Best Grants for Museums in Wyoming

ConocoPhillips Charitable Investments focus on Water and Biodiversity Stewardship, promoting conservation and restoration of ecosystems. The initiative emphasizes collaboration with communities and organizations to enhance biodiversity, improve water availability, and foster innovative conservation practices. Proposals are evaluated based on their alignment with long-term conservation goals, community engagement, and innovative approaches. Eligible organizations must be recognized as tax-exempt charities or government subdivisions, while ineligible entities include those advancing political causes or engaging in discriminatory practices.

The Preschool Development Grant Birth Through Five (PDG B-5) SMART Grant aims to enhance early care and education systems in the U.S. by supporting targeted investments in technology and data analytics. This initiative, led by the Administration for Children and Families, encourages states to improve program quality, family choice, and data-driven decision-making for children from birth to five years old. The funding is designed to create measurable outcomes and strengthen coordination within the mixed-delivery system.

Project Lead The Way is offering a rolling grant opportunity for schools across the US to implement the PLTW Gateway program for the first time. With total funding of $9,100, the grant covers participation fees and training registration costs. Schools, including public, private, and charter, are encouraged to apply, particularly those serving low-income and minority majority populations. This initiative aims to enhance educational pathways in STEM for diverse student groups.

Arbor Rising Grant, established in 2010, is a NYC-based nonprofit providing unrestricted multi-year funding and capacity-building support to nonprofits focused on alleviating poverty. The grant process occurs every three years, with the next round in 2025 being invitation-only. Eligible organizations must demonstrate high potential and effective leadership, typically operating on a modest budget. Arbor Rising prioritizes applicants from the NYC metro area while expanding to cover the lower 48 US states.

Every Kindness is a Gift

Dollar Tree Gift Card Program 2026

Every Kindness is a Gift is a gift card grant program made possible through the generosity of Dollar Tree and managed by the team here at Gift Card Bank. We are a nonprofit organization that specializes in the distribution of gift cards and our mission is to improve well-being and build financial stability by supporting people through their time of need.

Through Every Kindness is a Gift, nonprofit organizations and Title I schools located in the 48 contiguous states may apply to receive a grant of Dollar Tree gift cards.

Gift cards received through these grants are meant to be distributed directly to individuals and families in need. A primary goal of the program is to give gift card recipients the dignity of choice by empowering them to shop for what they need themselves. By putting gift cards directly in the hands of our neighbors in need, we are able to increase access to essentials like food, school supplies, paper products, cleaning products, and hygiene items.

In 2026, there will be two rounds of grant distributions. In each round, we will award a number of grants between $2,500 and $10,000.

Round One is a summer distribution. Gift cards awarded in Round One will arrive in late June, while kids are on break and back-to-school is around the corner. Round Two is a holiday distribution. Gift cards awarded in Round Two will arrive in early November, as the end-of-year holidays approach.

We know that these are times of year when budgets are tight. Through these gift card grants, we hope to connect individuals and families directly to the essential resources they need during difficult months.

The EPSCoR Research Infrastructure Improvement-Focused Collaborations Program (RII-FEC) aims to enhance research capabilities in eligible jurisdictions by fostering partnerships among government, higher education, and industry. This program supports interdisciplinary teams of researchers to tackle significant challenges in STEM fields, promoting diversity and broadening participation. By integrating Minority-Serving Institutions and early-career faculty from underrepresented backgrounds, RII-FEC seeks to build sustainable STEM capacity and drive impactful discoveries across regions.

The Tribal Solar Accelerator Fund (TSAF) empowers tribal communities across the U.S. by promoting renewable energy projects and workforce development. Launched by GRID Alternatives, TSAF provides critical funding for solar initiatives, enhancing energy sovereignty and resilience. Since its inception, TSAF has integrated community participation into its projects, ensuring that tribes can access sustainable energy solutions. By prioritizing education and equity, TSAF supports a transition to a clean energy economy, aiming for a sustainable future for generations to come.

