Enhancing community vitality lies at the core of the Foundation’s granting activity.  When determining whether the Scott Foundation will fund a project or program designed to enhance community vitality, the Board of Trustees has identified the following attributes as important selection criteria:

             Ensures that Sheridan, Wyoming, is a great place
             Builds organizational or community capacity
             Supports youth, families, and/or serves a broad base of the community
             Leverages other resources
             Verifies organizational accountability
             Creates ripples
             Fills a void

By Trust mandate, 70 percent of grant funds must be utilized within a 30-mile radius of Sheridan and 30 percent in locations where the Scott Family has a presence. 

Grants will be made only to organizations that are tax-exempt as defined in Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code and which are not private foundations as defined in Section 509 of the Code. In addition, supporting organizations must identify what type  they are: I, II, or III.

The Foundation does not grant to individuals, private profit-making businesses, or private non-operating foundations.