An Open Letter to West Virginia’s Federal and State Representatives
February 14, 2025
Philanthropy West Virginia is dedicated to fostering a strong and collaborative network among our members. We strive to:
- Facilitate learning and knowledge sharing among our members.
- Deepen our understanding of the critical issues facing West Virginians.
- Maximize our collective impact by leveraging resources and encouraging investment in our state.
As you know, recent Executive Orders regarding a freeze on federal financial assistance have created significant uncertainty for many in our nonprofit community.
- On January 27, 2025 the federal Office of Management and Budget issued a memo instructing a halt to all federal financial assistance, with limited exceptions, effective January 28.
- Subsequently, a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order, pausing the freeze until February 3, 2025, following legal action by several states and national organizations.
- On February 6,2025 a new Executive Order directed federal department heads to review their budgets and “align future funding decisions with the interests of the United States and with the goals and priorities of my Administration.”
For weeks, many nonprofit organizations in West Virginia have:
- Expressed fears about their ability to meet payroll,
- Experienced delays in federal reimbursements,
- Been locked out of federal reporting sites to submit reports and
- Sought legal counsel to determine the risks they face because of their mission-driven work.
Current events highlight the significant reliance of West Virginia’s nonprofit and state service providers on federal funding. These funds are crucial for supporting vital services, including:
- Feeding low-income children and senior citizens
- Securing emergency shelter and
- Providing healthcare services
- Paying employee salaries of service providers
In West Virginia’s fiscal year 2025, $9.63 billion out of a total budget of $19.2 billion are federal dollars. Nearly all of this funding is for permanent programs. Any delays to reimbursement or elimination of federal funding will have a significant impact on the state’s residents. This doesn’t include the direct funding programs, such as the food assistance program SNAP or federal Supplemental Security Income payments for low-income families. Many nonprofit programs depend upon timely reimbursement for services provided to their communities. A pause or delay in reimbursement may lead to layoffs or staff reductions.
According to The West Virginia Nonprofit Association, in 2022 the West Virginia nonprofit sector employed 77,685 people–more than 14% of the state’s workforce. Nonprofits generated $9 billion in annual revenues and held assets of $13 billion. All together, West Virginia foundations annually give almost $59.8 million and individual West Virginians give almost $477 million to nonprofits each year.
The state’s philanthropic community is already filling the gaps for many people in our state through grants funding of food pantries and backpack nutrition programs, scholarships, senior supports such as rides to medical appointments and grocery stores and supplies for afterschool and child care programs. If federally-funded programs delay reimbursement for shelter nights or food programs, vulnerable people will suffer. West Virginia’s philanthropic community can’t bridge the federal funding gap should those dollars cease
Philanthropy West Virginia represents more than 50 private, family, community, corporate foundations as well as giving programs, public grantmakers and individual philanthropists. We are one of 35 associations across the nation supporting the infrastructure of philanthropy.
It’s important to remember that we are not alone in navigating these challenges. Philanthropy West Virginia members are a vital part of a strong and resilient network. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, our members demonstrated remarkable adaptability and compassion in responding to the urgent needs of our communities.
Philanthropy West Virginia is committed to supporting our members through this period of uncertainty. As funders, our membership seeks continuous improvement from our community partners and expects collaboration and innovative solutions while stretching every dollar to maximize collective investments. We know that we are part of a larger pool of resources and our grantees depend upon every dollar from the private and public sectors.
We urge our elected officials to carefully consider every action related to pausing or ceasing federal funding. West Virginia’s philanthropy community is dedicated to the well-being of all of West Virginia’s citizens and we will collectively and individually step in to support our communities so all can thrive. Federal funds are an irreplaceable part of the complex infrastructure underpinning the success of West Virginia. United as Philanthropy West Virginia, we are listening to our communities and we ask our elected representatives to do the same.