Established in 1989, the Casper Area Community Foundation (CACF) seeks to improve the quality of life in the Casper area by connecting people who care with local causes that matter. The CACF is the Central Wyoming affiliate of the Wyoming Community Foundation (WYCF), sharing the WYCF's charitable tax-exempt status. The CACF advises on the following funds. Casper Area Community Foundation Endowment Fund The CACF board started the CACF Endowment Fund in 2005. Gifts of every size are important, allowing the CACF to address emerging and changing community needs over time. As an endowed fund, a 4% payout occurs and earned revenues are available semi-annually.

Grace Amspoker Fund
Grace Amspoker and her husband, Frank, were ranchers in Converse County, Wyoming until the 1960s. As Grace requested, a charitable trust was established in 1991 in Frank's memory. The Wyoming Community Foundation distributes the trust income as Grace desired, to benefit charitable projects in Converse and Natrona counties.

Janet S. and Richard C. Schneider Fund
As an energetic and dedicated philanthropist within the Casper community, Janet Schneider established the Janet S. and Richard C. Schneider Fund in 1995. Janet's philanthropic interests ranged from supporting Casper's arts community to preserving wildlife habitat. As the CACF's largest fund, grants are available for charitable projects statewide. Funding priorities include fine arts, visual arts, performing arts, and similar cultural activities, veterinary and other scientific research, care and support for abused women and children, and conservation of wildlife and wildlife habitat.

Willard G. McNamara Fund
William McNamara was an accountant in Casper and active in the business and faith communities. In establishing this fund, William requested that its grantmaking focus on supporting healthcare nonprofits and projects in Natrona County.

 

Casper Area Endowment Fund – 2009 Grantees
Grant Number	Grantee and Grant Purpose	Grant Date	Amount
20090211	Habitat for Humanity - The Heart of Wyoming Capacity Building	June 3, 2009	$5,000.00

Schneider Fund – 2009 Grantees
Grant Number	Grantee and Grant Purpose	Grant Date	Amount
20080738	Wyoming Symphony Orchestra Association Capacity Building Stage II	March 4, 2009	$18,000.00
20080725	Women's Self Help Center General Operating & Leveraging Support	March 4, 2009	$15,000.00
20080748	Nicolaysen Art Museum & Discovery Center Free Events & Programs/General Operating	March 4, 2009	$15,000.00
20080740	National Audubon Society, Inc. Audubon Center at Garden Creek and Community Naturalists	March 4, 2009	$15,000.00
20080736	Mercer House Passport to Success	March 4, 2009	$5,000.00
20080696	Rainbow Rescues, Inc. Operating Expenses	March 4, 2009	$2,500.00
20080742	CLIMB Wyoming (Casper) CLIMB Wyoming Training Programs - Casper	March 4, 2009	$2,500.00
20090454	ARTCORE, Inc. Multiple Projects	Sept 8, 2009	$9,000.00
20090427	Greater Wyoming Big Brothers Big Sister Natrona - Community Based Mentoring Program	Sept 8, 2009	$5,000.00
20090593	ARTCORE, Inc. ARTCORE Board Training	Sept 8, 2009	$1,500.00
20090600	Central Wyoming Counseling Center Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Facility	Sept 22, 2009	$20,000.00

 

McNamara Fund – 2009 Grantees
Grant Number	Grantee and Grant Purpose	Grant Date	Amount
20090014	12-24 Club, Inc Market Awareness	March 4 , 2009	$2,000.00

Projects:
Central Wyoming Grantmakers' Hub
The Central Wyoming Grantmakers' Hub is an informal association of philanthropists in the Casper area. The Hub allows our area's foundations and individuals to share information, learn about common areas of interest and engage in funders' collaboratives. For more information, visit www.centralwyohub.org.

Made in Wyoming: Our Legacy of Success
Published in the Casper Star-Tribune and Casper Journal between September 2006 and June 2007, this series profiled characteristics of success demonstrated by 62 Wyoming people. The profiles of historic and contemporary people from all walks of life have been used within classrooms across Wyoming, inspiring students to consider their personal success. For more information, visit www.madeinwyoming.net.