Best Summers County Grants for Nonprofits in West Virginia

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations working in Summers County, West Virginia on housing stability, hunger relief, workforce development, or STEM initiatives can access funding through the Firstenergy Foundation. Firstenergy Foundation provides Summers County nonprofits with up to US $25,000 to build capacity, strengthen outcomes, and address local community needs within its service area.

Summers County, West Virginia 501(c)(3) nonprofits addressing food access, homelessness, or military and veterans services can access funding through the SpartanNash Foundation if located within 30 miles of a SpartanNash site. Grants support local programs aligned with the foundation’s Hunger, Heroes and Hope focus areas in communities served by its stores and facilities.

Summers County, West Virginia classroom teachers, Pre-K through 12, can apply for Hinton Area Foundation’s Learning Innovation Mini-Grant; awards up to US $500 for innovative, creative classroom projects. Funding supports activities with clear educational merit, measurable student achievement goals, and direct benefits to students in local schools.

Nonprofit and public partnerships in coal-impacted parts of the Appalachian Region can seek up to US $2,500,000 to plan or implement workforce, job creation, broadband, and economic diversification projects. With a mission to revitalize coal-impacted communities, Appalachian Regional Commission provides funding for initiatives that build competitive workforces, foster entrepreneurship, and attract new public and private investment.

Black Appalachian oral tradition culture bearers connected to Summers County, West Virginia can receive US $5,000 fellowships to sustain and share Black storytelling traditions. Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation’s CALT Black Appalachian Storytellers Fellowship honors fellows at the “In the Tradition…” National Black Storytelling Festival and Conference as part of its Central Appalachia Living Traditions program.

Nonprofit organizations and individual folk or traditional artists in Summers County, West Virginia can apply for Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation’s CALT Experiences grants, awarding US $1,000 - US $10,000 for public-facing traditional arts projects. Funding supports workshops, performances, exhibitions, media, and other community events in Appalachian Regional Commission-designated counties of Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Nonprofits, public institutions, schools, and municipalities supporting economic development in Summers County, West Virginia and surrounding New River Highlands counties can apply for grants up to US $9,500. Grants from Beckley Area Foundation help eligible organizations advance projects to be completed by February 28, 2027 in this nine-county region.

Hinton Area 501(c)(3) and other charitable organizations in Summers County, West Virginia can seek funding for education, arts, health, human services, recreation, beautification, and other community projects. Hinton Area Foundation provides Summers County nonprofits with Community Impact Fund grants supporting local initiatives that improve quality of life and strengthen the Hinton/Summers County community.

Incoming freshmen from Summers County, West Virginia attending Marshall University can apply for the Marshall University Scholarship, which supports their first year of postsecondary education. Funded by Beckley Area Foundation and established by local Marshall alumni, this award honors Coach Rich Tolley and others lost in the 1970 plane crash.

Nonprofit and community groups in Summers County, West Virginia can seek funding for local community improvement projects that engage residents and strengthen the area. Hinton Area Foundation supports community services in Summers County, West Virginia by offering Making a Difference grants, with priority for projects that encourage community engagement, sustainability, and matching funds.

Nonprofit organizations improving health and quality of life for women and children in Summers County, West Virginia can apply for Appalachian Regional Healthcare’s Community Grant Program; awards up to US $5,000 for health, education, human services, disaster preparedness, and related civic projects. Applicants must operate within the ARH service region and meet clear planning and evaluation criteria.

Traditional artists in Summers County, West Virginia can receive $5,000 to deepen their folk and traditional arts practice through the CALT Emerging Traditional Artists Program. Grants from Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation support learning opportunities like mentorship travel, classes, research, supplies, space rental, and professional or marketing services for early-stage tradition bearers.

Private forest landowners conserving working forests in Summers County, West Virginia can receive funding to place their property under a conservation easement that prevents conversion to non-forest uses. The West Virginia Division of Forestry’s Forest Legacy Program is a 75:25 match, covering up to 75% of easement value for eligible tracts in designated Forest Legacy Areas.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, public institutions, and qualified municipalities serving Summers County, West Virginia can apply for Weyerhaeuser Giving Fund grants of more than US $1,000 to support local community programs. Funding may benefit efforts in affordable housing, education and youth development, environmental stewardship, human services, workforce development, and diversity, equity and inclusion in Weyerhaeuser communities.

Nonprofit and public entities in Appalachian counties, including Summers County, West Virginia, can apply for Appalachian Regional Commission’s ARISE grants; awards up to US $10,000,000 for multi-state planning and implementation projects. Funding supports regional economic development, workforce readiness, community revitalization, and tourism initiatives that span multiple Appalachian states and advance ARC’s strategic investment priorities.

Nonprofits, public agencies, tribal entities, and educational institutions in Summers County, West Virginia can seek support for critical infrastructure and workforce or business development projects. With a mission to strengthen Appalachian communities, Appalachian Regional Commission provides funding for water and wastewater systems, transportation, broadband, entrepreneurship, worker training, and related economic development initiatives.

501(c)(3) nonprofits working on affordable housing, community revitalization, skilled trades, or clean water projects in eligible U.S. communities can apply for Ferguson’s Ferguson Cares Grant. Organizations in Summers County, West Virginia may qualify if they are within Ferguson’s geographic footprint and meet the program’s focus area requirements.

Nonprofit and conservation-focused organizations restoring forests, rivers, and streams in Summers County, West Virginia can apply for US $75,000 - US $500,000 to improve wildlife habitat and connectivity. National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Central Appalachia Habitat Stewardship Program supports projects that enhance forest management and stream health for priority bird, fish, and aquatic species.

