← Back to US Funders Directory

Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation

Annual Giving
$13.0M
Grant Range
$4K - $0.1M
Decision Time
3mo

Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $13 million+
  • Total Assets: $323 million
  • Grant Range: $3,778 - $55,000 (typical awards $5,075-$733,949)
  • Decision Time: Quarterly review cycles
  • Application Type: Invitation only (must speak with Program Officer first)
  • Geographic Focus: Six-county region in West Virginia (Boone, Clay, Fayette, Kanawha, Lincoln, and Putnam counties)
  • Founded: 1962

Contact Details

Website: https://tgkvf.org

Phone: 304-346-3620

Email: tgkvf@tgkvf.org

Address: 178 Summers Street, Charleston, WV 25301

Pre-Application Contact: Contact a Program Officer before applying (applications by invitation only)

Overview

The Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation (TGKVF) was chartered on April 3, 1962, by and for the people of the Greater Kanawha Valley area. As the largest community foundation in West Virginia and central Appalachia, TGKVF manages approximately $323 million in assets and distributes over $13 million annually in grants and scholarships. Since its founding, the Foundation has awarded more than $183 million in grants. TGKVF's mission is to be a philanthropic leader that helps donors, nonprofits, and collaborative partners strengthen the community so all people and places they serve have the opportunity to thrive. The Foundation focuses on making thoughtful and proactive investments that grow multiple forms of wealth—individual, intellectual, social, cultural, political, natural, built, and financial assets—within the community. TGKVF consistently ranks among the top 100 community foundations in the United States and earned a Four-Star rating (97%) on Charity Navigator.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

TGKVF operates two discretionary grantmaking tracks:

1. Proactive Collaborative Grants

  • Community Economic Development (CED): $5,000 - $55,000+
  • Education: $5,000 - $55,000+
  • Health: $5,000 - $50,000+
  • Review: Quarterly by Board of Trustees

2. Responsive Grants

  • Basic Needs: $3,778 - $45,000+
  • Arts & Culture: $3,778 - $38,000+
  • Review: Quarterly by Board of Trustees

Special Initiatives (some open call, most invitation only):

  • Dental Health Grants
  • Emergency Aid
  • James F.B. Peyton Fund
  • C.C. Dickinson Family Giving Circle (open application)
  • African American Philanthropy in Action (open application)
  • Narrative Change Grantmaking
  • Kanawha Valley Council on Philanthropy

Scholarship Program: Over $1.6 million annually to 500+ students

Priority Areas

Community Economic Development (CED):

  • Workforce development and career/technical education
  • Small business and entrepreneurship support
  • Community improvements including business districts and gathering spaces

Education:

  • Out-of-school education programs
  • Family involvement in education
  • Post-secondary and vocational training guidance

Health:

  • Healthcare access for marginalized communities
  • Healthy recreational opportunities
  • Public greenspace and trail access

Arts & Culture:

  • Creativity and cross-cultural exchange
  • Innovative arts programming
  • Diverse participation, especially youth involvement

Basic Needs:

  • Collaboration for basic resource access
  • Food insecurity reduction
  • Shelter and housing stabilization

What They Don't Fund

  • Compensation for unmet revenue projections
  • Budget deficits
  • Work already completed
  • Deferred building maintenance
  • Technology upgrades or maintenance
  • Debts
  • Projects outside their six-county service area (Boone, Clay, Fayette, Kanawha, Lincoln, and Putnam counties) except statewide scholarships

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

The Foundation is governed by 13 volunteer trustees appointed to five-year terms, supported by over 100 volunteers serving on investment, scholarship, distribution, program, finance, and advisory committees, as well as health, education, and community economic development task groups.

Current Board Members:

  • Will Carter, Chair
  • Deborah Sink, Vice-Chair
  • Sarah Ellis, Secretary
  • Ted Armbrecht, III
  • Dr. Kimberly Becher
  • Dr. Jason Castle
  • Dale Clowser
  • Ian Flores
  • Georgette George
  • Leah Glover
  • David Thomas
  • Andy Young

Leadership Staff

  • Dr. Michelle Foster, President and CEO: "It's really investing in the early stages of economic development when you think about it... It's important because we're losing population. It's important because our state's education levels are declining."
  • Kristin Mounts, CPA, Chief Financial Officer
  • Stephanie Hyre, MA, Chief Program Officer
  • Megan Simpson, Program Director
  • Candace Krell, Grants Manager
  • Jane Powell, Communications Director

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

IMPORTANT: Applications are by invitation only. To apply, you must first speak with a Program Officer. The Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Step-by-step process:

  1. Initial Contact: Prospective applicants contact a Program Officer (or vice versa) to discuss the grant project idea
  2. Alignment Assessment: The Program Officer determines whether the proposed initiative aligns with TGKVF priorities
  3. Project Summary: If aligned, the PO invites the applicant to prepare a brief Project Summary describing the who, what, where, when, and why of the project
  4. Budget Assessment: PO team assesses financial requests against available funds
  5. Formal Application: If the project meets priority areas and budget constraints, applicant receives an application link
  6. Application Preparation: Applicants are given at least 4 weeks to prepare draft applications
  7. Staff Review: PO team ranks applications using a rubric
  8. Revision Period: Potential application feedback with 2-3 weeks for revisions
  9. Committee Review: Multiple review groups (Board members, community experts, volunteers) review applications quarterly; some applicants may be invited for interviews
  10. Board Decision: Board of Trustees votes on final application approval at quarterly meetings
  11. Notification: Applicants notified of grant status

Contact Program Officers 2-3 months before you need funding.

