WV HUB

The West Virginia Grantmakers Association, in partnership with the West Virginia Community Development Hub, will be hosting a series of meetings in June to explore the creation of a statewide non-profit association, and they are encouraging non-profit organizations of all sizes to attend one of the meetings.

 

The two organizations, with funding from the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, are collaborating to develop a plan for the formation of the association, which they hope to implement in 2011. Also participating in the planning will be the WV Secretary of State’s Office and theFederal Reserve Bank.

 

According to Hub Executive Director Kent Spellman, a statewide non-profit association is overdue. “We have a West Virginia Disc Golfers Association, but we don’t have a West Virginia Non-Profit Association,” he said. He pointed out that the non-profit sector is the fastest growing sector of the state’s economy and employs more people than the entire coal industry in the state.

 

A total of seven meetings will be convened between June 11^th and June 24^th. The purpose of the meetings is to learn from non-profits what potential programs and services they would like to see a non-profit association offer, and to seek input on their capacity to support such an organization. The schedule of meetings is:

 

Eastern Panhandle — June 11^th, 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m., at the Purple Iris at Heartwood, 1956 Winchester Avenue, Martinsburg.

Northern Panhandle — June 14^th, noon -1:30 p. m., at the YWCA Wheeling, 1100 Chapline Street, Wheeling.

Mid-Ohio Valley — June 15^th, 9:30 a.m. -11:00 a.m., at the Judge Black Annex, 319 Market Street, Parkersburg.

Huntington Area — June 16^th, 9:30 a.m. – 11 a.m., at the United Way of the River Cities, 820 Madison Avenue, Huntington.

Kanawha Valley — June 16^th, 3p.m. - 4:30 p.m., at Volunteer WV, 710 Central Avenue, Charleston.

Central WV — June 17^th, 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., location to be announced.

Beckley Area — June 24^th, 2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m., at theBeckley Convention Center, 200 Armory Drive, Beckley.

 

The meetings will be facilitated by Barbara Wyckoff, President of Dynamica Consulting, Inc.  Participants will be introduced to a variety of models and services of other non-profit associations compiled through research and conference calls with association leaders in other states. 

 

 “We believe a statewide association will bring real value to our non-profit organizations,” said WV Grantmakers President Shannon Cunningham. “An effective association can help reduce non-profit operating costs, connect them with training and management expertise and help identify and pursue policy issues that affect non-profits.”

 

Representatives of non-profit organizations are welcome to attend any of the above meetings. For more information, contact Kent Spellman at 304-566-7332, or at k.spellman@wvhub.org, or Shannon Cunningham at 304-517-1450 or at Shannon@WVGrantmakers.org.