Our 2022 Annual Conference will be held in-person at Glade Springs Resort near Beckley, WV. In addition, all keynote addresses and select breakout sessions will be available on Zoom for virtual attendees.
The current conference agenda is listed below; more updates will be coming, so check back soon for more information.
Conference Agenda
Day 1 – Wednesday, May 18
| Time | Location | Description |
| 1:30 PM | Registration Opens | |
| 2:30 PM | Member Orientation Coffee Hour | |
| 2:30 PM | Sponsor Technology User Group Experience | |
| 3:30 PM | Breakouts Day 1: Concurrent Skill-Building Sessions | |
| 3:30 PM | Track A: Annual Legal Matters & Briefing presented by Ben McDearmon, JD – Staff Counsel for the Council on Foundations: Join board members, CEOs, staff, and philanthropists for an in-depth briefing on current trends, changes, and legal matters for all foundation types presented by the expert legal team of the Council on Foundations. | |
| 3:30 PM | Available On Zoom | Track B: PEAK Grantmaking Mid-East Chapter Meeting, presented by Program Chair Shei Sanchez, Sisters Health Foundation: Join the Mideast Chapter to explore how equity work is being operationalized within foundations of various types and sizes and at different levels. We will talk through lessons learned over the last two years, and consider how these lessons are learning opportunities to move forward with trust-based practices. This is a time to connect with your peers in the full spectrum of the grant making process, discussing paths forward, roadblocks, difficulties and successes.*Broadcast Via Zoom for Remote Attendance* |
| 3:30 PM | Available On Zoom | Track C: Education Funders Affinity Group (EAG) 2nd Quarterly Meeting – Addressing Dyslexia and Student Success facilitated by EAG Chair Stephanie Hyre, Chief Program Officer, The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation. All who make grants/gifts to support education will find great resources and partners at the EAG. Guest speakers will focus on dyslexia education for student success and provide an update on the EAG’s collaborations with national funders. Featuring Elizabeth Hofreuter, Head of School, Wheeling Country Day School and Lori Dubrawka, Executive Director, Appalachian Reading Center. *Broadcast Via Zoom for Remote Attendance* |
| 5:00 PM | Break & Hotel Check In | |
| 5:45 PM | Welcome Reception with Musical Performance by Dina Hornbaker | |
| 6:15 PM | Available On Zoom | Opening Dinner & Conversation with Philanthropists*The opening dinner will include an in-depth conversation with philanthropists doing incredible work across West Virginia. This conversation will explore why and how they give, what they focus on, and how they partner to strengthen West Virginia’s communities. Featuring: Christy Laxton of the Wyoming Community Fund, and Students from the Susan Landis Youth Philanthropy Program at the Beckley Area Foundation. *Broadcast Via Zoom for Remote Attendance* |
| 8:00 PM | Informal Evening Socializing & Storytelling at the Firepits |
Thanks To Our Conference Sponsors
Beckley Area Foundation
FirstEnergy
Bernard McDonough Foundation
Dominion Energy
Day 2 – Thursday, May 19
| Time | Location | Description |
| 7:30 AM | Morning Movement SessionGet your day started with your peers with some outdoor exercise and movement. Sign-ups will be at the conference registration desk. Limited spots available so sign up early! | |
| Option 1: All-Levels Yoga with Stephanie Hyre | ||
| Option 2: Glade Springs Walking Tour with Dena Cushman | ||
| 9:00 AM | Available On Zoom | Brunch Keynote, Phil Buchanan, Center for Effective PhilanthropyLessons on Giving Done Right from a Time of Crisis: Nonprofits supported by philanthropy were on the front lines of the crises of the past two years, including the pandemic, deep political divisions, and a national reckoning on racial injustice. What did we learn about the role of nonprofits and funders in society? What changes were made by funders since 2020 and will they continue into the future? How can funders – including corporate, community, and private foundations – balance competing demands and maximize their positive impact on the varied communities they seek to support? What are the crucial elements of effectiveness and how can they guide funders’ decision-making? Phil Buchanan, president of the Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP), author of Giving Done Right, and co-host of the podcast of the same name, will explore these questions and their answers, drawing on CEP’s research and extensive work with foundation clients. *Broadcast Via Zoom for Remote Attendance* |
| 10:30 AM | Break | |
| 10:50 AM | Breakouts Day 2: Concurrent Role-Based Workshop Sessions | |
| 10:50 AM | Track A: Board Members & Trustees, led by Satonya Fair, JD, President & CEO of PEAK Grantmaking: As volunteers, most board members and trustees have limited time for engagement with giving & grantmaking programs. Satonya will lead an important session about identifying power gaps and narrowing them, and ensuring that you tie your practices and values together, consistently. | |
