Charity and Nonprofit Organizations Across Wyoming
Wyoming is the least populous state in the country, with roughly 580,000 people spread across 23 counties. That fact shapes how charitable work gets done. A nonprofit in Casper or Cheyenne may serve a single city, while a group in Dubois or Thermopolis often covers a whole county and sometimes its neighbors. This page explains how that landscape works before you pick up the phone or drive anywhere.
Our directory includes child-welfare agencies such as the Childrens Advocacy Project in Casper, wildlife groups like the Teton Raptor Center in Wilson, and grant-making organizations like the Wyoming Community Foundation in Cody. Every listing carries a street address and phone number, so one short call can confirm hours and eligibility before you go.
Incorporation and tax exemption are two separate steps
Many people assume every nonprofit is automatically tax-exempt. In practice, two steps are involved. First, a group forms as a nonprofit corporation by filing with the Wyoming Secretary of State, which handles business entity filings under the Wyoming Nonprofit Corporation Act. Second, the group can ask the Internal Revenue Service for recognition as a 501(c)(3) charity. That second step is what makes most gifts deductible on a federal return.
Wyoming has no state personal or corporate income tax, so donors do not receive a state deduction. The federal deduction still matters if you itemize. Property and sales tax treatment is handled separately, through county assessors and the Wyoming Department of Revenue, and exemptions usually require an application rather than applying automatically.
Who Oversees Wyoming Nonprofits and How to Check a Group's Standing
No single Wyoming agency runs charities the way a licensing board regulates electricians. Oversight is split. The Secretary of State keeps the public record of which nonprofit corporations exist, who their registered agents are, and whether annual reports are current. The IRS decides federal exempt status and collects annual information returns. Program-specific rules come from the agency that funds or licenses the service, such as the Wyoming Department of Family Services for child welfare or the Wyoming Department of Health for medical programs.
You can verify a group in about ten minutes. Search the Secretary of State's online business records for the organization's name and look for an active status. Then use the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search to confirm 501(c)(3) standing. Larger charities file a Form 990 that shows revenue, program spending, and compensation. Very small groups file a short e-Postcard instead, and that is normal for rural organizations with modest budgets.
A nonprofit corporation must also file periodic reports with the Secretary of State to stay in good standing. Groups that let filings lapse can be administratively dissolved. That is one reason an old website or brochure is not proof that an organization is still active. A recent annual report and a working phone number are better signs.
Names can mislead. A group called a foundation in Wyoming may be a grant-maker, a single-purpose fundraising arm, or an operating charity that runs its own programs. Some entries in any directory are membership or owners' associations that are incorporated as nonprofits but may not offer services to the general public. The mission statement on a Form 990 tells you far more than the name does.
Regional Differences: Casper, Jackson Hole, Cody, Laramie, and Rural Wyoming
Casper and Natrona County
Natrona County has the most listings in our database, with five. Casper is the largest city in central Wyoming, so groups there often serve people from surrounding counties. You will find the Childrens Advocacy Project at 350 North Ash Street (307-232-0159), the Wyoming Food for Thought Project at 900 Saint John Street (307-337-1703), and the Mcmurry Foundation, Jasons Friends Foundation, and Two Fly Foundation. A mix of child-focused groups and private foundations makes Casper a practical first stop for central Wyoming.
Teton County: Jackson and Wilson
Teton County also lists five organizations, a high number for a county of its size. The resort economy around Jackson Hole and Grand Teton National Park supports conservation and community groups, including the Teton Raptor Center in Wilson (307-203-2551), the Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation at 330 Glenwood Street (307-739-0968), and the Doug Coombs Foundation (307-200-6724). Housing costs in the valley are steep, so many nonprofits depend on seasonal donors and on staff and volunteers who commute from outside the valley.
Park County and Cody
In Park County, Cody has three listings. They are the Cody Medical Foundation at 721 Sheridan Avenue (307-587-9030), the Wyoming Community Foundation at 1131 13th Street (307-587-6342), and the 5TH Judicial District Casa Association at 1725 Sheridan Avenue (307-587-4361). CASA programs recruit trained volunteers who speak for children in court cases. Cody sits near Yellowstone's east entrance, and tourism and local healthcare shape much of the giving in town.