The Laura Jane Musser Fund was established by the estate of Laura Jane Musser of Little Falls, Minnesota to continue the personal philanthropy, which she practiced in her lifetime.

Environmental Initiative Program

The Laura Jane Musser Fund assists public or not-for-profit entities to initiate or implement projects that enhance the ecological integrity of publicly owned open spaces, while encouraging compatible human activities. The Fund’s goal is to promote public use of open space that improves a community’s quality of life and public health, while also ensuring the protection of healthy, viable and sustainable ecosystems by protecting or restoring habitat for a diversity of plant and animal species.

Projects must..

• Focus on protecting/restoring a sustainable ecosystem that is a defined, public open space.
• Promote public access to and use of the defined open space.
• Involve active participation of local community members, with a particular appreciation for volunteer and youth engagement and stakeholder contributions.
• Contain measurable outcomes within the first 12-18 months.
• Include a plan for the long term financial and environmental sustainability of the proposed program.

Projects during any one grant period will be eligible for either:

• implementation grants or 
• planning grants

Environmental Initiative - Implementation Grant Program

Implementation grant applications must demonstrate clear evidence of local community active participation and support.

Projects will be eligible for either planning or implementation funds during any one grant period.

VAWA SASP was created by the Violence Against Women Act of 2005 (VAWA 2005) and is the first federal funding stream solely dedicated to the provision of direct intervention and related assistance for victims of sexual assault. Overall, the purpose of SASP is to provide intervention, advocacy, accompaniment, support services, and related assistance for all adult, youth, and child victims of sexual assault, family and household members of victims and those collaterally affected by sexual assault. SASP supports efforts to help survivors heal from sexual assault trauma through direct intervention and related assistance from social service organizations, such as rape crisis centers through 24-hour sexual assault hotlines, crisis intervention, and medical and criminal justice accompaniment. SASP will support such services through the establishment, maintenance, and expansion of rape crisis centers and other programs and projects to assist those victimized by sexual assault.

VAWA STOP funds have been appropriated annually by Congress to support communities in their efforts to hire and retain criminal justice and victim service personnel that respond to crimes of domestic violence, dating violence sexual assault, and stalking as a way to develop and strengthen effective law enforcement, prosecution strategies, and victim services.

In 2005 the legislature appropriated state general funds to provide resources for subgrantees across the state to provide basic services for victims of all crime.

The Intercultural Harmony Initiative Grant, provided by the Laura Jane Musser Fund, supports collaborative projects that foster understanding and cooperation among diverse cultural groups. With funding up to $25,000 for implementation and $5,000 for planning, the initiative prioritizes projects that engage various community members, enhance intercultural communication, and demonstrate tangible benefits. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations and local governments in select states, with a focus on grassroots participation and addressing community needs.

The Rural Arts Initiative Grant Program, established by the Laura Jane Musser Fund, aims to support nonprofit arts organizations in rural communities. The program encourages access to the arts through scholarships, community engagement, and innovative activities. Priority is given to organizations located in areas with populations under 20,000, ensuring that artistic opportunities are available to both adults and children. Applications are accepted for one year of funding, with potential for up to three consecutive years.

In 1984, the Wyoming Legislature appropriated state general funds for the purpose of providing shelter, crisis intervention, and prevention education relating to family violence and sexual assault.The Wyoming Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (DV/SA) funds are primarily administered by the Wyoming Division of Victim Services (DVS), housed within the Office of the Attorney General. DVS oversees and distributes a combination of state general funds and federal grants (VOCAs, VAWAs, FVPAs) to local shelters, victim-witness programs, and advocacy organizations. 

The Safeway Foundation offers grants to nonprofit organizations in Denver, focusing on health, hunger, education, veterans, and diversity. Grants typically range from $500 to $5,000 for first-time applicants, with higher amounts available for established organizations. Eligibility requires a valid 501(c)(3) designation and a commitment to serving the local community. The Foundation does not fund individuals, political or religious organizations, or fundraising events. Applications are reviewed quarterly, with an 8-week response time.

