NEWS - Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation

October 22, 2013 By EWVCF

Good Governance for 501(c)(3) Organizations

Good Governance for 501(c)(3) Organizations
Tuesday, October 22
9 am to Noon
Fee: $25 per participant

Olivia Hutton of Yount Hyde & Barbour will be leading this workshop and sharing her experience as a CPA who specializes in financial matters pertaining to nonprofit organizations.

“Understanding the IRS Form 990”

The IRS has brought the idea of good governance to the forefront of discussion among charitable organizations and revised Form 990 a few years ago. Why is the IRS worried about governance issues and requiring organizations to report more information on Form 990? What issues does the IRS care about? And most importantly, what does it mean for you, your board and your organization? We will discuss what road the IRS (and Congress) may take in enforcing good governance procedures, and how to protect charitable organizations from IRS good governance examinations. In the end, this workshop will help you understand the emphasis on good governance and prepare for the more in depth reporting requirements for Form 990.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this workshop, participants will have a better understanding of the emphasis on good governance for nonprofit organizations and be better prepared for the more in depth reporting requirements for Form 990.

Preparing for the Audit

Learn tips and strategies to make your organization’s annual audit a smooth process and rewarding experience.

Learning Objectives: At the end of this session, participants will feel more comfortable with the preparation of the audit.

Registration: Community Foundation N.E.T Registration Form

October 7, 2013 By EWVCF

Mini-Grants For Teachers

The Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation (EWVCF) is offering a few small mini-grants for teachers in Berkeley County. Grants from the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation are made possible by the generosity of donors who are committed to local philanthropy and our quality of life in the Eastern Panhandle. Grants are recommended by specific fund committees and approved by the EWVCF Board of Directors.

Every day teachers are faced with keeping children interested and challenged with few resources beyond basic curriculum. Limited school budgets often cannot support the creative ideas and cannot provide supplies to challenge students and stimulate learning. The Mini-Grants program brings together the resources of funders who have an interest in K-12 education and helping teachers teach and kids learn.

How Does It Work?

Through a very simple application process, K-12 teachers can apply for grant funding to provide enriching academic experiences in their classrooms. Grant awards will be up to $500. The objective is to encourage and support teachers who have great ideas that will provide enhanced learning experiences for students. Mini-Grants enable the purchase of special materials and resources for the classroom and are intended to support projects that are not provided for within school budgets or other means.

All grant recipients are expected to report on the expenditure of grant funds and results of the supported project within one year of the award.

Who Can Apply?

All Berkeley County Public School K-12 teachers are encouraged to apply.

Grant Application Due Date/Submission

All grant applications must be received on or before October 31, 2013 to be considered.

Grant applications may be emailed to [email protected], faxed to: 888-507-8375, or mailed to:

Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation

229 E. Martin Street, Suite 4

Martinsburg, WV 25401

Grants will be announced after November 15, 2013. If you have questions, please call 304-264-0353.

Download the one page application here. (Form is a “fillable” pdf document.)

Teacher mini grant app.pdf

August 19, 2013 By EWVCF

Two Rivers Giving Circle to Present Award and Accept Grant Proposals

2013 Eastern Panhandle Conservationist to Be Recognized

Morgan County resident Gale Foulds will be presented with the 2013 Eastern Panhandle Conservation Award this Sunday, August 25th in Shepherdstown. The Two Rivers Giving Circle, a donor-advised fund of the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation, sponsors the program by annually recognizing an outstanding preservationist or conservationist. Foulds, active in watershed issues around the region, will accept the award during the Giving Circle’s Annual Picnic hosted at a private home along the Potomac River.

The award will be presented by Two Rivers Giving Circle member Lisa Welch, who describes Foulds’ work as a major contribution to the life and wellbeing of the people and nature in the Eastern Panhandle. Foulds is a founding member and President of the Sleepy Creek Watershed Association, which received statewide recognition for its efforts in Outreach and Education. The organization’s outreach program has been highly effective in educating the community about the importance of protecting the local watershed.

In addition to education and outreach, the Sleepy Creek Watershed Association aggressively promotes watershed issues, has an excellent track record for getting grants, and enjoys strong growth thanks to a successful volunteer recruiting program. Thanks to her conservation work, Foulds is well respected by both her peers and the community at large.

Linda Case, a Two Rivers Giving Circle founder, explained that the award was an idea of the group to expand its vision of providing financial support to include special recognition to people in the community who make a difference on behalf of conservation and preservation.

