ANNUAL REPORT 2020 Table Of Contents 4 CFOV Finds Its Forever Home 5 Grow OV’s Public Market Brings Homegrown Food to Downtown 6 “On the Menu” Series Offers Growth Opportunities for Nonprofits 7 Field of Interest Funds Inspire Community Growth 8 Emergency Impact Fund – CFOV’s Response to COVID-19 Challenges 9 Boots Jarvis Memorial Fund A Gift To Paden City 10 Women’s Giving Circle Supports Sweet Success 11 Funds of the Community Foundation 15 Fund Gifts 20 Scholarship Recipients 23 Grants & Distributions 27 Our Team 2 FISCAL YEAR 2020 | JULY 1, 2019 - JUNE 30, 2020 For all of us, the past year has been a series of unexpected events. For some of us, those unexpected events have caused quite a bit of hardship. It is no surprise, however, that the generosity of the Ohio Valley shines through during difficult times. We started our fiscal year in July 2019 with much hope for the 12 months ahead. We worked and planned to continue as we always do – to help donors meet their philanthropic goals. In July we moved into our new building, which created much-anticipated excitement among the board and staff. We began a series of nonprofit educational workshops, called “On the Menu”, to encourage learning and networking. We were thrilled in January when our Women’s Giving Circle supported Wheeling Heritage’s “Show of Hands” to provide a large award to a female entrepreneur in front of a record crowd at the Wheeling Artisan Center. We were working diligently to assist area high school seniors with scholarship support. March arrived and soon our work was turned upside down. Who could have imagined that we would be raising money to assist with a pandemic and its impact on our local counties? We quickly established an Emergency Impact Fund and created a process for grantmaking to organizations that were fraught with an increase in necessary services and a decrease in resources. As many of our local organizations had to cancel spring fundraisers, they were turning their attention toward making ends meet any way possible. The response from our community was heartwarming. Donations large and small were made to help solve new and evolving challenges. Grants totaling nearly $200,000 were made to assist with food insecurity, healthcare, personal protective equipment, cleaning supplies, and other basic human needs. We hope you will read the articles ahead to learn more about our work during the past year. We do plan to keep our Emergency Impact Fund up and running to assist with needs related to COVID as we hope to weave the word “recovery” into those future conversations. If you are receiving this annual report, you likely contributed in some way to the Ohio Valley through the Community Foundation in the past year. For that we are grateful. Your community is grateful. Susie Nelson Executive Director CFOV | Report To The Community | 2020 3 CFOV Finds Its Forever THE NOLTE BUILDING CFOV has been making philanthropy happen in the Ohio The process was exciting, but not without delays and revisions. A great construction and Valley since 1972, but the work has occurred in a variety of locations. For an organization largely based in permanence, it was always a priority to find a architectural team was on the project and made forever home. CFOV had always rented office space throughout the Wheeling those bumps much easier to manage. With the area and renting became less than ideal as the Foundation grew in assets, staff scaffolding gone, the dust swept away and final and activities. Owning a building held a steady place on wish lists and many touches complete, the CFOV team made the strategic plans, but as any hopeful property owner knows, it’s not an easy move in July 2019 and held a celebratory open process. Despite the challenges, CFOV remained committed to the idea and house that September. continued to save money for a purchase that would happen…some day. It was only fitting to designate 1226 Chapline Word soon spread that CFOV was on the hunt for a building. After many tours of Street as “The Nolte Building” to forever honor buildings that didn’t quite fit the bill, a new possibility presented itself by way of the significance of the gift that ultimately allowed a chance phone call. It was that phone call that put 1226 Chapline Street on the this goal to be achieved. list. The building, longtime home of the Bachmann, Hess, Bachmann and Garden The space is more conducive to the day-to-day law firm, would soon be on the market. operations of the Foundation. Conference space Charles Nolte, a longtime friend of CFOV, stepped forward to exists for community and nonprofit meeting support the purchase and needed renovations that would address needs. In fact, a nonprofit resource center is accessibility. In May 2018, the Foundation purchased 1226 Chapline Street in the works for the building’s second