In 2024, the Wyoming Legislature appropriated state general funds for the purpose of providing services to child victims of sexual abuse, physical abuse, and neglect. State CAC funds are awarded to eligible Child Advocacy Centers on a formula basis.

The purpose of FVPSA is to assist States in supporting the establishment, maintenance, and expansion of programs and projects that: Help to prevent incidents of family violence, domestic violence, and dating violence; provide immediate shelter and supportive services and access to community-based programs for victims of family violence, domestic violence, or dating violence and their dependents; provide specialized services including trauma informed services to children exposed to family violence, domestic violence, or dating violence, underserved populations, and victims who are members of racial and ethnic minority populations. The FVPSA reauthorization of 2010 bill was signed into law December 20, 2010. The reauthorization bill enhances upon FVPSA efforts in improvements to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, initiatives in teen dating violence, and services to the nation's territories and program's helping children who witness violence and more.

The 2026 Carceral Systems Organizing Grant seeks to support organizations working to eradicate carceral systems, create alternative justice solutions, or pursue system reform by addressing systemic criminalization that disproportionately targets Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) and low-income/poor communities across our five-state region.

We define carceral systems organizing broadly to include all systems that criminalize people’s lives based on race, poverty, gender, immigration status and/or disability. Examples include but are not limited to: 

• Abolition, transformative justice, and alternatives to incarceration
• Ending racial profiling and police brutality
• 'Addressing racial inequities in drug laws
• Child welfare, foster care, child protective services
• Youth incarceration and the school-to-prison pipeline
• Detention and deportation of immigrant communities
• Homeless encampment sweeps and criminalization of survival needs
• Re-entry organizing by and for folks who were recently incarcerated

Creative West

Established in 1974 as a nonprofit U.S. Regional Arts Organization (USRAO), Creative West was founded on the belief that place matters to the creative process. Fifty years later, communities of place, practice, experience, and identity remain fundamental to our work, framing our understanding of how culture is creatively produced and collectively experienced.

Creative West empowers artists and culture-makers with direct, practical resources, delivered regionally.

We offer practical, equity-centered learning experiences and funding opportunities that connect and inspire artists, culture-bearers and communities to build a more inclusive sector, strengthen the arts field, and catalyze change.

Native Arts and Heritage Fund

The Native Arts + Heritage Fund (NAHF) is a community-rooted award program created to support Native American and Alaska Native artists, culture bearers, and cultural practitioners across the Creative West region.

Co-designed with Native-centered artists, advisors, and community leaders, NAHF centers care, cultural continuity, and self-determination. The fund honors Indigenous ways of knowing and values process over product, relationship over compliance, and well-being as a meaningful measure of impact. In addition to unrestricted funding, selected artists will participate in a three-month virtual cohort experience designed for connection, reflection, and shared learning.

NAHF is administered by Creative West, an organization that uplifts artists and culture bearers across the Creative West region by providing funding, mentorship, and culturally rooted support.

This is not a project-based grant.

This is an invitation into funding and relationships.

Applicants must provide a letter of support from an Alaska Native or Native American community member who can speak to their relationship to community and cultural work.

Unrestricted Funds May Be Used For:

• Taking time to create, reflect, or rest
• Purchasing tools, materials, or supplies
• Covering food, rent, childcare, or transportation
• Supporting wellness: physical, emotional, spiritual, or cultural
• Participating in cultural exchanges, mentorship, or learning
• Creating space to gather, teach, or share knowledge

The XENO PRIZE for Performance Arts, awarded by Franklin Furnace, supports early-career LGBTQ+-identifying performance artists creating new work in 26 states with restrictive gender-affirming laws. This annual prize, established in 2023, offers $5000 to a selected recipient from proposals submitted for the Franklin Furnace FUND for Performance Art. The deadline for submissions is April 1, 2025, encouraging innovative voices in the contemporary performance art landscape.

In addition to its single family programs, WCDA currently administers several major affordable rental housing development programs; the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) Program, the National Housing Trust Fund (NHTF) Program and the HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) Program. These federal programs have funded more than 5,000 units of affordable rental housing across the state.

