
Giving Period
Friday, June 13, 2025 at 9 AM –
Friday, July 25, 2025 at 5 PM
Event Day
Saturday, July 19th
9-Noon
All donations must be received by 5 PM on July 25th in the Community Foundation of Teton Valley or Community Foundation of Jackson Hole offices.
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2025 GRANT SCHEDULE
Tuesday, March 11 | Kick-Off Meeting* & Application Opening |
Friday, April 4 | Application Deadline |
Monday, April 28 | Participation Notification |
Thursday, May 15 | Mandatory Marketing Meeting |
Thursday, June 5 | Marketing Deadline |
Friday, June 13 | Giving Period Opens |
Saturday, July 19 | 18th Annual Tin Cup Challenge Event Day |
Friday, July 25 | Giving Period Closes |
Wednesday, August 27 | Tin Cup Challenge Awards Party |
The application period is now closed. Thank you!
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Nonprofit Resources:
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Thank You to 2024 Tin Cup Challenge participants!
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Tin Cup Challenge Grant Program

The Community Foundation of Teton Valley hosts the Tin Cup Challenge Grant Program annually. This program encompasses a 6-week, streamlined giving period for all participating nonprofits. The Foundation solicits gifts for all participating organizations with a box mailer to all Teton County, ID and Alta, WY residents and continues to market the campaign over the entire giving period. The 3rd Saturday in July marks the culmination of everyone’s efforts on Tin Cup Event Day.
During the giving period, the Foundation and its Board work double-time to solicit donations for the Challenger Fund. The Challenger Fund covers the cost of Event Day, gift processing, and provides a matching grant (of variable percentage) to participating nonprofits for the first $25K they bring in during the giving period.
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ABOUT THE CHALLENGE GRANT
The Tin Cup Challenge Grant structure was developed to provide partial Matching Grants that broadly support local organizations, as described below:
- Gifts designated for specific organizations, up to $25,000 per organization, are eligible for a percentage matching grant.
- Fiscally sponsored organizations participate under the same, single $25,000 cap of their sponsor.
- The percentage at which eligible designated gifts are matched is variable each year. This percentage is based upon the ratio of total eligible designated gifts received vs. the total amount raised in the Challenger Fund.
ELIGIBILITY
- Organizations must be a 501(c)3, government entity, or faith-based organization.
- All 501(c)3 organizations must be in good standing with the Internal Revenue Service.
- Organizations must be in good standing with the Community Foundation of Teton Valley.
- At the discretion of the Community Foundation of Teton Valley, organizations MAY BE eligible to participate through fiscal sponsorship by another eligible organization. Organizations requiring a fiscal sponsor should contact the Community Foundation of Teton Valley before applying for participation.
- Related organizations may be required to participate as a single organization and are eligible for only one matching grant, with a shared cap of $25,000.
- Qualifying organizations may participate in either the Tin Cup Challenge or Old Bill’s Fun Run, but not both.
- An organization must qualify as “local” pursuant to ANY ONE of the definitions below:
- An organization that predominantly serves Teton Valley (Teton County, Idaho and/or Alta, Wyoming) with a local board comprised predominantly of Teton Valley residents, OR
- An official Teton Valley chapter in good standing of a state/regional/national membership organization, with a local advisory board comprised predominantly of Teton Valley residents, OR
- A state organization with Teton Valley representation on the board; at least one paid employee whose responsibilities are predominantly comprised of program work in Teton Valley; and dedicated office space in Teton Valley, OR
- A regional/national organization with a board or local advisory board comprised predominantly of Teton Valley residents; at least one paid employee whose responsibilities are predominantly comprised of program work in Teton Valley; and dedicated office space in Teton Valley.
RULES & PROCEDURES
Due to the complexity and size of the Tin Cup Challenge, the Foundation has developed rules and procedures to govern participation in the program. Participation in the Tin Cup Challenge is contingent upon compliance with the Rules & Procedures listed. Failure to comply may result in forfeiture of the matching grant and disqualify the organization from participation in the Foundation’s programs in the future. The Foundation reserves the right to verify compliance with any and all of the following:
- All organizations are to operate within the spirit of the Tin Cup Challenge: to function ethically and honestly with mutual respect, in order to promote community harmony.