| 10:50 AM | Available on Zoom | Track B: Program Officers & Grants Managers: Led by Beth Collins of the Sisters of St. Joseph Health and Wellness Foundation. For program officers, grants managers, and volunteer grants committee members, join us for a dynamic session on modernizing your grantmaking/giving program’s impact through trust-based philanthropy practices and featuring practical resources. *Broadcast Via Zoom for Remote Attendance* |
| 10:50 AM | Track C: Scholarship Managers, led by Jess Puglisi-Sanders, Community Foundation for the Ohio Valley: Join staff and volunteers who manage scholarship awarding processes at their organizations. This session will offer an opportunity to debrief from the recent scholarship cycle, speaking about program successes, challenges, and changes moving forward. | |
| 10:50 AM | Track D: CEOs & Executive Directors, led by Phil Buchanan, Center for Effective Philanthropy, Real Talk About the Challenges of Leadership This highly interactive workshop will offer an opportunity to talk candidly about the challenges of philanthropic leadership. How can leaders balance competing priorities, including: a need to both acknowledge deep challenges and project credible optimism about the future; a compassion for staff exhaustion and the need to push for results; a desire to bridge ideological differences and a need to be true to core values; engagement of a governing board on crucial questions and a need to move quickly; and others. This session, facilitated by Center for Effective Philanthropy president Phil Buchanan, will help leaders explore these tensions in a candid and confidential forum. | |
| 10:50 AM | Available On Zoom | Track E: Finance & Operations Managers: The many roles of those managing the day to day operations of your organization’s grantmaking can be quite diverse. This session is for office managers, accountants, bookkeepers, CFOs, and others in finance and operations to discuss timely & evergreen issues, including modernizing technology, CRMs, employee benefits, and more. Featuring Kelly Shafer, CPA, Subtle & Stalnaker; Mychal S. Schulz, JD, Babst & Calland; and Chad Matlick, Philanthropy WV.*Broadcast Via Zoom for Remote Attendance* |
| 12:00 PM | Break & Head to Luncheon | |
| 12:20 PM | Luncheon Keynote* “We’re Not Going Back: A New Way of Grantmaking” by Satonya Fair, JD, President & CEO of PEAK Grantmaking Trust. Equity. Power. These last two years have served up a myriad of lessons and observations on how philanthropy can do better to support communities. Missions aside, the way we administer funds, show up in community, or even survey our grantees, can either bolster relationships or undermine our best intentions. As a nonprofit leader whose members/clients are funders from every segment of the sector, PEAK Grantmaking elevates five Principles designed to support philanthropy professionals to lead the march for more efficient, effective, and equitable grantmaking practices. Changing practices is a tactic, but transformation is the goal. In this engaging keynote, Satonya will highlight the power of inquiry as a powerful resource to propel us toward a better future state. We must challenge our assumptions, examine our motivations, and be willing to act collectively to ensure our internal and external practices are aligned with a shared set of values where both nonprofits and funders are values-aligned. *Broadcast Via Zoom for Remote Attendance* | |
| 1:35 PM | Break | |
| 1:50 PM | Available On Zoom | Post-Luncheon Briefing: Moving to Solutions in Southern West Virginia*Featuring Jina Belcher of New River Gorge Regional Development Authority, Sara Payne Scarbro of the Alliance for the Economic Development of Southern WV, Melanie Seiler of Active Southern WV, Mayor Sharon Cruikshank of Fayetteville! Hear from the innovative leaders creating solutions and charting new opportunities across Southern WV. The panel will include leaders in economic development, small business, tourism, local government, and philanthropy. You’ll learn about their work in action before we head out into the community to see incredible work underway and learn about opportunities for partnerships moving forward. *Broadcast Via Zoom for Remote Attendance* |
| 2:20 PM | Depart for Philanthropy in Action Site VisitsConference Attendees will drive themselves to designated site visits. Site Visits will NOT be available for virtual attendance. | |
| 3:00 PM | Option 1: Beckley Tour – Strengthening Downtowns & Nonprofit Impact | |
| 3:00 PM | Option 2: Mount Hope Tour – Growing Cultural & Historic Preservation | |
| 3:00 PM | Option 3: Fayetteville Tour – Cultivating Tourism & Agriculture | |
