Teton County wants in on Old Bill’s match—here’s what it could fund

If you’ve ever donated through Old Bill’s and wished your gift could stretch a little further, Teton County is trying to do the same thing—this time for county-run projects. On May 5, commissioners will consider approving three county departments to apply for the 2026 Old Bill’s Fun Run fundraising-and-grant program, which adds a matching grant on top of designated donations during the giving season. (Staff report: Old Bill’s Fun Run grant applications.)

According to the staff report, the county departments seeking approval are the Jackson/Teton County Affordable Housing Department, Teton County Integrated Solid Waste & Recycling, and Teton County Public Works. Public Works’ fundraising would include wildlife crossing projects and water quality work. There’s “no cost to the County to apply,” staff says, and the match can be meaningful: in recent years, the match has been about 50% on the first $30,000 an organization raises—up to roughly $15,000 in additional dollars.

Key dates for families who like to follow where community dollars go: applications are due May 19, 2026, and donations can be made through the Community Foundation between Aug. 14 and Sept. 18. My parent-brain question is the same one I ask about every fundraising pitch: if county departments bring in these matched dollars, what gets done faster—or what pressure gets taken off fee and tax-funded budgets? This packet doesn’t say yet, but the vote tees up the opportunity to bring private giving into big-ticket public needs like housing, safer wildlife crossings, and cleaner water.