To create or cause change primarily for the benefit of the people of the State of Wyoming through the support of science, education, and charity. The Ellbogen Foundation aims to empower the people of Wyoming to lead healthy lives in thriving communities, acting with integrity and honesty. It seeks to energize, engage, and inspire through a systemic approach to achieving positive outcomes, focusing on the well-being and education of Wyoming's residents by funding impactful work and using data and storytelling to monitor impact.
The grant program focuses on a broad range of priority areas including Basic Needs (food, clothing, shelter, relationships), Community Connections (families, businesses/nonprofits, faith organizations, government), Health (physical, mental, dental), Education (K-12, early childhood, adult skill building, post-secondary), and Environment (safe, stable, healthy, nurturing). The Foundation values a systemic approach to problem-solving that recognizes the multidimensional nature of needs, problems, and solutions. It emphasizes the importance of partnership and collaboration for systemic and sustainable change, and sees capacity building across all priority areas as essential for developing future capabilities of individuals, organizations, and communities towards meaningful change.