| 5:30 PM | Reception & Local Music in Fayetteville featuring performance by Matt Mullins Location: The Gaines Estate | |
| 6:15 PM | “Taste of the New River Gorge” Dinner Discussion: Building Effective Partnerships among Government, Philanthropy, Businesses, and Nonprofits Location: The Gaines Estate | |
| 7:30 PM | Dinner Concludes [Attendees begin free time evening activities and/or travel back to resort] |
Day 3 – Friday, May 20
| Time | Location | Description |
| 8:00 AM | Breakfast Served | |
| 8:30 AM | Available On Zoom | Breakfast Keynote: Cultivating Effective Government & Philanthropy Partnerships to Leverage Local Impact* Featuring Jennifer Simon from the Appalachian Regional Commission, Courtney Haynes from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, and Mitch Carmichael, Secretary of the WV Department of Economic Development *Broadcast Via Zoom for Remote Attendance* |
| 9:30 AM | Break | |
| 9:50 AM | Breakouts Day 3: Concurrent Member-Type Sessions | |
| 9:50 AM | Available on Zoom | Track A: Private & Family Foundations & Corporate Responsibility: During a time that communities are determining how to best recover and rebuild from the past two years, private & family foundations and corporate giving programs can play a role in convening, advocating, and collaborating for new opportunities and to advancing great work underway. Join experienced leaders including Janelle Ray, of the Pallottine Foundations of Buckhannon & Huntington, Bob Boone of the Bernard McDonough Foundation, John Shott from the Hugh I. Shott, Jr. Foundation, and Bradley Harris of WV American Water to hear about the ways your organization can be a great advocate, partner, and facilitator of community leadership. |
| 9:50 AM | Available On Zoom | Track B: Community Foundations & United Ways: The evolving federal and state policy environment around charitable deductions, tax credits, DAFs, and other options keep us spinning like tops! Join this session to identify your organization’s role on communicating effectively to state and federal policy makers to implement better charitable giving policy for the future of our communities. Featuring Speakers: Vincent Coleman of Philanthropy Ohio, Susie Nelson of the Community Foundation for the Ohio Valley, and Margaret O’Neal of the United Way of Central WV. *Broadcast Via Zoom for Remote Attendance* |
| 10:50 AM | Break | |
| 11:05 AM | Breakouts Day 3: Concurrent Innovative Leadership Sessions | |
| 11:05 AM | Available On Zoom | Track A: Harvesting Opportunities through Collaborations Addressing Criminal Justice Reform In this interactive session we will explore the lay of the land of criminal legal reform in West Virginia, including recent efforts as led by formerly incarcerated people to enact policy change to reduce incarceration and the barriers to reentry. This session will foster dialogue about how we can move away from an expensive carceral system, and the ways communities are meaningfully responding to the crises of addiction and mental illness. Featuring: Lida Shepherd, American Friends Service Committee; Danni Dineen, Human Resources Development Fund; Commissioner Betsy Jividen, WV Division of Corrections & Rehabilitation; and Tammy Jordan, Fruits of Labor *Broadcast Via Zoom for Remote Attendance* |
| 11:05 AM | Track B: Creating Thriving Downtowns through Art & Business Partnerships Featuring Bryan Cooper of Charleston Creativity Connections, Stephanie Hyre of The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation, and Sue Sergi of the Glotfelty Foundation. | |
| 11:05 AM | Track C: Cultivating Entrepreneurship & Economic Development Featuring Judy Moore of the WV Hive, Gabe Pena, Fayetteville Town Councilman & Former Fayette County Resource Coordinator, and Susanna Wheeler of the New Roots Community Farm | |
| 11:05 AM | Available On Zoom | Track D: Attracting & Growing Talent for a Vibrant Future Featuring Amy Fauber of Generation WV, Marian Clowes of the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation, Debbie Stanton of the Community Foundation for the Ohio Valley, and Nicole Christian of the Charleston Area Alliance *Broadcast Via Zoom for Remote Attendance* |
| 12:05 PM | Proceed to Luncheon & WV Spirit of Philanthropy Awards Ceremony | |
| 12:15 PM | Closing Luncheon Served | |
| 12:45 PM | Available On Zoom | Closing Keynote: Doing the Work and Building Trust in Communities Featuring Chantel Rush, Managing Director of the American Cities Program, Kresge Foundation and Stephanie Tyree, Executive Director, the WV Community Development Hub *Broadcast Via Zoom for Remote Attendance* |
| 1:30 PM | Musical Performance by Lady D, West Virginia’s First Lady of Soul | |
| 1:45 PM | WV Spirit of Philanthropy Awards Ceremony2020 SOP Awardees Recognized2021 SOP Awardees Announced | |
| 2:45 PM | Closing Remarks & Adjournment |
Questions?
Please contact Program & Engagement Manager, Abigail E. Miller, with any questions or concerns: abigail@philanthropywv.org.