History
Wyoming’s history tells a story of strong women in an “Equality State.” The character of Wyoming was formed by a combination of unquenchable spirit with a rich and varied cultural heritage. This unquenchable spirit is apparent in the group of thoughtful women who launched this new charitable entity to provide grants to organizations serving women and girls, respond to requests that close gaps in programming and create transformative change in many lives.
This commitment is an unprecedented opportunity for Wyoming and promises significant change for generations. The Wyoming Women’s Foundation was established in 1999 with a challenge grant from Chambers Family Fund to the Wyoming Community Foundation. Chambers Family Fund’s priority was to build a permanent resource for women and girls in Wyoming, where the family’s oil business previously operated.
In early 1999, the Wyoming Women’s Foundation conducted a statewide needs assessment in Wyoming. The purpose of the research was to assist in the development of grantmaking criteria for the Wyoming Women’s Foundation and to determine the capacity of organizations serving Wyoming’s women and girls.
In an effort to learn more about the status of women and girls in Wyoming, the advisory board provided funding to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research in 2004 to support the research and publication of their Status of Women in Wyoming report. Read the report (PDF File).