- Funds raised through the Tin Cup Challenge MUST:
- Be used for non-religious, charitable programming only.
- Be used to benefit Teton Valley. Programs must take place in Teton County, Idaho or Alta, Wyoming.
- Not be used for political activity or lobbying.
- Matching Grant Funds:
- Cannot be endowed.
- Cannot be subsequently granted to another participating organization.
- Must be used within 18 months from the issuance of grant checks in accordance with approved Tin Cup Challenge Use of Funds statements and must be returned to the Foundation if they are not used.
- The Community Foundation mails Tin Cup Challenge brochures to all Teton County, Idaho and Alta, Wyoming residences/post office boxes. In response to donor concerns regarding waste and expense, please do not mail additional brochures or donor forms to Teton Valley residents.
- Official Race Entry and Donor Forms are available at local businesses, nonprofits and atwww.TinCupChallenge.org during the Giving Period.
- All contributions received through the Tin Cup Challenge are subject to the Community Foundation of Teton Valley’s variance power, meaning that the Foundation’s board of directors shall have the power to modify or eliminate any restriction, condition, limitation or trust imposed with respect to any funds or property the title to which has become vested in this corporation if, in the sole judgment of the Board of Directors, such restriction, condition, limitation or trust becomes unnecessary, incapable of fulfillment or inconsistent with the charitable needs of the community or area served.
- Participation does not guarantee that organizations will receive funds. Organizations are responsible for soliciting donations on their behalf.
CONTRIBUTIONS
- Gifts are accepted throughout the Tin Cup Challenge Giving Period. Contributions received after 5 PM on the last day of the Giving Period will be returned.
- Organizations are prohibited from submitting donations on behalf of donors. Donors should mail or deliver their contributions, along with an official donor form, to the Foundation.
- Organizations should not provide tax receipts for contributions made through the Tin Cup Challenge, as these donations are made directly to the Community Foundation of Teton Valley. The Foundation accordingly provides all tax receipts.
- Contributions must be 100% tax-deductible, as follows:
- Eligible contributions: Checks (made payable to Community Foundation of Teton Valley and accompanied by an official donor form); online credit card gifts at www.TinCupChallenge.org; corporate matching gifts received by the deadline; gifts of stock. Please contact the Foundation to donate securities.
- Ineligible contributions: Gifts in exchange for goods and services including, but not limited to: event proceeds raised through raffles, drawings, and auctions; fees for programs, admission, registration, and event tickets; membership dues; tuition; pledge payments (gifts cannot be made to fulfill a legally binding pledge agreement).
GIFT REPORTS
All eligible nonprofits receive access to a secure website where they can track gifts made on behalf of their organizations. A username and password to access the site are included in acceptance letters.
- Gift Reports are available through this website only. The Foundation does not provide verbal, printed or emailed Gift Reports.
- Organizations are prohibited from contacting the Foundation to request verbal confirmation of individual designated gifts.
- Organizations must allow sufficient time for Foundation staff to process designated gifts, keeping in mind that the Foundation receives the vast majority of contributions during the final two weeks of the Giving Period.
- Details about gifts are available only after review and approval, which may not occur chronologically.
- Gift entry and adjustments may continue through the 3rd week of August.
EVENT DAY BOOTHS
- Requests for booth space are part of participating nonprofits’ application process. The Foundation will email the contact person for each approved organization with detailed information for hosting an event day booth.
- Booths are not required but are encouraged as an opportunity to promote a broad understanding of your organization’s mission within Teton Valley.
- Organizations may not display or distribute religious or political materials, or information on programs or activities that are ineligible for Tin Cup Challenge funding.
- No financial transactions or selling of goods or services are permitted at the Tin Cup Challenge. If donors wish to support your organization on Event Day, please direct them to the Donations & Information booth to make gifts.
PROGRAM THANKS
Tin Cup Business & Community Challengers make this program and associated Matching Grants, Competitive Grants, and Youth Philanthropy Grants possible.