For 35 years, the Wyoming Community Foundation (WYCF) has been “connecting people who care with causes that matter to build a better Wyoming.” With over $100 million granted to charitable causes and support provided to nonprofit agency fund holders across the state, their positive impact on local communities is undeniable. WYCF proudly serves donors by “accepting a wide range of gifts”—from cash and securities to real estate and mineral interests—and is governed by a volunteer board that pledges to use those funds to “best support Wyoming.”
A community foundation is a public charity that works to improve the quality of life in a specific geographic area by pooling donations, managing assets, and making grants to local nonprofits. Community foundations receive donations, manage these assets, and then make grants to local nonprofits that align with their mission. They typically address a wide range of community needs, including education, healthcare, arts and culture, social services, and the environment. Community foundations often act as leaders and conveners, bringing together various stakeholders to address community issues and foster collaboration. By managing endowments, community foundations provide sustainable support for local initiatives and nonprofits.
This mission has historically made WYCF a trusted partner for a wide range of individuals, families, and organizations across the political spectrum. Their reputation has been built on neutrality, community impact, and donor trust—qualities that can be quickly undermined if political involvement overshadows their charitable purpose. Donors who give in good faith, believing their contributions will support broad community needs, may be surprised to learn that a specific foundation arm is actively shaping policy and taking sides on contentious issues. For a foundation that depends on long-term relationships with Wyoming residents and donors, maintaining credibility and public confidence is crucial.
With this in mind, Honor Wyoming reviewed over 850 grants WYCF has given out over the past few years and found the balance between civic, nonprofit, and general philanthropy grantees to be very reflective of the demographics of Wyoming residents. Especially when it came to grants to organizations that have political or cultural bias, the grantee list was very representative of the state’s population.
You can see the full grantee list here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OEuHeCpAqbc9FeBDJ8eATyPs-xl7LtaA/view?usp=sharing
While WYCF remains active in many positive community efforts, a surprising development emerged: their Wyoming Women’s Foundation is now actively engaged in legislative advocacy, taking positions that oppose widely supported conservative legislation in our state.
Just this past session, they opposed bills related to homeschool freedom, property tax reform, defining what a woman is, and ending DEI initiatives and many more.
SF103 – Terminating DEI Funding
SF69 Homeowner Property Tax Exemption
HB282 Property Tax Acquisition Value
HB96 Prohibiting Mask, Vaccinevaccine and Testing Discrimination
HB159 Protecting Water from Chemical Abortion Waste
HB156 Proof of Voter Residency Registration Quantification
HB147 Prohibition of Institutional Discrimination (DEI)
These aren’t fringe issues—they’re policies with broad grassroots support across Wyoming.
❓Why is a respected community foundation diving into partisan politics?
❓Why is their political advocacy tilted so heavily toward progressive causes in one of the most conservative states in America?
Take the poll and let us know: Should the Wyoming Community Foundation be involved in divisive political advocacy?