Natrona Collective Health Trust’s Planning Grant

The Natrona Collective Health Trust has announced a new planning grant opportunity aimed at enhancing youth mental and behavioral health through the design of third spaces in Natrona County, Wyoming. Third spaces are defined as safe, informal settings that exist outside of home and school—such as libraries, clubs, sports venues, or coffee shops—where youth can connect socially, access supportive resources, and develop a sense of belonging. This initiative is rooted in the Trust’s work with the Youth Mental Health Collective, a local, community-led response to the rising mental health challenges and incidents of violence among young people in the region. This specific grant opportunity is the first in a two-phase summer funding cycle intended to foster more youth-centered gathering spaces. The planning grant provides selected organizations with up to $50,000 to conduct the foundational activities needed to thoughtfully design a third space. Funds are explicitly intended for non-construction purposes, and instead cover expenses such as community engagement, youth participation, research, feasibility assessments, and sustainability planning. The grant emphasizes a co-creation model where youth are actively engaged as equal partners in the visioning and planning process. This approach ensures that any future third spaces are not only youth-informed but also community-supported and designed for long-term viability. To be eligible, applicants must be 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that are both based in and primarily serve Natrona County. In addition, proposals must center on the planning or expansion of third spaces specifically for youth. Implementation, programming, or capital construction activities are not allowable under this planning phase. Notably, final funding decisions will be made by a youth-led review panel, underscoring the program’s commitment to youth agency and leadership in decision-making. The application window for the planning grant opens on June 18, 2025, and closes on July 17, 2025. Applications can be accessed through the “Apply Now” button on the Trust’s grantmaking page but will not be available via the main grant portal. Applicants will be notified of funding decisions on or before August 3, 2025. Additionally, a virtual lunch-and-learn session will be hosted on June 25 at 11:00 a.m. to provide further details and answer questions from potential applicants. This planning grant marks the beginning of a multi-year investment by the Trust in third spaces for youth, with additional implementation and programmatic grants expected in the future. Organizations interested in applying or learning more are encouraged to attend the virtual information session or reach out directly to Samantha Smith, the Trust’s Senior Director of Programs and Community Engagement, via phone at (307) 243-2160. By supporting this planning phase, the Natrona Collective Health Trust aims to lay a solid foundation for future third spaces that are authentically rooted in the voices and experiences of Natrona County’s youth, with a long-term vision for meaningful, sustained impact on mental and behavioral health outcomes.

Co-creation with youth and community members is emphasized throughout the grant design.