The Two Rivers Giving Circle is soliciting grant proposals through September 16th and nonprofit organizations, schools, or government agencies with conservation or preservation projects in Morgan, Berkeley, or Jefferson Counties. are encouraged to apply. Information about the grants program can be found on the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation web site at www.EWVCF.org or by calling the Community Foundation office at (304) 264-0353. More than $6,000 in Two Rivers Giving Circle conservation and preservation grants will be awarded in late October or early November this year.

The Two Rivers Giving Circle is made up of like-minded individuals interested in supporting conservation and preservation programs in the Eastern Panhandle. Each member contributes $500 or more annually which is used to create a larger grantmaking pool to have a greater impact in the community. Members review proposals and interview potential grantees in order to report back to the grant-making circle as a whole for final grant recommendations.

Those interested in learning more about the Two Rivers Giving Circle should call the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation at (304) 264-0353. Founded in 1995, the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation serves Jefferson, Berkeley, and Morgan Counties, provides financial stewardship for more than 160 endowment funds, and holds approximately $15 million in assets. During the past three years more than $3 million in grants and scholarships have been awarded by the community foundation.

There are more than 700 community foundations across America and 26 in West Virginia, making community foundations one of the fastest growing forms of philanthropy today. With the mission to help donors establish a lasting legacy to support nonprofit organizations and charitable causes near and dear to them, the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation has enjoyed tremendous success and touches the lives of thousands in our region.

December 28, 2012 By EWVCF

Generous Donors Double $2,000 Gift

Two Challenge Grants Met

Community Networks, Inc (Bethany House) & Shenandoah Women’s Center Funds Grow Thanks to Recent Donations

MARTINSBURG, WV – Thanks to a matching-funds-challenge set up by a gift from the former Soroptimist Club, the endowment funds that help support Community Networks, Inc. (Bethany House) and the Shenandoah Women’s Center have each grown by $2,000. Several recent end-of-year gifts to the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation were earmarked to support the challenge and we wish to extend a special thanks to the donors who helped us reach our goal.

November 15, 2012 By EWVCF

Call for Nominations

Philanthropist of the Year

2012 Philanthropist of the Year Awards

Inspired by National Community Foundations Week which will be celebrated this year from November 11-17, and National Philanthropy Day on November 15, the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation will recognize local individuals and a business that have made a positive philanthropic impact on our Eastern Panhandle community through remarkable charitable giving.

Three 2012 Philanthropists of the Year will be honored at a reception on Thursday, November 15, 2012, from 6:00 to 7:30 PM at the Purple Iris at Hartwood. Honorees will choose a charitable organization within the Eastern Panhandle to receive a cash grant from the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation. The three awards which will be presented are:

Individual Philanthropist of the Year, presented to an individual, couple, or family.

Young Philanthropist of the Year, presented to a young man or woman within the ages of 8 and 18 at the time of his or her philanthropic work.

Corporate Philanthropist of the Year, presented to a business, corporation, civic organization, church, corporate foundation, or family foundation.

The criteria for judging include:

•Direct financial support of one or more nonprofit organizations or charitable causes

•Leadership and organizational ability in fundraising and nonprofit management

•Participation in other local, national and/or international charities

•Encouragement and motivation to inspire others to take leadership roles in philanthropy

We urge you to make a nomination in one, two, or all three categories. You are also welcome to nominate more than one person or group within a category. Nominations may be made by email, fax, or regular mail and must be submitted or postmarked by October 25th.

Past Individual Philanthropists of the Year have included W. Randy Smith, Roger & Helen Shallis, Terry Hess, Tim & Alice Bowers, Mikki Van Wyk, and Ray & Madeline Johnston. Corporate Philanthropists have included the Tom & Virginia Seely Foundation, Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, Country Roads Car Club, Dan Ryan Builders, Panhandle Builders & Excavating, and Millers Electric. Previous Young Philanthropists were Lauren Taylor, Melanie Springer, Kathryn Feehley, Ashley Mason, Nicole Taschner, Evan Frank, Brogan Dozier, and Chance Arensberg.

Please note that current members of the Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation Board of Directors, their immediate family members, and the businesses they own or manage, are not eligible for awards. Although we believe that many of them are deserving, we feel it might appear self-serving to recognize them in this way.

Eastern West Virginia Community Foundation,

Attention: Philanthropist of the Year
229 East Martin Street, Suite 4, Martinsburg, WV 25401
Toll-Free Fax: (888) 507-8375 Email: [email protected]