On July 24th, 2025, the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole announced its inaugural impact investments, partnering with Coombs Outdoors and History Jackson Hole to bolster their financial resilience. This innovative program, a complement to the Foundation’s traditional grantmaking, provides investment capital to help nonprofits address critical community needs while generating both social and financial returns. By collaborating with local and national banks, the Foundation has reduced interest costs, enabling these organizations to redirect significant savings into their missions.Coombs Outdoors, a nonprofit dedicated to access, equity, and mentorship through outdoor recreation, recently acquired a permanent home for its programs.
The Foundation’s participation in a mortgage refinance will save Coombs Outdoors over $27,000 annually, funding 12 additional students in multi-week programs and adding more than 2,000 hours of youth programming each year in Teton County. Similarly, History Jackson Hole completed its first permanent facility on the Van Vleck Block in downtown Jackson, creating a public space for exhibits and community programs. Through a partnership with First Interstate Bank, the Foundation lowered interest costs on the museum’s construction loan, freeing up over $20,000 yearly to expand camps for over 100 local students during summer and school breaks.“These first two impact investments are a testament to how innovative funding strategies can strengthen nonprofit resilience,” said Laurie Andrews, President of the Community Foundation. Unlike traditional grants, impact investments recycle capital, allowing the Foundation to support multiple organizations over time. Erin Lusins, Chief Financial Officer, added, “This new impact investing program is designed to offer nonprofits a new pathway of support—combining flexible capital with a commitment to lasting, measurable impact.”
The initiative stems from the Foundation’s 2022 Strategic Plan, which identified the need for diverse funding tools to address Teton County’s urgent challenges, such as housing and behavioral health.The Community Foundation, managing over $130 million in assets and raising $23.4 million through Old Bill’s Fun Run in 2024, continues to drive philanthropy in Teton County. For more details on the impact investing program, visit cfjacksonhole.org
