It’s official! I’ve had a little over a year to settle into my role as President & CEO at the Wyoming Community Foundation (WYCF). Having smart thoughtful board members and an extremely capable staff makes all the difference, as do all of you. I cannot thank you enough for your support and feel grateful to do this work alongside dedicated donors, partners, grantees, and many volunteers.
Because of your support, this first year has offered amazing opportunities for growth across Wyoming. Continue reading to see how you have made a difference in causes that matter.
In 2022 WYCF made more than 900 grants in communities across the state, distributing over $7 million to nonprofits that advance education, wildlife, arts, and housing; and that build economic opportunities for Wyoming citizens. Read about some of our recent grantees in our Fall 2022 Newsletter, and keep an eye out here for our 2022 Annual Report dropping soon!
Thank you for strengthening Wyoming communities in good times and in bad.
– Samin Dadelahi
Rapid Fire recap of WYCF over 1 year
WYCF and our priority funds, the Wyoming Afterschool Alliance (WYAA), the Wyoming Wildlife Foundation (WWF), and the Wyoming Women’s Foundation (WYWF), are dedicated to building a better Wyoming through comprehensive resources, programs, and advocacy that will help Wyoming thrive now and into the future.
In fall of 2022, our biennial Wyoming Counts Kids Data Book was released. Developed as part of our partnership with the Annie E Casey Foundation, the book presents data on the well-being of children and families at a county-by-county level. The book also includes data features focusing on programs and issues that offer opportunities in the Equality State. This research is critical to developing long-term solutions for issues such as food insecurity, medical coverage, and childcare deserts.
Over the past twelve months, WYAA has elevated the conversations about youth voice and mental health through programs and meetings with people invested in Wyoming’s youth. One effort was The Wyoming Young Entrepreneur Pitch Challenge, which is a contest for young people across the state to promote their ideas for goods and services that will benefit communities and/or the environment. They have also prioritized partnerships that bring attention to the youth mental health crisis through meetings like Design to Grow, Open Minds Open Spaces, and the Governor’s Business Forum. WYAA hopes youth voices will continue to flourish through the many partnerships they are involved in.
Earlier this year, WYWF had a huge win in the 2023 Legislative Session with the passing of HB04: Medicaid twelve month postpartum coverage! To say that it was a smooth-sailing path to victory for HB04 would be a minimization of the hard work done by a dozen organizations and lobbyists, and many constituents and legislators. It is a testament to the hard work from all over the state that this bill passed, despite the many attempts to quash it. But what a victory to have Governor Gordon sign it into law in March. This law extends postpartum Medicaid coverage from 90 days to 12 months and is expected to help between 1,000 and 2,000 Wyoming mothers – that’s around ⅓ of new mothers in Wyoming, all low-income.
Event highlights of the past 12 months
WYCF’s Wyoming Nonprofit Conference (WNC) 2022 was a huge success. With nearly 250 participants, not including the 75 speakers, 9 exhibitors, or 12 sponsors, we think it was the best WNC to date! It was a wonderful opportunity for people to come together from around Wyoming to network and share ideas with one another.
Thank you to you for joining us at the conference to connect, share, and celebrate the amazing work happening throughout Wyoming.
Governor Mark Gordon proclaimed Thursday, October 20, 2022 as Lights On Afterschool Day in Wyoming to illuminate the importance of afterschool in the Equality State. Organized by the Afterschool Alliance, Lights On Afterschool is the only national rally for afterschool programs.
By celebrating Lights On Afterschool, Wyoming commits to engaging families, schools and community partners in advancing the welfare of our children.
WYWF held its 10th Annual Wyoming Women’s Antelope Hunt on October 6–9, 2022 at the Ranch at Ucross. The four-day event fosters mentoring opportunities and camaraderie among women, and over the past ten years has become a highly anticipated event. The event drew a record 46 hunters from 13 states, 16 of whom hunted for the first time.
It is always an inspiring weekend and we look forward to seeing it continue to grow in the next 10 years!