Benefits of Membership
Membership in WVGA provides your organization’s staff and Board members with ongoing opportunities for professional development and networking.

Programs

• Regional luncheon meetings centered on topics of interest
• Annual conference for all West Virginia grantmakers. Conference seeks to network local grantmakers to understand the current state and national philanthropic environment.
• Annual 2-day skill building workshop for community foundations.
• Informational state and national teleconferences on select topics (ex. filing the 990PF, funders in health, conflict of interest issues, etc.).Teleconferences are often co-sponsored with the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers, Council on Foundations, and/or neighboring associations in Ohio and Pennsylvania.
• Foundations on the Hill (Washington, DC). Visits with local and federal legislators help inform and educate our representatives about philanthropy and encourage representatives to seek out grantmakers as resources on key public policy issues.

Services

• Monthly email newsletter with timely information
• Web site with links to relevant resources
• Member updates on critical issues (ex. Pension Protection Act – H.R. 4)
• Membership directory
• Research on West Virginia grantmaking
• Staff available to answer questions/research questions

Benefits

• Discounted rates at all WVGA programs

• Listserv

  Share with and learn from your grantmaker peers.  Special listservs set up for WV grantmakers and WV community foundations make communicating with others simple.  Ask questions, request advice, solicit resources…the listserv promotes effective networking.

• Common Grant Application/Common Reporting Forms

  Grantmakers can use a common application and reporting form developed by WVGA members.

• Library of sample documents

  The Library of Sample Documents covers a broad range of issues, from job descriptions to board policies to financial statements.

• Directors & Officers Liability Insurance

  Through an arrangement with the Council on Foundations, WVGA is pleased to offer its member foundations access to a discounted D&O Liability Insurance Coverage program.

• Stanford Social Innovation Review – 25% Discount

  Special rate for WVGA members: $49 for 1 year (4 issues), regularly $69.  

  Published by the Stanford Graduate School of Business, the Review provides grantmakers with informative research, best practices, and provocative opinions.

• Grantmaking Basics Online Course

  Special rate for WVGA members: $150, regularly $295

  Grantmaking Basics Online is a web-based course offered by the Council on Foundations that offers self-paced learning in the basics of grantmaking. 

• MicroEdge GIFTS Grantmaking Software – 10% Discount

  Through this program, members of WVGA are eligible for a special 10% discount on GIFTS and Essential GIFTS new system sales. 

• First Pearl - Discount

  Developed by Bromelkamp Company, First Pearl is an economical database solution based on Microsoft Access, with added features specifically for family foundations, corporate giving programs and other small foundations.  First Pearl also offers discounts on several other software packages.

• GrantCraft – 20% Discount on printed materials

  GrantCraft collects the experience in a series of brief guides and videos, featuring the firsthand, practical wisdom of a wide range of practicing grantmakers.

• A+ Conference Calling

  Through the Forum of Regional Associations of Grantmakers, WVGA is able to extend a lower-cost conference calling option to our members.

© 2007, all rights reserved. West Virginia Grantmakers, Inc.