Decision Timeline

  • Draft applications due: Quarterly cycles
  • Applicants given: 4 weeks minimum to prepare applications
  • Revision period: 2-3 weeks if feedback provided
  • Reviewer analysis: Quarterly meetings
  • Board decision: Quarterly Board of Trustees meetings
  • Total timeline: Approximately 2-4 months from initial contact to decision, depending on quarterly cycle

Success Rates

Specific success rate statistics are not publicly available. However, in recent quarters:

  • Q4 2024: 52 grants awarded totaling $1,192,165
  • Q1 2025: 21 grants awarded totaling $1,632,000
  • Q2 2025: 29 grants awarded totaling $956,900
  • Q3 2025: 31 grants awarded totaling $973,835

The invitation-only model means organizations are pre-screened before formal application submission.

Reapplication Policy

  • Successful grantees: Grants typically eligible for renewal 3-5 times
  • Unsuccessful applicants: Specific reapplication waiting period not publicly stated; contact Program Officers to discuss reapplication timing

Application Success Factors

TGKVF-Specific Advice

Funding Amount Guidelines:

  • "Typically advise that applicants request no more than 25% of the organization's annual operating budget"
  • Request the amount actually needed to successfully complete the proposed project
  • Do not request 100% of project funding
  • Must have matching funds (cash or in-kind)
  • Research TGKVF's previously awarded grants to understand typical funding levels

Application Technical Tips (from TGKVF):

  • Save your application frequently
  • Prepare answers in Microsoft Word first, then copy-paste into online application
  • Only attach documents specifically requested
  • Scan documents at low resolution (200 dpi)
  • Acceptable file formats: PDF, Word, Excel

Alignment with Priorities: Program Officers evaluate whether proposed initiatives align with TGKVF's five priority areas. Clear demonstration of alignment is essential for moving forward in the process.

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, public school, or government entity
  • Fiscal agents can be used if lead organization is not 501(c)(3)
  • Must serve one or more of the six counties: Boone, Clay, Fayette, Kanawha, Lincoln, and Putnam
  • Organizations can typically apply once per year in core grantmaking areas
  • Must demonstrate ability to build community wealth

Financial Documentation:

  • Requires an audit, financial review, or financial compilation

Recent Funded Projects as Examples

Education:

  • Lincoln County Schools' Project Hope afterschool and summer enrichment program: $55,000
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters expansion to Putnam and Kanawha Counties: $26,900

Health:

  • Kids Market at the Store: Empowering Young Shoppers: $20,000
  • Women's Health Center Trans Health Equity Project: $49,700

Arts & Culture:

  • Charleston Ballet's 69th season: $25,000
  • womanSong 2025 performances: $4,500

Basic Needs:

  • Facing Hunger Food Bank: $45,000
  • Community Care of West Virginia Emergency Aid: $40,000

Community Economic Development:

  • Invest Appalachia: $50,000
  • Keep Your Faith Corporation: $55,000

Dental:

  • New River Health Association: $33,767 for dental services to low-income and underinsured patients

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Start with a conversation: You cannot submit an application without first speaking to a Program Officer. Build this relationship early—contact them 2-3 months before you need funding.
  • Request appropriate amounts: Keep requests under 25% of your annual operating budget and ensure you have matching funds. Review past grant awards ($3,778-$55,000 range) to calibrate expectations.
  • Demonstrate community wealth building: TGKVF seeks projects that grow multiple forms of community wealth (individual, intellectual, social, cultural, political, natural, built, and financial assets).
  • Geographic focus matters: Your project must serve one or more of six specific counties in West Virginia. Projects outside this area will not be considered.
  • Prepare for a thorough process: The multi-stage review process involves staff analysis, peer reviewers, committees, and final Board approval. Applications are evaluated using a scoring rubric.
  • Plan for quarterly cycles: Board meetings happen quarterly, so timing your initial outreach is important for meeting funding deadlines.
  • Build renewal relationships: Successful grants are typically eligible for 3-5 renewals, indicating TGKVF values long-term partnerships with effective organizations.
  • Watch the application pitfalls video: TGKVF's Grants Manager Candace Krell has created specific guidance on common application mistakes—review this resource before applying.

References

← Back to US Funders Directory