teton county search and rescue foundation

What teton county search and rescue foundation does

Teton County Search and Rescue Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 46-1402367) founded in 1993 and headquartered at 300 Rescue Way, Jackson, Wyoming. The Foundation supports the volunteer-led Teton County Search & Rescue (TCSAR) team, which provides free search and rescue services 24/7/365 to backcountry recreationists and other persons in need across Teton County and surrounding areas, operating under the jurisdiction of the Teton County Sheriff's Office. Approximately 38 volunteers collectively contributed 10,827 hours of service in 2024, responding to 130 calls for service and executing 60+ helicopter rescue missions from a year-round Airbus H125 acquired in October 2023 through the $7.25 million Mission Critical community capital campaign.

The Foundation's operational technology centers on aviation and ground rescue capabilities: an Airbus H125 helicopter performing short-haul and internal transport operations under FAA Part 133 External Load Operator and FAA Part 135 Air Carrier certifications, RZR side-by-side ground vehicles, wheeled litter systems, drones, and integrations with RECCO detectors and Garmin inReach satellite emergency alerts. Adjacent programs — Backcountry Zero (launched 2015), The Fine Line podcast (since 2016), the annual Wyoming Snow & Avalanche Workshop (WYSAW), and the 'What's In Your Pack' workshop series — deliver backcountry safety education. The Foundation also hosted ICAR Jackson Hole 2025, the first U.S. host in 77 years for the International Commission for Alpine Rescue, drawing approximately 600 international attendees.

The business model is donation-driven rather than commercial. All rescue services are provided free of charge. Revenue streams include individual donations and corporate sponsorships, the Mission Critical capital campaign, merchandise sales (apparel, RECCO safety products, and $50 patron packages — items priced $10–$98 with 100% of proceeds supporting volunteers), recurring Donor Circle and Shriver Society major-gift programs, and cooperative agency support agreements with federal partners including Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone National Park, and Bridger-Teton National Forest for aviation rescue support. Customer segments span backcountry recreation users, federal and local government agencies, and the broader local community benefiting from prevention programming.

Name

teton county search and rescue foundation

Legal name

Teton County Search and Rescue Foundation

Website

https://tetoncountysar.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Teton County Search and Rescue Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1993 in Jackson, Wyoming that funds and supports 38 volunteer rescuers providing free year-round search and rescue services across Teton County and surrounding backcountry.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Jackson

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Primary revenue source through individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and fundraising campaigns including Old Bill's Fun Run and Mission Critical capital campaign. Donations fund equipment, training, and operational costs.
2. Merchandise Sales: Online shop selling branded merchandise including apparel, hats, mugs, rescue tools, with 100% of proceeds benefiting TCSAR volunteers
3. Donor Circle Membership: Exclusive donor membership program with benefits for ongoing supporters
4. Shriver Society: Long-term significant gift program for major donors
5. Agency Support Agreements: Cooperative agreements with federal partners including Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone National Park, and Bridger-Teton National Forest for aviation support

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Teton County Search and Rescue Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports a volunteer-led search and rescue team providing free emergency rescue services in Teton County, Wyoming, and surrounding backcountry areas. The Foundation funds a year-round Airbus H125 helicopter rescue program with FAA Part 133 and Part 135 certifications, ground rescue operations, and preventative backcountry safety education programs including WYSAW, Backcountry Zero, and The Fine Line podcast. Operations are sustained through community donations, corporate sponsorships, Donor Circle memberships, and merchandise sales.

Product overview

Teton County Search and Rescue Foundation supports a volunteer-led search and rescue organization providing free emergency services. The Foundation operates several interconnected programs: core rescue services (helicopter-based and ground operations), education initiatives including the annual WYSAW workshop and 'What's In Your Pack' workshops, the Backcountry Zero preventative SAR programming, The Fine Line podcast for safety awareness, and merchandise sales (apparel, safety equipment like RECCO products, patron packages) that directly fund volunteer support and operations. The Foundation also hosted the 2025 International Commission for Alpine Rescue (ICAR), the largest gathering of alpine rescuers in the world.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Search and Rescue Services
• Helicopter Rescue Program
• TCSAR Online Shop (Branded Merchandise)
• RECCO Rescue Products
• TCSAR + Osprey First Aid Kit
• The Fine Line Podcast
• Wyoming Snow & Avalanche Workshop (WYSAW)
• Backcountry Zero
• What's In Your Pack Workshop Series
• Donor Circle Membership
• Shriver Society
• Friends of The Fine Line Package
• Friends of Backcountry Zero Package

