Knowledge, Resources & Connections for Funders Across West Virginia
We are collaborating with the WV Nonprofit Association on a Philanthropy and Nonprofit Policy Day at the Legislature Wednesday, February 18.
If you would like to sign up for in person meetings with your legislators, please use this link. We will provide talking points, make appointments (if you provide advance notice) and conduct follow up outreach. If you can’t participate in person, we will provide email templates so members can share the same information and demonstrate our community’s impact. Share your thoughts on the topics we should focus on even if you can’t attend in person. We value your input.
There will be a focus on the Neighborhood Investment Program, which sunsets June 30, 2026 and an overview of the important work taking place within the philanthropy community.
Following the morning’s activities, Philanthropy West Virginia will host a virtual policy briefing. Speakers include representatives from the West Virginia Center on Budget and Policy, Mountain State Justice, and West Virginia Citizen Action Group. They will share coordinated legal, policy, and grassroots strategies to engage West Virginians on issues that most directly impact their lives. Please register here!
Topics to be discussed: Sustaining Public Schools: Through Together for Public Schools WV, more than a dozen organizations have come together to address inequities in school funding that have led to unprecedented rural school closures and underfunded classrooms. In communities across the state, parents, teachers, and organizations are fighting back to save their schools and chart a better path forward.
Health Care Changes: Our rural communities are slated to be disproportionately impacted by federal cuts to Medicaid and SNAP, programs our people rely on for health coverage and food assistance as well as jobs. In many rural places, the hospital or clinic is among the largest employers. Together, our organizations have been working in rural communities to help prepare residents for changes, in some cases, with the future of rural hospitals and health care at risk if federal policy changes are not rolled back.
Criminal Law Reform Advocacy: Over the last decade, West Virginia has had the distinction of housing the deadliest jails in the country. Our partners have come together with incarcerated West Virginians, their loved ones, and concerned family members to address emerging issues and advance meaningful change, including on access to medical care, parole practices, food quality, and the use of solitary confinement, through grassroots organizing, legislative change, and systematic litigation.
Based upon member feedback, we are excited to bring back some legislative outreach. There are two events happening on February 18. Whether you can participate in person to visit your legislator or need to stay close to home, you can hear from several organizations in a policy briefing online that afternoon. We are collaborating with […]
Join us Feb. 18, 2026, for Legislative Outreach and Information Read More »
West Virginia’s food insecurity rate hovers at about 14% statewide, affecting more than 270,000 people and ranking among the highest in the nation.
Child hunger is especially severe: More than 1 in 5 of West Virginia’s children live in a food insecure household.
Federal programs such as SNAP support over 273,000 West Virginians with essential benefits, but inflation and federal disruptions have raised even more urgent needs.
Philanthropy West Virginia’s goal at the beginning of the project was to: Coordinate an effective collaborative philanthropic response to the growing needs created by the lack of access to food in West Virginia.
Planned outcomes included:
Facilitating better connected and collaborative response among funders and nonprofits and community members in regard to food insecurity;
Coordinating communication around and resources to the statewide philanthropic sector about the efforts addressing food insecurity;
Hosting regional conversations and/or discussion at our annual conference (among funders, government, nonprofit, community members and business leaders) about the lessons learned from these convenings to create an actionable plan.
2025 Food Insecurity Convening Report Available Read More »
We are excited to announce our 2025 Conference Lineup! Our goal is to give you a conference with “something for everyone” in our membership. To that end, we have a first-class lineup of professionals representing a wide array of professional skills and knowledge. Thought leaders and hands-on practitioners who are ready to engage attendees in
Our 2025 Annual Conference Speakers and Session Topics Read More »
Registration is LIVE for our Annual Conference Philanthropy West Virginia will hold its Annual Conference October 14-16, 2025 at Canaan Valley Resort in Davis, WV. Register today and join us for an incredible conference experience including an excellent lineup of speakers, opportunities to connect with other Philanthropy WV members, and to enjoy a scenic part
Registration is LIVE for our Annual Conference Read More »
Call for 2025 Annual Conference Proposals During our 2025 Annual Conference, Philanthropy West Virginia wants to highlight our members’ innovative and important work and provide an opportunity for all grantmakers serving WV to share, learn, and collaborate with your peer. We invite you to submit a session proposal to help shape the content of this
Call for Conference Proposals for the 2025 Annual Conference Read More »
Recent Executive Orders regarding a freeze on federal financial assistance have created significant uncertainty for many in our nonprofit community. 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.
An open letter to West Virginia’s Federal and State Representatives Read More »
VISIT THE CONFERENCE WEBSITE Join Us At Our 2025 Annual Conference, Oct 14-16 at Canaan Valley Resort Please save the dates of October 14-16, 20225 and plan a trip to our Annual Conference at the beautiful Canaan Valley Resort during leaf peeper season! We are excited to work with our Conference Committee to provide you
Philanthropy West Virginia Hires Jennifer Goddard as new President & CEO Dec 3, 2024 -Jennifer Reed Goddard has been named the new President and CEO of Philanthropy West Virginia. Goddard, APR, has crafted a distinguished career spanning the nonprofit, corporate, consulting, public relations, and advertising sectors. She is a recognized leader in nonprofit management, corporate
Philanthropy West Virginia Hires New CEO Read More »
Philanthropy West Virginia Proudly Announces the 2024 Spirit of Philanthropy Awards Honorees The honorees for the 2024 West Virginia Spirit of Philanthropy Awards have been selected, based on their philanthropic commitment, leadership, and creativity in uplifting the Mountain State. This year’s honorees will be celebrated on Tuesday, October 22nd during the 2024 Philanthropy WV Annual
Call for 2024 Annual Conference Proposals During our 2024 Annual Conference, Philanthropy West Virginia wants to highlight our members’ innovative and important work and provide an opportunity to share, learn, and collaborate with your peer funders. We encourage Philanthropy WV members to submit a session proposal to help shape the content of this year’s conference
Call For Conference Proposals For the 2024 Annual Conference Read More »