Affordable Housing Programs 

The Wyoming Community Development Authority (WCDA, or “the Authority”) is committed to furthering the success of safe, sanitary and affordable housing throughout the state of Wyoming under the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) guidelines established by Section 42(m)(1)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code, under the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) at 24 CFR Part 92, and under the HUD National Housing Trust Fund (NHTF) program at 24 CFR Part 93.

WCDA addresses housing issues and needs for the citizens of Wyoming by administering the above-named essential programs that allow communities and service organizations to assist the citizens and municipalities throughout the state of Wyoming. WCDA utilizes the Consolidated Plans for Housing and Community Development for the City of Casper, the City of Cheyenne, and the State of Wyoming to identify several priorities for housing and community needs. 

HOME Program

HOME funds are available for the new construction or rehabilitation of rental housing as defined in the Wyoming Affordable Housing Allocation Plan.

Rental Housing Activities & Provisions

HOME funds must be spent quickly. The time frames for committing and expending funds are very short. From the time WCDA signs a HOME Grant Agreement with the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the following time frames apply:

• Twelve (12) months to enter into written agreements with an Owner/Developer to commit the HOME funds to a specific project; and,
• Four (4) years for Owner/Developer to fully expend funds. 

Rental Housing Production can be accomplished in the following ways: 1) Rehabilitation (Rehabilitation, Conversion, Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Refinance); 2) Acquisition and Rehabilitation 3) New Construction 

In addition to its single family programs, WCDA currently administers several major affordable rental housing development programs; the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) Program, the National Housing Trust Fund (NHTF) Program and the HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) Program. These federal programs have funded more than 5,000 units of affordable rental housing across the state.

Affordable Housing Programs 

The Wyoming Community Development Authority (WCDA, or “the Authority”) is committed to furthering the success of safe, sanitary and affordable housing throughout the state of Wyoming under the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) guidelines established by Section 42(m)(1)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code, under the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) at 24 CFR Part 92, and under the HUD National Housing Trust Fund (NHTF) program at 24 CFR Part 93.

WCDA addresses housing issues and needs for the citizens of Wyoming by administering the above-named essential programs that allow communities and service organizations to assist the citizens and municipalities throughout the state of Wyoming. WCDA utilizes the Consolidated Plans for Housing and Community Development for the City of Casper, the City of Cheyenne, and the State of Wyoming to identify several priorities for housing and community needs. 

NHTF Program

Funds are available under the National Housing Trust Fund (NHTF) for the new construction or rehabilitation of rental housing. Acquisition/Rehabilitation projects as defined in the Wyoming Affordable Housing Allocation Plan.

Rental Housing Activities & Provisions

NHTF funds must be spent quickly. The time frames for committing and expending funds are very short. From the time WCDA signs an NHTF Grant Agreement for NHTF funds with the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the following time frames apply:

• Twelve (12) months to enter into written agreements with an Owner/Developer to reserve NHTF funds.
• Four (4) years for Owner/Developer to fully expend funds. 

Rental Housing Production can be accomplished in the following ways: 1) Rehabilitation (Rehabilitation, Conversion, Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Refinance); 2) Acquisition and Rehabilitation 3) New Construction 

Creative West

Established in 1974 as a nonprofit U.S. Regional Arts Organization (USRAO), Creative West was founded on the belief that place matters to the creative process. Fifty years later, communities of place, practice, experience, and identity remain fundamental to our work, framing our understanding of how culture is creatively produced and collectively experienced.

Creative West empowers artists and culture-makers with direct, practical resources, delivered regionally.

We offer practical, equity-centered learning experiences and funding opportunities that connect and inspire artists, culture-bearers and communities to build a more inclusive sector, strengthen the arts field, and catalyze change.

National Arts Futures Fellowship

The National Arts Futures Fellowship (NAFF) is a six-month virtual leadership development program rooted in democracy, wellness, and belonging. It calls on early and mid-career arts and culture professionals from all backgrounds to step into their power as civic leaders and cultural innovators—building the skills, networks, and vision needed to shape a future where creativity drives justice, care, and connection.

