The West Virginia Neighborhood Investment Program recently announced that the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation was allocated $33,000 in NIP tax credits. Qualifying gifts of at least $500 can be made to the Foundation to earn a 50% West Virginia income tax credit for the donor. Donors can receive a maximum of $2,000 in NIP tax credits for gifts of $4,000 or more.Because these West Virginia NIP tax credits actually reduce state tax liability, a $1,000 gift to the Community Foundation translates into an actual $500 out of pocket expense—and even less if donors itemize deductions on their federal tax return. Programs supported by NIP tax credits serve low-income residents in highly distressed neighborhoods and certain restrictions apply for contributions to be eligible.

The West Virginia Legislature sets aside $3 million annually in NIP tax credits to help nonprofit organizations that are serving distressed neighborhoods and at-risk populations. Donors can use the tax credits to reduce liability for West Virginia Personal Income Tax or Corporate Net Income Tax by up to 50% annually. Credits may be used over a five-year period.

“Tax credits can help donors make sizable gifts that will benefit our community this year, and forever,” says Michael Whalton, executive director of the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation. “These NIP eligible gifts will support our Community Impact Funds in the five counties we serve – Berkeley, Jefferson, Morgan, Hampshire, and Hardy – as well as other endowed funds that address critical needs in our communities.”

The Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation was founded in 1995 to work with local donors to build permanent community endowment. Funds are invested and grants and scholarships are awarded from the annual gains. Individuals or businesses interested in donating can call (304) 264-0353 to reserve NIP credits and discuss how their gift will be used to benefit local charities. Credits will be awarded on a first come, first served basis.

The Community Foundation awards more than $1.2 million in annual grants and scholarships to local nonprofit organizations and college-bound students and provides financial stewardship for 280 endowed funds with over $38 million in assets. The main office is located at the Caperton Station Suites at 229 E. Martin Street, Suite 4 in Martinsburg. To learn more, visit www.EWVCF.org or call 304-264-0353.

Local Organization Accredited with Rigorous Philanthropic Standards

Martinsburg—The Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation (EWVCF) recently received accreditation with the nation’s highest standard for philanthropic excellence. National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations® establish legal, ethical, effective practices for community foundations everywhere.

“Meeting the National Standards benchmarks is a rigorous, comprehensive process,” said Randy Royster, board member of the Council on Foundations. “This accreditation is a significant accomplishment that indicates that the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation demonstrates a commitment to transparency, quality, integrity, and accountability as it carries out its mission.”

The National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations® program requires community foundations to document their policies for donor services, investments, grantmaking, and administration. With over 500 community foundations already accredited nationwide, the program is designed to provide quality assurance to donors, as well as to their legal and financial advisors. EWVCF Associate Director/COO Susan Caperton was responsible for handling all aspects of the application process which normally requires several submissions. In this case the application was approved without needing any revisions.

“This is critically important to our donors,” said Michael Whalton, EWVCF executive director. “When people make a charitable bequest or establish a fund, they are putting their trust in us. They are counting on us to manage the investment wisely and honor their charitable intent. The National Standards accreditation says our house is in order.”

The Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation works to meet critical community needs and support local causes, including funding senior citizen programs, championing the arts, cultivating gardens, curing illness, expanding literacy, and feeding children.

By offering a wide range of charitable funds, EWVCF allows donors to advance a cause, support an individual organization, address community needs, or recommend individual grants. In addition to affirming the organization’s philanthropic services, the accreditation validates the Foundation’s grantmaking practices for the nonprofit community.

“Grantmaking is a lot like investing,” said Andrew McMillan, EWVCF board president. “We need to assess risks, weigh potential gains, diversify assets, monitor performance, and operate fairly. With our National Standards accreditation, you can be assured that we’re doing just that.”

National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations® is the first program of its kind for charitable foundations in the United States.

Through philanthropic services, strategic investments and community leadership, the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation helps people support the causes they care about, now and for generations to come. To learn more, visit the website at www.EWVCF.org or call 304.264.0353.

The Community Foundations National Standards Board is a supporting organization of the Council on Foundations and is responsible for the quality, value, and integrity of compliance with National Standards. For more information on the National Standards Board, visit its website at www.cfstandards.org.

The Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation hosted a special reception to celebrate multiple new scholarship funds to help support education within the community.

The first fund was created by Richard Durham for the Boys and Girls Club of the Eastern Panhandle. The second was the C. David and Barbara L. Miller Technical Education Fund, while the third was a fund to help support James Rumsey Technical Institute’s ACE program.

Durham was an important member of the foundation and a part of the Boys and Girls Club of the Eastern Panhandle’s board. Durham helped create the Boys and Girls Club of the Eastern Panhandle Fund in 2006 and was instrumental in bringing the different clubs around the area together to form a larger group.

When Durham passed away last year, he left instructions to give his house at Stonebridge to the foundation so it could be sold. He requested that half the proceeds be used to create the Durham Family Scholarship Fund, while the other half be added to the club’s fund.

“Durham always believed in us,” said Stacie Rohn, executive director at the Boys and Girls Club. “He would always pop in at the club to see how we are doing. He really had a heart for the kids and would do whatever he could to help. He always said that the kids would be taken care of.”

The C. David and Barbara L. Miller Technical Education Fund was established with a legacy gift from the Millers. They wanted to help support schools that provide technical training for students who are pursuing a career in the trades, such as Blue Ridge Community and Technical College or James Rumsey Technical Institute. In 2024, teachers can start applying for grants to help support these students.

Advisors from the Berkeley County Industrial Park Development Fund suggested creating the fund to support James Rumsey Technical Institute’s ACE program for adult continuing education. In 2024, 10 students will receive scholarships for $500 to go toward their education. Donna Van Metre, director and principal at James Rumsey this fund is so important for students.

“We have a lot of nontraditional students,” Van Metre said. “Many of them are adults going through a career transition. Any type of financial help can make the difference between finishing their education or not. We want to help serve the community, but we couldn’t do it without the community coming together to support us and our students.”

The Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation was happy to be a part of these funds as they support children and technical education within the community. As the foundation continues to grow, they hope to support more people in the area to help people flourish.

This story was written by Ainsley Hall and appeared in The Journal on August 26, 2023. We are truly grateful that the Eastern Panhandle has a daily newspaper with reporters who cover local news. Click here to read the entire story and see the photos taken by Ainsley when she attended our reception at the Law Offices of Sutton and Janelle in the wonderful old YMCA building at 224 West King Street in Martinsburg.