For over 30 years, there has been debate and discussion about creating a support network for nonprofits in West Virginia with a statewide nonprofit association. With one out of every 10 jobs in the state being with a nonprofit organization, this sector serves a critical role in our communities on the local and state level.
The decades’ long-debate is moving to action with the formation of an advisory board last fall to lead the West Virginia Non-Profit Association (WVNPA). The advisory board has been busy taking the input of hundreds of the state’s nonprofit leaders to create, plan and launch the organization this summer.
“After several months of intensive study in late 2010 and input from more than 250 nonprofit leaders/volunteers from across our state, the West Virginia Grantmakers with our partner, the West Virginia Community Development Hub, found it a high priority to create a statewide nonprofit association for the Mountain State,” says Paul Daugherty, president and CEO of the West Virginia Grantmakers and a lead facilitator of the West Virginia Non-Profit Association initiative. “The feasibility study documented the need to provide a support system to strengthen the impact and capacity of our state’s nonprofits as well as create a platform for collaboration.”
The work and plans for WVNPA are being kicked off with a series of regional town hall forums across the state. Nonprofit and community leaders are invited to join representatives from the newly formed WVNPA Advisory Board, the West Virginia Grantmakers, and the WV Community Development Hub for an interactive discussion around the creation and future work of the WVNPA.
The first of the town hall forums kicked off in Huntington, WV on May 2nd at the United Way of the River Cities, where the newly formed WVNPA held an hour-long updated and discussion session. The session provided attendees with:
- An overview of the Need for the WVNPA
- Introduction of the WVNPA and its volunteer leaders
- Regional plans to serve your Non-Profit Organizations’ needs
- Question & Answer from attendees
May 3rd in Charleston – Goodwill Industries – 10:00 a.m.
May 3rd in Clarksburg — ARC of Harrison County — 3pm
May 10th in Beckley — Erma Byrd Center — 2:45pm
May 11th in Lewisburg — Carnegie Hall — 10am
May 21st in Wheeling — WV Northern Community College — 3pm
May 29th in Parkersburg — Fort Boreman Room (Judge Black Annex) — 9:30am
For more information on WVNPA or to learn about upcoming town hall forums, send e-mails to Lesley@wvgrantmakers.org or call (304) 517-1450.
