2010 Grant Awards Announced

1% for the Tetons announced today that it had awarded $122,402 to the 19 "Finalist" applicants which applied for project funding this year. Of this, $112,596 went to fully-fund 10 different projects working to sustain the Tetons region’s essential qualities for future generations. An additional $9,806 was granted for general support of the 9 “Finalist” organizations whose projects were not fully-funded. Click here to view the full list of awarded grants.

1% for the Tetons is a Jackson, WY- based organization which awards high-leverage grants to forward-looking projects sustaining the Tetons area’s natural resources and related qualities. Member businesses donate one percent of their sales to fund these projects. In its first four years, 1% for the Tetons has granted $485,000 to fund 37 separate projects.

In 2010, 1% for the Tetons changed its funding process to allow individuals and non-member businesses to help support “Finalist” projects. During a 28 day period in May and June, 122 non-members donated $36,622 to support the Finalist projects. This complemented the $85,780 donated by member businesses, meaning that, of the total amount granted of $122,402, 70 percent came from 1% for the Tetons member businesses, and 30 percent came from non-member supporters.

"2009 was a difficult year economically, and our member businesses were not immune," noted Jonathan Schechter, Executive Director of the Charture Institute, which runs 1% for the Tetons. "Thankfully, by expanding our fundraising approach to include individuals and non-member businesses, we were able to raise 40 percent more than we would have in the past. This allowed us to fund several additional projects, which in turn
means that we funded ten total projects this year, matching our all-time high."

Of the ten fully-funded projects this year, nine are based in Teton County, Wyoming, and one in Teton County, Idaho. The mean grant size was $11,260, and the median $9,250. Grants ranged in size from $5,000 to $25,000.

"In 2010, 1% for the Tetons received 29 grant applications asking for a total of nearly $450,000," said Schechter. "This was a near-record number of requests, and a record dollar amount requested. These figures indicate both the challenging financial situation facing local non-profits, and the increasingly important role 1% for the Tetons is playing as a source for funding innovative, cutting-edge sustainability projects."

Schechter continued: "All 19 of our 2010 Finalist projects were worthy of funding. While we’re disappointed we couldn’t fund all of them, we're pleased to be able to fund over half. Next year, we hope to do even better.

"Most important of all, though, in 2010, 1% for the Tetons clearly demonstrated proof of its concept," Schechter noted. "This proof has come in two ways. First, in four years of grant-making, we have funded an extraordinary range of projects. Many of these have not just succeeded on their own, but shown tremendous long-term promise to grow from the pilot projects 1% for the Tetons funded to fully-mature, on-going activities.

"Second, our new 'One28' funding process demonstrated that the community is eager to support 1% for the Tetons's projects. This provides 1% for the Tetons with a strong foundation for growth, meaning in future years we'll be able to raise even more money to fund even more projects. The future looks very bright for 1% for the Tetons."

For more information about 1% for the Tetons, its members, and its projects, contact
Jonathan Schechter at 307-733-8687 or js@1PercentTetons.org.