Laramie, Cheyenne, and the southeast
Laramie is home to the University of Wyoming, and Albany County lists three groups there: Wti Foundations at 1472 North 5th Street, the Buford Foundation, and the Biodiversity Conservation Alliance at 412 South 2nd Street (307-742-7978). Cheyenne, the state capital, adds the Foster Grandparent Program at 510 West 29th Street (307-634-1265) and the Wyoming Taxpayers Association at 2410 Pioneer Avenue (307-635-8761). Capital-city groups often deal directly with state agencies and the Legislature.
Small towns and long distances
Outside the larger cities, one organization may be the only option for many miles. Examples include the Douglas Early Childhood Center in Douglas (Converse County), the Dubois Community Project on U.S. Highway 26, the Muley Fanatic Foundation in Green River, the Hot Springs Greater Learning Foundation in Thermopolis, and Project Safe in Wheatland. Winter weather can close highways and interstates. Check WYDOT's 511 travel information before a long drive, and call ahead to confirm the office is open.
Practical Steps Before You Visit, Donate, or Volunteer in Wyoming
Wyoming's smaller nonprofits often run with a few paid staff and many volunteers. Phones may go to voicemail during events or fieldwork. A little preparation saves a wasted trip.
- Call first and ask about hours, appointment rules, and eligibility requirements such as income, age, or county of residence.
- Bring photo identification, and ask whether proof of address or income documents are needed.
- Confirm the group's standing in the Secretary of State and IRS databases before you donate.
- Ask for a written acknowledgment. The IRS requires one for any single gift of $250 or more that you plan to deduct.
- If you are unsure which organization fits your need, try dialing 211, where the service is available, for a referral.
- If you want to volunteer, ask about background checks and training. Programs that work with children, such as CASA, typically require both.
If you are thinking about founding a group rather than joining one, statewide networks such as the Wyoming Nonprofit Network offer training and peer support, and the Secretary of State's office can answer filing questions. Browse the county pages linked above to see which groups already work in your area. Joining an existing effort is often faster than starting a new one.
Nonprofit organizations operating in Wyoming must register with the state attorney general's charitable trust section and comply with state solicitation licensing requirements in addition to meeting federal IRS requirements for tax-exempt status. Wyoming's charity registration process helps protect residents from fraudulent fundraising operations.
Charity Nonprofit locations are available in 12 cities across Wyoming. They are spread across 11 counties.
Cities with the highest concentration include Casper, Cody, Laramie, which typically host large concentrations of nonprofits serving regional populations across health, human services, education, and arts sectors.
Donors in Wyoming can verify that a charity is properly registered with the state by contacting the Wyoming Attorney General's office or searching the state's online charity registration database before making a contribution.
Nonprofits seeking grant funding in Wyoming should explore state-level grant programs administered through the Wyoming Department of Health, Department of Education, or community services block grant programs. Many Wyoming foundations also fund local nonprofits through competitive grant cycles that typically open annually.
Browse Charity Nonprofit by county across Wyoming to find the nearest location.
Giving and Volunteering in Wyoming's Smaller Communities
Charity in Wyoming runs on personal relationships. In towns of a few thousand people, the board member of a local foundation is often your neighbor, your child's teacher, or the person who runs the hardware store. That closeness helps. You can usually reach a decision-maker with one phone call, and a modest gift or a few volunteer hours gets noticed.
Sheridan shows how this works. Sheridan County lists the Whedon Cancer Foundation at 30 South Scott Street (307-672-2941) and the Bryan Foundation at 2 North Main Street (307-672-3535). In Cody, the Wyoming Community Foundation at 1131 13th Street (307-587-6342) is a good place to ask how community grantmaking works in this part of the state.
Timing matters. Many Wyoming organizations are busiest in summer and fall, when tourism, hunting season, and outdoor events bring both donors and demand. Winter road conditions can reduce volunteer availability. If you plan to give time, ask when the group needs help most and whether training is required.
Gifts of goods are welcome at many places, but ask first. A small office may lack storage for furniture or food. Cash or a check, with a written receipt, is often easier for staff to use well.