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Quarterly Impact Updates

Quarterly Impact Updates: January-March 2025

Attendees at West Virginia Grant Resource Centers quarterly impact event.
Grant Centers’ Co-Founders Liz Vitullo, left, and Sara Payne Scarbro inquire about attendees’ familiarity with the Grant Centers while speaking at the 2025 WVEDC Legislative Conference.

This winter was a busy season for travel, training, and tabling for the West Virginia Grant Resource Centers’ team! Throughout January, February, and March 2025, we led eight training events: five Live Grant Assistance Sessions webinars and three Grants 101 Workshops. Altogether, we assisted more than 400 individuals with growing their grant writing capacity.

Group of people standing in front of a presentation screen at West Virginia Grant Resource Centers.
The Grant Centers’ team was invited by the Nicholas County Community Foundation to lead a workshop for local communities, nonprofits, businesses, and other grant-eligible applicants.

Grants 101 Workshops

The Grants 101 Workshop is a comprehensive in-person and/or virtual training that guides participants through each critical step of the pre-award process and assists them with growing their grant writing capacity and application preparation skills.

  • The first Grants 101 Workshop of the year, co-hosted with the Nicholas County Community Foundation, took place in Summersville. This event attracted 49 trainees from local communities, nonprofits, businesses, and more.
  • Our second workshop, hosted virtually with Coalfield Development Corporation, provided an extensive overview and preparation for the Appalachian Regional Commission’s READY Nonprofit training. Eight participants engaged with this event.
  • The final Grants 101 Workshop of the quarter was hosted in Charleston during the WV Small Farm Conference. Grant Writers Jessica Shaw, Tabitha Surface, and Brittany Chaber led this event, which drew 30 attendees.
Attendees listening to a presentation at West Virginia Grant Resource Centers event.
Grant Writer Jessica Shaw leads a Grants 101 Workshop during the WV Small Farm Conference, hosted by WVU Extension, in March.

Live Grant Assistance Sessions

The Live Grant Assistance Sessions (LGAS) are biweekly webinars that take a one-hour, deep dive into a single grant-related topic, specific funding opportunities, or other capacity-building resources. 

This quarter’s topics explored various elements of the grant writing process and adjacent capacity-building activities:   

  • Removing Barriers: Making it Happen with Wraparound Services
  • Writing a Persuasive Proposal 
  • Strengthening Your Proposal through Data
  • Grant Readiness & Program Planning
  • Developing Your Budget & Budget Narrative 

Have an idea for a Live Grant Assistance Session? Send your suggestions to: info@wvgrantcenters.com with the Subject Line: LGAS.

Events Attended & Engaged

The Grant Centers team attended 12 events total in Q1, which included conferences, speaking engagements, legislative events, and tabling opportunities. It is always a privilege to connect with our partners, learn more about their vital efforts, and share our grant resources with our fellow West Virginians.

West Virginia Grant Resource Centers event with speaker and audience in a spacious hall.
Co-Founder Sara Payne Scarbro kicked off the Universities United reception after Marshall Day at the Capitol in February.

Conferences

  • 2025 Legislative Conference | County Commissioners’ Association of WV (Charleston)
  • 2025 WV Small Farm Conference | WVU Extension (Charleston)
  • 2025 Resource Development Forum | Cities of Smithers & Montgomery (Smithers)
  • 2025 Legislative Conference | WV Municipal League (Charleston)
  • 2025 Women’s Leadership Summit | WV Chamber (White Sulphur Springs)
Audience attending a presentation at West Virginia Grant Resource Centers.
Grant Writer Brittany Chaber answers questions during a presentation at the 2025 Arts in Our Communities Conference, hosted by the WV Department of Arts, Culture, and History, in March.

Speaking Engagements

  • 2025 Legislative Conference | WV Economic Development Council (Charleston)
  • 2025 Conference of Counties | WV Association of Counties (Charleston)
  • 2025 Arts in Our Communities Conference | WV Department of Arts, Culture, and History (Charleston)
  • 2025 WV Small Farm Conference Panel | WVU Extension (Charleston)

Tabling Events

  • 2025 Marshall Day at the Capitol (Charleston)
  • 2025 WVU Day at the Capitol (Charleston)
Attendees listening to a presentation at West Virginia Grant Resource Centers.
Co-Director Emily Brammer leads a breakout session about the Grant Centers’ impact at the 2025 WVACo Legislative Conference in March.