Fellows join a national network committed to strengthening public life, nurturing collective wellness, and fostering deep belonging across communities. Together, they learn, experiment, and act—advancing a shared vision of leadership that is sustainable, community-rooted, and future-focused.

Each fellow enters NAFF with a Personal Action Project (PAP)—a concrete idea they will develop and implement with support from peers, coaches, guest experts, and flexible seed funding of $250–$1,000. Projects may include launching a cultural initiative, organizing a community campaign, supporting artist-led advocacy, seeking a public leadership role, or piloting another form of civic or community action. Throughout the fellowship, each project evolves through coaching, peer feedback, strategy sessions, and real-world experimentation. Fellows conclude the program by sharing their project, leadership growth, and next steps at the National Fellows Summit.

What’s New in Cohort Two?

• Cohort Two expands NAFF from six to seven monthly sessions and adds two new elements that support fellows in moving their Personal Action Projects from development into implementation:
• Seed Funding: Fellows may request $250–$1,000 in flexible funding to test, pilot, or implement their projects during the fellowship.
• Artists Thrive Framework: Fellows will use the framework to assess their work, identify opportunities for growth, and strengthen artist-led advocacy, collaboration, and community impact.

Guiding Principles

• Democracy — Use the arts to strengthen civic participation, expand public trust, and make decision-making more accessible and inclusive.
• Wellness — Treat care, rest, and healing as strategic leadership tools for sustaining movements and communities.
• Belonging — Create spaces where leaders can thrive together across differences, build trust, and celebrate shared humanity.

What kinds of projects are supported?

Examples: Running for office, launching cultural programs, organizing campaigns, supporting policies. Projects can be local, regional, or national in scope.

Wyoming Community Foundation

Since 1989, the Wyoming Community Foundation (WYCF) has connected people who care with causes that matter to build a better Wyoming. With over 500 funds and $270 million in assets, we support local nonprofits and make grants in every county.

By working with donors, nonprofits, and communities, WYCF makes giving accessible and impactful, helping strengthen organizations and the communities they serve. 

Butler Nongame Species Fund

The Butler Nongame Species Fund supports projects that conserve Wyoming's often-overlooked wildlife and habitats, carrying forward Gary and Jo Butler's vision for a healthier, more resilient ecosystem.

After a lifetime dedicated to wildlife conservation, retired Wyoming Game & Fish habitat biologist Gary Butler recognized that nongame species deserved greater attention and support. In 2017, Gary and his wife, Jo, established the Butler Nongame Species Fund with a lead gift that inspired others to join their vision. Today, the fund—administered by the Wyoming Wildlife Foundation—provides grants for projects that conserve Wyoming's 554 nongame species through habitat restoration, conservation, and other impactful initiatives.

If you have previously received funding, a final report must be submitted prior to submitting a new grant request. 

FNBO: Capital or Major Donations aims to support nonprofit organizations through significant financial contributions for capital projects. This initiative focuses on enhancing community well-being by addressing key areas such as affordable housing, environmental stability, and education. FNBO prioritizes partnerships with nonprofits dedicated to long-term impacts, especially for historically underrepresented populations. By fostering community engagement and providing essential resources, FNBO strives to create a positive influence in the regions it serves.

The Wyoming Arts Council's Community Support Grant provides funding for nonprofit organizations and government entities to promote arts projects in Wyoming. Grants can reach up to $15,000, supporting operating and project costs along with arts learning initiatives. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) organizations and tribal governments, ensuring that funded projects are accessible to the public. This initiative enhances community engagement and nurtures the arts as a vital part of Wyoming's cultural landscape.

The Wyoming Arts Council's Arts Access Project Grant aims to enhance access to the arts for under-served communities, including individuals with disabilities, veterans, and economically disadvantaged groups. With a funding limit of $1,000, the grant supports collaborative projects that foster community engagement and artistic expression. Organizations eligible for this grant include 501(c)(3) nonprofits and government agencies, emphasizing the importance of the arts in community development and cultural vitality across Wyoming.