BAF Community Grant Program Distributes Over $180,000 to Local Nonprofit Organizations

BAF's Community Grant Program awards annual discretionary grants to charitable organizations serving Raleigh County in the areas of animal services, the arts, civic beautification, education, health & human services and public recreation.

The Shady Spring Branch Library's project in 2021-2022, was a summer reading program called, "Tails and Tales". Delanie Corrales is pictured, enjoying the library crafts. BAF awarded a grant to fund the video equipment needed to make this project available virtually.

Volunteers from our community serve on the distributions committee to review all community grant proposals and these recommendations are presented to BAF's Board of Directors for final approval.

The BAF Board of Directors approved $185,977.41 to fund 42 projects between April 2022 and March 2023.

Areas of Interest Breakdown:

• Health & Human Services - $89,225
• Education - $32,118.42
• Public Recreation - $22,604
• Civic Beautification - $22,208.78
• Animal Services - $9,002
• Arts - $6,573.21
• Economic Development - $4,246

“It was a great honor to serve as a reader for the BAF Distribution Committee. After individually scoring each grant application on a simple but thorough rubric, we met as a group via Zoom to discuss the merits of each worthy grant. Our communities are burdened with so many needs and we are fortunate to have the generosity of BAF to assist more than 40 organizations to serve our citizens. I am honored and grateful to have been given the opportunity to serve on this committee. BAF truly exemplifies the best of Beckley!”
— Drexel Sammons | Distributions Committee Member

Operation Underdog Volunteer, Yolanda Estep, is pictured above at one of their community events for the project "Feeding our Furry Friends" in 2021-2022. BAF awarded a grant to fund the pet food needed to distribute at this event.

Anyone interested in growing the pool of discretionary funds used to respond to BAF’s 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 donate below. If you are interested in starting a named unrestricted fund, call the foundation at   304-253-3806    or email   [email protected].