an identified community need and work to create a long-term solution
  • Partner with other nonprofits or programs to enhance services without duplication
  • Leverage dollars received from WYCF to obtain additional or future funding

What They Don't Fund

Ineligible:

  • Direct lobbying activities
  • Direct funding to individuals (except through scholarship programs)

Lowest Priority (rarely funded):

  • Block grants
  • Capital campaigns
  • Annual campaigns
  • Debt retirement
  • One-time special events
  • Governmental programs
  • Capital requests (applicants should contact WYCF prior to applying)

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

  • Connie Brezik, Chair (Casper)
  • Steve Reimann, Co-Chair (Buffalo)
  • Len Carlman, Secretary (Wilson)
  • Rob Boysen, Treasurer (Cody)
  • Randy Bruns (Cheyenne)
  • Kellie Clausen (Douglas)
  • Matt Ebzery (Sheridan)
  • Brynn Hirschman (Laramie)
  • Ken Konicek (Pinedale)
  • Patti Roser (Moose)
  • Lee Ann Stephenson (Riverside)
  • Glenda Thomas (Casper)
  • Kathy Tomassi (Evanston)
  • Susie von Ahrens (Rock Springs)
  • Kent Richins, Ex-Officio (Worland)

Senior Leadership

  • Samin Dadelahi, President & CEO
  • Sarah Chapman, Chief Operating Officer
  • Misty Gehle, Chief Financial Officer
  • Allison Anderson, Director of Programs
  • Rachel Bailey, Director of Philanthropy
  • Kathleen Chick, Director of Communications
  • Rebekah Smith Hazelton, Director, Wyoming Women's Foundation

Key Program Staff

  • Cassandra Hunter, Programs Associate
  • Ben Kinion, Scholarships & Grants Coordinator
  • Zachary Johnson, Programs Coordinator
  • Charlie Manganiello, Associate Director of Philanthropy
  • Sal Madrigal, Associate Director of Donor Stewardship
  • Micah Richardson, Associate Director of Policy - WYWF

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are submitted online through the WYCF website at wycf.org/grants. Before applying:

  1. Review the Online Application Instructions at wycf.org/application-instructions/
  2. Visit the Available Grants page to view current opportunities
  3. No need to apply to specific funds - WYCF program staff will direct applications to appropriate sources

Application Portal Features:

  • No time limit on data entry (will not "time out")
  • Save function allows completion over multiple sessions
  • Do not use formatting (no bullet points, tabs, or double spacing)
  • Use only numbers in numerical fields (no commas or $ signs)

Eligibility:

  • Nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status and in good standing with the IRS
  • Other exempt organizations and public institutions if the purpose falls under IRS definition of charitable
  • Organizations must benefit Wyoming

Decision Timeline

Competitive Grant Cycles:

  • Applications open 12 weeks before deadline
  • Grant cycle takes 12 weeks from submission to notification
  • March 15 deadline: decisions by June 15
  • September 15 deadline: decisions by December 15

Review Process:

  1. Program staff review for eligibility and completeness
  2. Applications matched with appropriate advisory committees and/or donor advisors
  3. Committee review and funding recommendations
  4. Final approval by WYCF Board of Directors

Funding Outcomes: Organizations may receive full funding, partial funding, or be denied funding. Additional conditions may be attached to funding approval.

Success Rates

Specific success rate data is not publicly available. However, WYCF distributes significant funding annually - in 2024, they awarded 115 grants totaling over $13 million across Wyoming.

Reapplication Policy

A grantee shall limit their application to one time per year based on the submission date, unless granted permission otherwise. For example, a grantee submitting in March 2023 and receiving funds in June 2023 may not reapply until March 2024.

Important: A final report must be submitted within 12 months prior to submitting a new grant request.

Note: WYCF accepts one application per organization for any given grant deadline.

Application Success Factors

WYCF emphasizes that the most competitive grant requests address important needs in the community and/or increase the capacity of organizations to carry out their mission.

SMART Guidelines

WYCF recommends keeping SMART guidelines in mind when completing applications:

  • Specific: Who, what, where, when, and why? What does the organization hope to accomplish with the funding?
  • Measurable: How much? How many? What will change as a result? How will you know you have been successful?
  • Attainable: Do you have the staff, board, financing and/or other resources to accomplish your goal?
  • Report: Is the expected result realistic and is there a plan to communicate the result?

What Makes Applications Stand Out

Priority factors:

  • Addresses an identified community need with a long-term solution
  • Demonstrates collaboration with other nonprofits to enhance services without duplication
  • Shows ability to leverage WYCF dollars to obtain additional or future funding
  • Multiple funding partners
  • Clear, well-written proposal with demonstrable impact
  • Strong organizational capacity

Application Support: WYCF offers dedicated staff support to help navigate the grant application process. They also provide a "Grantwriting 101 Webinar" available on their website for applicants seeking guidance.

Recent Grant Examples

Fairview Box H Park: Received funding to complete a new playground in Northern Lincoln County, addressing needs of young families in an area with limited recreation facilities.

Wyoming Women's Business Center: Received funding to address mental health disparities for women in Wyoming through a pilot project that expands business counseling to include mental health counseling through a licensed professional.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Follow the SMART framework: Applications should be specific, measurable, attainable, and include clear reporting plans - WYCF explicitly recommends this approach
  • Emphasize collaboration: WYCF prioritizes organizations that partner with others to enhance services without duplication
  • Demonstrate leverage: Show how WYCF funding will help secure additional resources or create sustainable long-term impact
  • Most grants are modest: The typical range is $1,000-$10,000, so frame requests accordingly unless applying to specialized programs like WICIP (up to $25,000) or Childcare Start-Up (up to $20,000)
  • Avoid capital requests: Capital campaigns, debt retirement, and one-time events are WYCF's lowest priorities - contact staff before applying for capital needs
  • Use available support: WYCF staff actively support applicants - take advantage of their Grantwriting 101 Webinar and contact Programs Associate Cassandra Hunter with questions
  • Plan for annual timing: With a one-year waiting period between applications, time your requests strategically based on project needs and organizational capacity

References

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