Grant Requests

Grant Priorities and Requests

Grant Priorities

The Ellbogen Foundation is committed to the people of Wyoming, their overall well-being and education. The majority of our grants are identified by the Foundation, but we welcome LOIs that fit within our mission, vision and values. We receive considerably more requests for funding than we can support; there are more impactful ideas, approaches, and organizations than we have resources to fund. We respect the value of your time, and don’t want to encourage applicants to apply when there isn’t strong alignment with your funding request. Please review the following guidance that outlines our funding priorities and submit an LOI only if you align with these criteria:

• We give priority to grant activities and programs that serve all of Wyoming or in a large region of the state. We will occasionally review grants from organizations that serve in a single community or county area by invitation only.
• Education remains a top priority for the Foundation. We focus on teacher quality and meaningful learning experiences as cornerstones for academic success and strong opportunities in the workforce. We recognize that educational achievement is advanced when we consider and strengthen the home and community environments where students live and access education.
• Local and regional anti-hunger organizations are supported by grants to the Wyoming Hunger Initiative and the Food Bank of Wyoming and should not apply directly for Ellbogen Foundation grants.
• Local and regional early childhood entities are supported by grants to the Wyoming Early Childhood Outreach Network and the Wyoming Early Childhood Professional Learning Collaborative and should not apply directly for Ellbogen Foundation grants.
• Capital campaigns or building renovation costs will not be funded.
• Lobbying activities, conducting voter registration drives, or other activities to influence public elections will not be funded.

Grant Requests Details and Process

The Ellbogen Foundation requires that an electronic Letter of Inquiry be submitted before an invitation for a formal grant request is considered. Organizations will be notified shortly after the LOI submission of an invitation to put forward a formal grant request.

Formal grant requests are reviewed by the Ellbogen Foundation Board of Directors. Funding is awarded through a competitive process. You will be notified of the Board’s funding decision after scheduled meetings.

Entities that are invited to submit a formal grant request will use the following form. The grant request builds upon the information shared in the LOI to concisely and
coherently frame a need for funding and the impact that will result if funds are granted.
Grant request form

All requests must be submitted electronically to:
Mary Garland: mleg0@yahoo.com
Becca Steinhoff: ellbogenfoundation.wy@gmail.com