2025 STORIES OF IMPACT
Download Teton Regional Initiative’s 2025 Impact Report here
A MESSAGE FROM AMY
I am excited to have stepped into my new role as Director of the Teton Regional Initiative at LegacyWorks in late 2025, and to be working alongside—and in support of—our exceptional regional team: Julie Gonzalez, Elle Shafer, and Allison Parker. I’m also grateful to build on the strong foundation laid by Michelle Heaton, whose leadership continues to shape this work as she moves into her role as Vice President of Consulting while remaining closely engaged in Teton projects.
In 2025, the Teton Region supported eight highly collaborative projects, several of which are highlighted in this report. Across this work, our role is to show up in service of community-driven initiatives. Depending on the need, that may mean serving as facilitator, project manager, strategist, fiscal sponsor, or financier—often within the same initiative.
Our work is grounded in five interconnected impact areas: community wellbeing, disaster resilience, land conservation and stewardship, working lands and regenerative agriculture, and watershed health and clean water. Together, these reflect the priorities of the region and the belief that resilient communities and healthy landscapes are deeply linked.
LegacyWorks’ Teton Regional Initiative is supported through a diverse funding model that includes fee-for-service consulting, grants, and philanthropy. Private philanthropy and foundation support are especially critical, providing the flexibility needed to work with diverse partners and advance key initiatives in this region.
I’m excited to continue getting to know our supporters and partners and to grow the support that makes this work possible. It’s a privilege to be part of the LegacyWorks staff team, and I’m energized by the momentum and opportunity ahead in the Teton Region.
Amy Verbeten, Teton Regional Director
Photo Credit: Robert Warren
Across the Tetons, people are coming together to protect what makes this place extraordinary: the intact ecosystem, the communities shaped by these landscapes, and the long-standing ethic of caring for land and neighbor.
150+
regional partner organizations engaged
8
projects in 2025
In 2025, LegacyWorks deepened its role as a trusted facilitator and partner—strengthening collaborative processes, supporting local leadership, and bringing clarity and momentum to work that spans watersheds, communities, and the Wyoming–Idaho border.
Each number reflects something deeper: individuals, organizations, and communities choosing to show up for the future of this region together.
Why this work matters
The Tetons are experiencing profound changes—ecological, economic, and social. Many of the region’s most important challenges cross boundaries: water and watershed health, community wellbeing, housing pressures, ecosystem resilience, and access to data that reflect lived experience.
LegacyWorks supports these efforts by providing facilitation, coordination, and strategic structure. Our role is to help partners stay aligned, engaged, and grounded in local priorities while navigating complex, multi-stakeholder work.
PROJECTS || 2025
Impact areas: Watershed Health & Clean Water
The headwaters of the Snake River connect communities and landscapes across the Tetons. In 2025, LegacyWorks supported the Snake River Headwaters Watershed Group (SRHWG) by strengthening its collaborative foundation and helping partners build shared understanding around emerging watershed needs.
Work in 2025 included:
Facilitating watershed group convenings and field trips to help partners identify shared priorities
Supporting communication and coordination among organizations, agencies, and landowners
Helping develop early frameworks for future planning and collaborative work
Maintaining continuity and momentum throughout the year
“The health of the Snake River is directly tied to the health of our environment, our community, and our economy. The SRHWG brings diverse stakeholders together and supports the collaborative problem solving we need to address the complex watershed-level issues our community faces.”
Tanya Anderson, Town of Jackson Sustainability Coordinator, SRHWG Steering Committee
Project Spotlight: Snake River Headwaters Watershed Group
From Shared Need to Collective Action: Building the Snake River Headwaters Data Dashboard
SRHWG partners recognized a common challenge: critical watershed data existed, but it was scattered across agencies and platforms, limiting its usefulness for decision-making. Rather than working in silos, members came together around a shared vision for a centralized data dashboard. Organizations stepped into leadership to define the project scope, secure funding, and hire a technical consultant, with LegacyWorks Group facilitating coordination and alignment. With the RFP now closed and proposals under review, the dashboard stands as a clear example of how collaboration can turn a shared need into coordinated action.