EEF Undergraduate College Scholarship

These scholarships are awarded to college students to support their programs in environmentally-related fields of study. Prior EEF HS winners are encouraged to apply for continued financial support.

The EEF Undergraduate College scholarship award can be as much as $4,000 for a student's sophomore, junior, or senior year. The Foundation generally awards four Undergraduate College Scholarships each year.​ These scholarships were established to benefit students from the Geneva Lake area.

Beckley Area Foundation

Beckley Area Foundation was established in January 1985 by ten community-minded citizens. It began with a gift of $1.1 million from the Dr. Thomas Walker Memorial Health Foundation as “seed” money for this Raleigh County project. BAF assets have grown to over $70 million with over 500 different funds managed by our three trustee banks. Today, Beckley Area Foundation is one of West Virginia’s largest community foundations.

Since its inception, BAF has distributed over $23 million to charities and other worthy projects in the fields of education, public recreation, health & human services, the arts, animal services and beautification.

Scholarships

The Beckley Area Foundation proudly manages scholarship funds established by individuals, businesses, and organizations dedicated to helping students pursue higher education. Many of these scholarships are tailored for specific schools, fields of study, or graduates from local high schools, while others offer broader opportunities. No matter the path, our scholarships aim to support students from our region as they work toward achieving their educational goals.

Most of these scholarships must be awarded to students from our geographic area or at least preference given to such students. While the majority of scholarships benefit Raleigh County applicants there are others designated for Fayette, Summers, Webster, and Wyoming students. 

Appalachian Scholarship

High school graduate from Appalachian coal fields enrolling in an engineering program at a technical college or university such as Carnegie Mellon, Georgia Tech, MIT, Cal Tech, Colorado School of Mines, or the engineering schools of Virginia Tech and Texas A&M; Applicants planning to attend engineering schools not listed must contact the BAF office to determine if it is a donor approved program. The recipients are to be selected based on their academic potential.

This scholarship is renewable.

The NextTech initiative aims to propel the development of cutting-edge diagnostic and therapeutic devices that address critical health challenges. This funding opportunity encourages researchers to innovate solutions that can move from concept to clinical readiness, specifically targeting technologies aligned with the NIH's BRAIN and HEAL initiatives. Successful proposals will focus on overcoming barriers to human trials, ensuring that new medical devices can effectively monitor and treat neurological and addiction-related disorders.

Who We Are

Buiding a stronger, More Vibrant Community

For over 70 years, the Scranton Area Community Foundation has served Northeastern Pennsylvania as a steward of charitable resources, a grantmaker, and a catalyst for positive change. Guided by our core values of collaboration, trust, integrity, innovation, and inclusivity, we work to ensure that our communities thrive with opportunities for all.

This scholarship is awarded to a graduating senior from a high school in Luzerne County who demonstrates academic excellence, good citizenship, participation in athletics, and who is active in a faith or religious-based organization.

Who We Are

Buiding a stronger, More Vibrant Community

For over 70 years, the Scranton Area Community Foundation has served Northeastern Pennsylvania as a steward of charitable resources, a grantmaker, and a catalyst for positive change. Guided by our core values of collaboration, trust, integrity, innovation, and inclusivity, we work to ensure that our communities thrive with opportunities for all.

This scholarship is awarded to a graduating senior from a high school in Lackawanna County who demonstrates academic excellence, good citizenship, participation in athletics, and who is active in a faith or religious-based organization.

Who We Are

Buiding a stronger, More Vibrant Community

For over 70 years, the Scranton Area Community Foundation has served Northeastern Pennsylvania as a steward of charitable resources, a grantmaker, and a catalyst for positive change. Guided by our core values of collaboration, trust, integrity, innovation, and inclusivity, we work to ensure that our communities thrive with opportunities for all.

This scholarship is awarded to a student matriculating at a college, university, or business in the year of the scholarship.

Who We Are

Buiding a stronger, More Vibrant Community

For over 70 years, the Scranton Area Community Foundation has served Northeastern Pennsylvania as a steward of charitable resources, a grantmaker, and a catalyst for positive change. Guided by our core values of collaboration, trust, integrity, innovation, and inclusivity, we work to ensure that our communities thrive with opportunities for all.

This scholarship is awarded to a student who is completing their automotive certification from Career Technology Center of Lackawanna County, and who intends to further their education at a college, university or technical school.

Who We Are

Buiding a stronger, More Vibrant Community

For over 70 years, the Scranton Area Community Foundation has served Northeastern Pennsylvania as a steward of charitable resources, a grantmaker, and a catalyst for positive change. Guided by our core values of collaboration, trust, integrity, innovation, and inclusivity, we work to ensure that our communities thrive with opportunities for all.

This scholarship is awarded to a female or female-identified student from a high school in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne, or Wyoming county who has 50 or more documented volunteer hours and and who has a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Who We Are

Buiding a stronger, More Vibrant Community

For over 70 years, the Scranton Area Community Foundation has served Northeastern Pennsylvania as a steward of charitable resources, a grantmaker, and a catalyst for positive change. Guided by our core values of collaboration, trust, integrity, innovation, and inclusivity, we work to ensure that our communities thrive with opportunities for all.

This scholarship is awarded to a student who is matriculating in a performing arts program, has demonstrated commitment to their art, and has demonstrated evidence of community involvement and service to others.