Quantifiable outcome

• Free rescue services save individuals from potentially catastrophic medical costs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Jackson Hole Travel & Tourism BoardflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 October 2025Major sponsor of ICAR Jackson Hole 2025 and ongoing supporter of TCSAR operations and events.
• Jackson Hole Mountain ResortflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025Sponsor of ICAR 2025 and partner for helicopter support and backcountry rescue coordination. JHMR Ski Patrol works jointly with TCSAR on rescues in the resort backcountry.
• Snow King MountaincoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 October 2025Sponsor of ICAR 2025 and provided venue for helicopter display at base of Snow King Mountain during the conference.
• AirbuscoreTechnology or Integration · 1 October 2025Sponsor of ICAR 2025 and helicopter manufacturer of TCSAR's H125 rescue aircraft.
• BellcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 October 2025Sponsor of ICAR 2025 and manufacturer of Bell 407 helicopter featured in helicopter display.
• Arc'teryxcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 October 2025Sponsor of ICAR 2025 providing support for the international rescue conference.
• Grand Teton National Park / Jenny Lake RangersflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025Ongoing cooperative agreements for helicopter support. In 2024, TCSAR's helicopter was called 31 times to conduct missions with Jenny Lake Rangers in GTNP. Joint rescue operations documented in rescue reports.
• Wyoming Department of TransportationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025Agency partner supported through TCSAR's FAA Part 133 certification for external load operations.
• Bridger-Teton Avalanche CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025Partner in avalanche safety education and rescue coordination. Joint stakeholders in WYSAW workshop.
• Star Valley Search & RescuecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024Interagency partner; TCSAR provided helicopter assistance for rescue of lost hiker near Afton, Wyoming in June 2023.
• Bank of Jackson HolecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor supporting TCSAR operations and events including WYSAW.
• Black Diamond EquipmentcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerEquipment sponsor providing gear support for TCSAR operations.
• Stio Outdoor ApparelminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOutdoor apparel brand sponsor of TCSAR.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Wasatch County Search and Rescue: Volunteer search and rescue team serving Wasatch County, Utah. Comparable as a backcountry-focused, donation-funded volunteer SAR organization with helicopter rescue operations and community safety education in mountainous terrain similar to the Tetons.
• Grand County Search and Rescue (Colorado): Volunteer SAR team serving Grand County, Colorado. Comparable as a mountain resort-region volunteer nonprofit SAR organization with helicopter response capability, similar funding model (donations, events), and overlapping federal land-management partnerships.
• Seattle Mountain Rescue: Volunteer technical mountain rescue unit serving the Cascade Range near Seattle, Washington. Direct peer as an all-volunteer nonprofit SAR team conducting backcountry rescues and preventative education, with a comparable organizational structure and donor-supported funding model.
• Mount Hood Search and Rescue: Volunteer SAR organization serving the Mt. Hood area in Oregon. Direct peer as a Pacific Northwest/Northern Rockies-region volunteer nonprofit SAR team with helicopter rescue, backcountry operations, and prevention education programs comparable in mission and structure to TCSAR.
• Alpine Rescue Team: Volunteer mountain search and rescue team based in Evergreen, Colorado. Closely comparable as an all-volunteer nonprofit SAR team operating in challenging alpine terrain with helicopter and ground response capabilities, and similar reliance on donations and member fundraising.
• Coconino County Search and Rescue: Volunteer SAR organization serving Coconino County, Arizona, including Grand Canyon terrain. Comparable as a volunteer-led, donation-funded backcountry SAR nonprofit with helicopter operations, federal land partnerships, and community education programming analogous to TCSAR's mission.

Others

• Mountain Rescue Association: National umbrella organization for volunteer search and rescue teams across the U.S. Comparable as the coordinating body and standards-setter for volunteer mountain rescue units like TCSAR; TCSAR's hosting of ICAR 2025 reflects its standing within this peer ecosystem.

Emerging players

• Snohomish County Helicopter Rescue Team: Specialized helicopter rescue team serving Snohomish County, Washington. Comparable aviation-rescue overlap but more narrowly focused on helicopter hoist operations rather than full-spectrum backcountry SAR like TCSAR.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@tetoncountysearchrescue1993
• Instagraminstagram.com/tetoncountysar
• Xx.com/TetonCountySAR
• Facebookfacebook.com/152080551497500

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about teton county search and rescue foundation