Opportunities Grants
Sections
Opportunities Grants fund solutions to complex community problems and emphasize strategic partnerships.
Apply
The Catalyst Grants application will re-open in fall 2025.
Questions? Email grants@cfjacksonhole.org
Grant Program Details
- Applicant must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, government entity, or other IRS-recognized charitable organization serving Teton County, Wyoming OR be fiscally-sponsored by an entity that meets these requirements
- Grant funds must be used exclusively in Teton County, Wyoming (note: in select situations, grants may benefit people working in Teton County, Wyoming who live in neighboring communities)
- Funds may not be used for debt retirement or religious or political activities
- Grant funds may not be used for work that has already been completed
$300,000 is available for Opportunities Grants in 2024. We expect a total applicant pool request that exceeds what is available to grant, making the application process highly competitive. There is no specified minimum/maximum request; examples of past Opportunities Grants (see below) offer a ballpark range.
Criteria
Proposed work must have 2 of 3 of the following characteristics:
- Addresses a broad, cross-cutting community need or issue
- Significantly benefits a disproportionately affected group
- Meaningfully expands organizational capacity and benefits the community
Preferences and Considerations
While not required, strong applications will meet additional considerations:
- CFJH Strategic Plan and Values alignment
- Compelling strategy for change and innovation, supported by data if available
- Strong likelihood of yielding meaningful impact
- Strategic partnerships
- Diversity of funding sources and a plan for ongoing funding
- Applicant has organizational capacity, stability, responsible leadership, and a track record of programmatic success
Email grants@cfjacksonhole.org with questions about a proposal concept you’re considering. We can help you determine if Opportunities Grants is the best fit.
- High-impact programming focused on significant community issues (large numbers or disproportionately affected populations served)
- Capital expenditures for organizations effectively addressing critical community needs (expenditure must have broad and enduring community benefit, or significantly support populations in need)
- Implementation of strategic planning (not strategic planning itself – think “Series B” funding)
- Nonprofit mergers that will increase efficiency and impact in critical service areas
This is not a comprehensive list. The Community Foundation welcomes proposals that bring innovative solutions to complex community issues.
While Opportunities Grants is a newly-formalized program, several grants of this ilk have been awarded in the past. Examples include:
- $75,000 for a collaborative operations plan to ensure a sustainable home for local arts organizations. Grantee: Center for the Arts, in partnership with 20 resident organizations
- $40,000 to address emergent water quality needs in Hoback Junction. Grantee: Protect Our Water JH, in partnership with the residents of Hoback Junction
- $47,000 to support collaborative efforts to develop an integrated food access systems model. Grantee: One22 Resource Center, in partnership with Hole Food Rescue, Fund for Public Education, Slow Food in the Tetons, and the Food Access Collaborators working group
- $75,000 for the development of a Climate Dashboard to collect, synthesize, and display regional specific climate and resilience data with the goal of streamlining data-driven decision making and monitoring progress. Grantee: Legacy Works Group, in partnership with the 13 cross-sector members of the Teton Climate Action Planning Group
- $10,000 to support Systems of Conservation in developing ecosystem stewardship strategies in the face of immense environmental pressures. Grantee: JH Conservation Alliance, in collaboration with 20+ member network of environmental and conservation organizations
- $80,000 to develop comprehensive infrastructure to address a dramatic rise in domestic violence service needs, both during and since the pandemic. Grantee: Community Safety Network
- $15,000 to support Bridger-Teton National Forest NEPA planning process, which will have a generational impact on forest service access and use. Grantee: Wyoming Wildlife Association, in collaboration with a working group of 20+ conservation organizations
The next Catalyst Grants cycle will take place in fall 2025. Dates forthcoming summer 2025.
Grantees are asked to submit a report after completion of their grant-funded work. Reporting dates are customized to individual project timelines. The Grant Report form focuses on impact, evaluation strategies, and budget alignment.
Grantees must adhere to the Foundation’s Communication Requirements For Grant Recipients.
Opportunities Grants are funded by generous private donors in support of catalytic community advancements. A portion of funding also comes from Old Bill’s CoChallengers.
- Astoria Park Conservancy | Welcome Plaza | $45,000
- Camina Conmigo, fiscally sponsored by Coombs Outdoors | Camina Conmigo + Coombs Outdoors Merger | $50,000
- Friends of Pathways | Revisiting E‑Bike Regulations in our E‑bike Crazy Community | $40,000
- Grand Teton Music Festival | Preserving Dignity Through Accessibility: Enhancing Walk Festival Hall for All Audiences | $25,000
- Hoback Junction Water and Sewer District | Operating Grant | $10,000
- Hole Food Rescue | Forever Home and Sprout Hub | $50,000
- Jackson Hole Trout Unlimited | Snake River Headwaters Watershed Group: Facilitation and Public Engagement | $60,000
- Teton County Foundation for Public Health | Development and Program Implementation | $20,000