When reflecting on the work of the Snake River Headwaters Watershed Group in 2025, one of our steering committee members, Clay Moorhead, said,
“Before getting involved, I used to see things as two sides of the river—us versus them. Over time, as trust developed, we began to realize that everyone was really working toward the same goal—doing what’s right for the resource, even if we approached it from different angles. To truly achieve the kind of transformational change we’re aiming for, it takes a diverse group of people who are willing to share, collaborate, and lean into that collective approach."
“The role LegacyWorks plays in coordinating and convening members of the SRHWG is the glue, the foundation, allowing for collaborative projects like the Symposium and Dashboard to happen.”
Simeon Caskey, Grand Teton National Park, SRHWG Steering Committee
Impact areas: Watershed Health & Clean Water; Community Wellbeing
Declining groundwater and surface water availability in Teton Valley are having real impacts on agriculture, fish and wildlife, and the long-term wellbeing of the region. In response, irrigators, agencies, scientists, and conservation partners have come together through the Teton Basin Water Users Association (TBWUA) to work toward more durable, basin-wide solutions.
LegacyWorks has supported TBWUA since the group formed in 2017. Over that time, our role has evolved alongside the organization—helping build early capacity, secure funding, and navigate complex and often changing water policy and administrative requirements. This work has included close collaboration with Friends of the Teton River and other partners to bring grant resources forward, support irrigator incentive programs, and inform economic models that strengthen long-term viability for water users in the basin.
Irrigation equipment feeds water into the agricultural fields in the Teton Basin. Photo credit: Camrin Dengel
In 2025, TBWUA moved into a more formal leadership role as the basin faced significant changes in Idaho water law, supported the formation of a new water district, and shared data and lessons learned to inform broader water mitigation efforts. The group continues to invest in outreach, education, and coalition-building so that water users are prepared to lead together through the challenges ahead. We are grateful to the Community Foundation of Teton Valley’s Competitive Grant as well as to an anonymous donor for their support for this work in 2025.
“LegacyWorks helped us move from being a group reacting to decisions to becoming an organization with real standing and a seat at the table. They helped us get started, brought partners and funding together, and supported us in forming our own nonprofit. Instead of being a dish served on the table, we’re now helping shape the menu—and that has changed everything for water users in the Teton Basin.”
Wyatt Penfold, TBWUA president
Impact areas: Disaster Resilience
Decisions about energy, transportation, infrastructure, and waste management shape economic impacts, air quality, disaster resilience and more across the Tetons. This year, LegacyWorks supported the Teton Climate Action Partnership (TCAP), a cross-sector collaborative focused on reducing carbon emissions through shared leadership, data tools, and community-driven action.
Work in 2025 included:
Co-planning the Jackson Hole Summit: Energy, Economics, and Environment with TCAP partners and showcasing the Emissions Dashboard at the event
Facilitating quarterly partnership convenings to support relationship-building, peer learning, and collaborative problem-solving
Identifying opportunities within the partnership to advance coordination and move priority climate actions forward
Expanding participation by bringing new voices into the partnership
“Last year, a successful partnership of many of TCAP's participants resulted in the JH Summit: Energy, Economics, Environment which hosted more than 150 attendees at the Center for the Arts in Jackson, Wyoming for rich discussion of the energy landscape and efforts to innovate, preserve resources, and reduce Greenhouse Gases. [LegacyWorks’] facilitation of this group allows for direct communication and collaboration between partners versus siloed and duplicative work.”
Shannon Shuptrine, Executive Director of the Teton Resilience Network
TCAP Quarterly Meeting, 2025
Impact areas: Community Wellbeing; Disaster Resilience; Land Conservation & Stewardship; Working Lands & Regenerative Agriculture; Watershed Health & Clean Water
Launched in June 2024, the Teton Community Wellbeing Dashboard is a community-led platform monitoring wellbeing across eight interconnected focus areas. This collaborative tool, developed with over 70 local organizations to date, provides the trusted, comprehensive data that community leaders need to make informed decisions about housing, healthcare, education, and other critical issues, including emergency response.