floor. It’s and construction started on the necessary renovations, including the addition of amazing how many doors can be opened when an elevator, soon after. you hold your own key! 4 FISCAL YEAR 2020 | JULY 1, 2019 - JUNE 30, 2020 Grow OV’s Public Market Brings Homegrown Food to Downtown A desert exists in the Ohio Valley but it’s not a hidden arid oasis that leaves residents parched. Rather, it is a sweeping food desert that makes it difficult to access healthy, fresh foods at affordable prices. Since its launch in 2014, Grow Ohio Valley has been working to fill the gaps and ultimately quench the area’s thirst for a multi- faceted prosperous community featuring thriving local farms, improved access to high-quality nutrition across all income levels and a strong food economy. The organization has been doing this work through mobile markets, school-based activities, urban farming initiatives and projects like FARMacy and community supported agriculture subscriptions. CFOV has been a supporter of Grow Ohio Valley through grant awards and collaboration. Watching organizations succeed and evolve is an exciting and meaningful part of the work we do. Grow Ohio Valley’s leadership maintained a long-term vision to engage in a project that would bring something new to our area – and we know now it was worth the wait! We are so proud to play a role in the growth that led to the long-awaited opening of the Public Market, Grow Ohio Valley’s year-round consignment market. The market opened its doors, located on the first level of downtown Wheeling’s Intermodal Transportation Center, in October 2019 to much fanfare and seemingly instant success. Breathing life into a vacant space, this unique venture offers incredible varieties of produce, staples, pantry items and a carefully chef-curated assortment of grab and go options. Programs exist to support and increase the food security of all, including opportunities for those using SNAP, WIC and similar vouchers. The market is a vehicle to further the goals Grow Ohio Valley holds so dear and serves as a perfect example of homegrown goodness! CFOV | Report To The Community | 2020 5 “On the Menu” Series Offers Growth Opportunities for Nonprofits The Amazing Raise enjoyed quite a following for many years! Hosted by CFOV and supported by local sponsors, the online giving day for Ohio Valley nonprofits generated excitement, involvement and needed funds. During its lifespan, the Amazing Raise generated nearly two million dollars for participating nonprofits, not to mention incredible exposure and new connections. As with any large project, the time came for careful reflection and study to see if it made sense to continue the event. After studying survey responses, giving statistics and donor feedback, it was decided the desired goals had been met and the time had come to transition. The decision was not easy, but it presented an opportunity for CFOV to serve Ohio Valley nonprofits in ways that would align more strategically with their needs and what we are best equipped to provide. CFOV’s “On the Menu” series was launched in May 2019. The quarterly lunch and learn gatherings provide opportunities for area nonprofit professionals to network while enhancing skills necessary for strong organizational success. As a grant maker and community leader, CFOV knows nonprofits could always use “more” – more time, money, resources just to name a few. Although the Foundation can’t fill every blank, relevant experts armed attendees with information, templates and ideas to strengthen their efforts. The learning opportunity supports the important work being done to make our communities better and stronger! The series has featured speakers on grant seeking and grant writing, fundraising, planned giving and working with the media. We look forward to continuing the series to provide opportunities that reflect the needs and interests of our nonprofit partners! “I will make a better year plan due to attending this workshop” “presented a lot of info I was not aware of – very good resources given” “ I learned several new ways to strengthen grant applications” “good way to get new ideas and methods” “I thought this session was relevant to every organization in the Ohio Valley” 6 FISCAL YEAR 2020 | JULY 1, 2019 - JUNE 30, 2020 Field of Interest Funds Support Community Growth As part of its commitment to supporting nonprofits in the Ohio Valley, CFOV’s field of interest funds granted $27,022 to 12 organizations. Field of interest funds were established by donors who had an affinity for an area of focus or location, rather than a specific organization, with the Foundation entrusted to identify beneficiaries. By design, field of interest funds can provide responsive opportunities which allows Foundation staff to use knowledge of community needs when making grant recommendations.