Grantmaking Priorities

The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation’s grantmaking priority areas include Community Economic Development, Education, Health, Arts & Culture, and Basic Needs.

Occasionally, the Foundation offers additional competitive grantmaking opportunities known as special initiatives. Current special initiatives include Dental Health, Emergency Aid, James F.B. Peyton, C.C. Dickinson Family Giving Circle, African American Philanthropy in Action, and Kanawha Valley Council on Philanthropy.

All grants approved through TGKVF’s grantmaking priority areas and most special initiatives grants must serve one or more of Boone, Clay, Fayette, Kanawha, Lincoln, and Putnam counties in West Virginia. All grantee organizations must be registered 501c3 nonprofit organizations or government entities.

TGKVF Grantmaking Priority Areas

CED Priorities

Increase workforce development and career and technical education that result in job opportunities that pay a livable wage and benefits
Support small businesses in TGKVF’s service area and/or ensure a robust and effective small business support ecosystem, with a particular focus on entrepreneurship
Build upon the community’s social and economic condition through visible improvements, business districts, recreational and cultural enhancements, and support for gathering spaces

Health Priorities

Improve access to preventative, behavioral, and oral healthcare for marginalized communities
Increase the capacity of communities, organizations, and social enterprises to develop healthy recreational opportunities and/or expand access to locally grown, healthy foods
Expand the amount of public greenspace, access to streams and bikeable/ walkable trails

Education Priorities

Increase access to proven education programs, including out-of-school time, tutoring mentoring, and/or learning programs that emphasize STREAM (science, technology, reading, engineering, arts, or math) education
Deepen the impact and scale of programs that connect and involve families in their child’s education
Expand proven post-secondary guidance, career advisory, and/or trade and vocational schools that train students for available jobs

Arts & Culture Priorities

Increase the number and reach of programs that foster creativity, self-expression and cross-cultural exchange, especially in underserved areas
Advance creative arts and cultural work that takes risks, engages audiences in new ways, and/or crosscuts with other sectors, including education, health, basic needs, and community economic development
Support arts and cultural activities that include diverse populations as both audiences and active participants, particularly those that emphasize performing arts and/or youth involvement

Basic Needs Priorities

Support and encourage collaboration among nonprofit, public, and private sector efforts to ensure equitable access to basic needs resources such as of food, shelter, and clothing for individuals and communities in crisis
Strengthen initiatives that work to reduce food insecurity by increasing access to low-cost or no-cost food for individuals and families in need in underserved, population-dense, and rural communities
Engage with programs that provide immediate, adaptive, short-term shelter options and stabilize long-term housing for individuals and families at risk of or experiencing homelessness

Special Initiatives Grants

Dental Health

Grant funds may be used for the following activities in Boone, Clay, Fayette, Kanawha, Lincoln, and Putnam counties:

To provide direct care for low-income, uninsured children who are not eligible for Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) with the goal of connecting them to a dental home
To provide direct care to low-income, uninsured adults with the goal of connecting them to a dental home
To purchase equipment that will increase an organization’s capacity to provide dental services to marginalized communities

Emergency Aid

Grant funds may be used for the following activities in Boone, Clay, Fayette, Kanawha, Lincoln, and Putnam counties:

To provide direct assistance to low-income residents with emergency utility, rent, food, or prescription needs
To provide emergency repairs to buildings or mechanical systems (heating/cooling, water service, etc.) of which the sudden and unexpected failure interferes with the nonprofit organization’s provision of services
To replace essential equipment and technology of which the sudden and unexpected failure interferes with the nonprofit organization’s provision of services
To provide services or obtain a resource that could not have been anticipated or budgeted for (for example, due to public crisis, including SUD epidemic) and which the nonprofit organization’s work will be severely hampered
To provide direct assistance to homeless individuals that need general assistance and/or demonstrate a willingness to move into permanent or transitional housing
To provide direct assistance to families and individuals impacted by natural disasters

Emergency aid funding is for unbudgeted, unforeseen, and time-sensitive emergencies that require quick granting action to address a community problem or situation that needs immediate attention. This funding is not to compensate for unmet revenue projections, budget deficits, work that is already completed, deferred building, technology maintenance or upgrades, or debts.

James F.B. Peyton

Improve the quality of life, involve, or benefit the residents of Greenbrier County, West Virginia

C.C. Dickinson Family Giving Circle (CCDFGC)

Priority in education and/or conservation or women transitioning out of substance abuse treatment (see the CCDFGC page for details in each priority)
Must serve one or more of the following counties: Boone, Clay, Fayette, Greenbrier, Kanawha, Lincoln, Logan, Putnam, or Raleigh counties

African American Philanthropy in Action (AAPA)

AAPA will provide grants for organizations serving African American children, youth, and families in West Virginia. This is a statewide funding opportunity.
Priorities are in education, arts & culture, and community economic development (see the AAPA page for details in each priority).

Kanawha Valley Council on Philanthropy-Charleston West Side Initiative

Projects must demonstrate the ability to impact one or more of the following areas in Charleston’s West Side Community.

Community/Economic Development – a project that influences growth and restructuring of an economy to enhance the economic well-being of a community or region.
Health – a project that seeks to improve the health of community members through education, services, or other interventions.
Quality of Life – a project that provides support to families through parent and/or guardian skills training, education, or other interventions.