*Includes data since Public Launch of the TCWD in June 2024 through December 2025.
The dashboard, which has three focus areas – Education, Health, and Housing - fully developed, is becoming an anchor for shared understanding—one that will guide planning, funding, and collaboration in the years ahead. We invite you to join us (email amy@legacyworksgroup.com) as we continue to build this valuable tool for our community.
“This tool not only highlights the challenges we face but also showcases the potential for change through informed, collaborative action. It’s a terrific resource for better understanding and addressing our housing needs. Teton Habitat is proud to have contributed to the effort.”
Kris Greenville, Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of the Greater Teton Area
Supporting Local Leaders and Regional Capacity
Much of LegacyWorks’ work happens behind the scenes, helping regional partners navigate complexity while keeping their focus on mission, relationships, and place. This year, LegacyWorks supported partners by:
These quiet forms of support strengthen the region’s long-term collaborative infrastructure.
We are deeply grateful to the individuals, families, foundations, and partners whose generosity made our work in the Teton Region possible in 2025.
Your support strengthens our ability to serve communities, build collaboration, and advance resilient, locally led solutions.
DONORS
This donor list includes all contributions made between January 1 and December 31, 2025, in support of Teton Region–specific projects and programs, including gifts made through Old Bill’s Fun Run.
We strive to represent our supporters accurately and with care. If you notice an error or omission, please contact us so we can make it right—your partnership and trust matter deeply to us.
Tim and Shawn Adams
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
Laura Bell
Stephanie Dashiell
Glenn and Karen Doshay
Jessica Elliot
Blair and Jack Enders
Melissa Fontaine
Martin Goebel
Julie Gonzalez
Hand Fire Pizza
Cynthia Harger
Michelle and Gardner Heaton
James Honey
Edgar D. Jannotta Jr and Erika Pearsall
Marc and Joyce Johnson
Merrill Joy
Samara Koffler
Ellen Kwiatkowski
Bill and Lorien Leahy
Max Ludington and Maria Hayashida
Angela Manavella
Donaldson and Christy Miele
Wendy Millet
Mikki Sager Consulting
Megan Miley
Ken Overfield and Genie Copp
Kayli Overland
Carl Palmer and Carrie Kappel
Panoram Foundation Inc.
Allison Parker and Jeff Roelke
Luther Propst and Liz Storer
George and Annie Putnam
Jordan Rich
Elle and Max Shafer
Nancy Shea
Georgie W. Stanley II
Ted and Noa Staryk
Keilana Sugano
Stephen and Anna Sullivan
Michael Sutton/ Goldman Environmental Foundation
Teton Behavior Therapy
Wayne and Polly Turner
Amy and Dan Verbeten
David and Susan Work
FUNDERS
Looking Ahead: An Invitation to Engage
The coming year offers meaningful opportunities to build on the strong foundation our partners have created—and we invite you to be part of what comes next.
In 2026, LegacyWorks will:
Continue to support and strengthen the Snake River Headwaters Watershed Group as a platform for coordinated, basin-wide collaboration
Advance the next phase of the Teton Community Wellbeing Dashboard, with a focus on sustainable ecosystems, community connectedness, and food security
Work with partners to identify and launch projects grounded in shared regional priorities and locally led solutions
Deepen engagement with philanthropic partners who are committed to long-term, place-based resilience
We invite community members and partners to connect with us, share ideas, and explore opportunities for collaboration. For donors and supporters, your investment plays a critical role in sustaining this work—strengthening regional capacity, advancing locally led solutions, and allowing us to respond quickly as new opportunities emerge.
Together, we can ensure that this momentum continues to grow and deliver lasting benefits for people and place.
OUR PARTNERS
Meet a few of the 150+ partners collaborating across our impact areas
