The Beckley Area Foundation has established the COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund (CERF), which will provide resources to local nonprofit organizations working to provide aid to those impacted by the coronavirus outbreak.

Donations to CERF will support emergency needs identified by our nonprofit partners in human services, health, housing and education, and will make grants to nonprofits providing aid to impacted individuals and families in Raleigh, McDowell, Webster and Wyoming counties.

CERF is designed to complement the work of local public health, nonprofit and government entities, and to expand local capacity to support individuals and families experiencing hardship because of the outbreak and related closures and disruptions.

Foundation leaders will be closely monitoring how the Coronavirus impacts our community and will deploy financial resources to best meet evolving needs.

Individuals, corporations, donor advisors and private foundations are encouraged to join BAF in these efforts by making a gift to CERF. All gifts are tax-deductible and will be used to support local nonprofit organizations.

100% of donations will be used to support our communities. BAF is waiving the administrative fees that would normally be associated with CERF. Banking fees, including credit card transactions for contributions to CERF, will apply.

We are very thankful for the contributions we have received thus far. If you are interested in donating, you may donate online by clicking the button below, or make a check payable to Beckley Area Foundation with CERF in the memo line. Please mail your check to Beckley Area Foundation, 129 Main Street, Ste 301, Beckley, WV 25801.

The Board of Directors of the Beckley Area Foundation has approved $218,427 to fund 61 projects between April 2020 and March 2021. 

BAF makes annual discretionary grants to charitable organizations serving Raleigh County in the areas of animals, the arts, civic beautification, education, health and human services, and public recreation. Using the pooled income from discretionary funds, BAF addresses the community’s most pressing needs and promising opportunities. A distribution committee reviews all proposals and makes recommendations to the Board of Directors, who make the final decision on all grants.

2020-2021 Community Grant Awards:
Active Southern WV | $2,803.50 
Increasing Physical Activity Opportunities in Raleigh County
Appalachian Reading Center, Inc.  |   $6,000.00
Dyslexia Services for Low-Income Youth
Beckley Art Group, Inc. |   $1,494.35
Outdoor Sign Update and Tables for Classroom
Beckley Children Theatre Ministry |   $4,300.00
Sound Equipment and Acoustics
Beckley Dream Center |   $6,719.29
Cozy Inside and Out
Beckley Events |   $1,674.00
Monster Mural replacement and 3 Bench Swings
Beckley Health Right |   $7,000.00
Restorative Dental Project (Phase III)
Bread of Life Outreach Center |   $7,000.00
Community Meals' Kitchen Improvement
Brian's Safehouse, Inc. |   $7,000.00
Get Clean and Be Cool
Buckskin Council, BSA |   $2,500.00
Scout Reach: Rising out of Poverty
Catholic Charities West Virginia |   $3,800.00
Basic Needs Assistance
City of Beckley Board of Public Works |   $3,000.00
Tools and Accessories for Raleigh County Trails
City of Beckley, Parks and Recreation Department |   $5,446.88
Wildwood House Museum Roofing Project
Downtown Beckley Business Association |   $4,776.00
BEX - Beckley Arts Week
East Park Martial Arts, Inc. |   $1,000.00
Bullying Stops Here - Stand Up Stand Out
Green Leaf Community of Appalachia |   $395.00
Resource Guides for Low Income Housing
Harmony Wood Arts |   $2,500.00
Woodturning Studio Improvements
Harmony's Breath |   $2,764.00
Cuddle Cot
Helping Hands Community Resource Center, Inc. |   $7,000.00
Food for the pantry
Hope Restored Community Enrichment |   $7,000.00
Heart of God Back to School Community Event
Hospice of Southern WV |   $7,000.00
Ultrasound Guided Needle Placement (through the use of a Ultrasound Transducer)
Humane Society of Raleigh County |   $5,000.00
Beat the Heat
Independence Middle School |   $3,200.00
Independence Middle School Needs A Stage!
Just For Kids Child Advocacy Center |   $4,155.00
Changing the Conversation about Child Sexual Abuse
Liberty High School |   $3,899.83
Dual Credit Anatomy Course
Lillian James Learning Center |   $3,600.00
Water Distribution Project
Marsh Fork High School Alumni Association. Inc. |   $2,700.00
Marsh Fork High School Alumni Association Roadside Park on former site of Marsh Fork High School
MountainHeart Community Services, Inc. |   $5,000.00
Sense of Place
New River Youth Symphony & Chorus |   $1,283.00
Concert Timpani 23"
Piney Creek Watershed Association |   $6,215.36
Remote Water Monitoring and Education Program
Project Lifesaver c/o Beckley Fire Dept. |   $2,700.00
Beckley/Raleigh County Project Lifesaver
Raleigh County Animal Rescue, Inc. |   $5,000.00
Low-Income and Pre-Adoption Spay/Neuter Program
Raleigh County Commission on Aging |   $7,000.00
Sound System
Raleigh County Historical Society |   $2,295.00
Historical Marker Program
Raleigh County Parks and Recreation |   $2,500.00
Lake Stephens Disc Golf Course
Raleigh County Public Library |   $2,000.00
Create Your Own Story
Raleigh County Public Library Bookmobiles |   $850.00
"Every Book is a New Adventure"
Shady Spring Branch Library |   $950.78
"Imagine Your Story" Summer Reading Program
Sophia Christian Academy |   $2,300.00
Mixing Old School with New
Southern West Virginia Preparedness Partnership |   $3,327.00
Raleigh County Emergency Preparedness Fair
Stepping Stones Academy |   $2,500.00
Cold Hands, Warm Hearts
The Childhood Language Center |   $3,000.00
Sponsor a Child
The Marshall University Foundation, Inc. |   $4,000.00
West Virginia's Imagination Library
Trap Hill Middle School |   $6,151.91
Mapping and Modeling Data Using Drone Technology
WVU Foundation on behalf of Children's Vision Rehabilitation Program |   $5,000.00
Children's Vision Rehabilitation Program
Women's Resource Center |   $3,000.00
Cause-a-con   Scholarships
WV Professional Dance Company |   $1,600.00
Exploration Earth: Your World through STEAM
WVU Foundation |   $4,700.00
Portable Computer Lab for K-12 Schools of Raleigh County
YMCA of Southern West Virginia |   $1,605.00
Portable Lifeguard Stands

Anyone interested in growing the pool of discretionary funds used to respond to BAF’s Annual Community Grant Program can make donations in any amount to any unrestricted fund. Mail contributions to BAF, 129 Main St. Suite 301, Beckley, WV 25801, or use your credit/debit card on the BAF website. 

​If you are interested in starting a named unrestricted fund, call the foundation at 304-253-3806 or email   [email protected].