WEST VIRGINIA – The West Virginia First Foundation (WVFF) convened its second quarterly Board meeting of 2025 at the Tamarack Conference Center in Beckley, continuing its commitment to transparency, collaboration, and long-term impact in the distribution of opioid settlement funds.
The meeting featured updates on Foundation operations and funding strategy, including a comprehensive Executive Director’s report from Jonathan Board and a financial update from WVFF Chief Financial Officer, Anthony Woods. The Board heard from the New Horizons Committee, chaired by Alys Smith, who announced a novel Gap Funding Model that received unanimous approval.
Finally, the Board voted to approve the launch of the next WVFF grant cycle, the Momentum Initiative Grant, on September 22, 2025 with target areas and additional areas of focus to be determined.
Meeting Highlights:
- Jobs & Hope West Virginia Presentation: Representatives shared how their statewide program integrates education, job training, and wrap-around employment services to support people in recovery, underscoring the need for WVFF funds to align with workforce and reentry strategies.
- Fiscal Stewardship and Strategic Priorities: CFO Anthony Woods briefed the Board on the Qualified Settlement Fund (QSF) and other emerging funding streams, reaffirming WVFF’s commitment to transparent, responsible resource management. While the Foundation distributes 72.5 percent of the opioid-settlement dollars, 3 percent flows directly to the State of West Virginia and 24.5 percent goes straight to counties and municipalities. WVFF does not oversee how local governments spend that 24.5 percent; however, it is responsible for collecting and reporting those local expenditure figures from the local governments.
- Next Grant Cycle – Momentum Initiative Grant – Launching September 22, 2025: The Board voted to approve the launch date for the Foundation’s next round of funding. Application details will be announced in the coming months, with continued focus on accountability, impact, and equitable access across all six regions.
- Gap Funding Model Approved: The Board approved the Foundation’s new Gap Funding Model presented by the New Horizons Committee to provide short-term loans to nonprofits and public entities awaiting state grant disbursements. This program helps ensure continuity of services during startup periods and reinforces WVFF’s commitment to stability and impact across funded programs.
Second Stop on the Hold the Line Tour Following the meeting, WVFF will attend the second stop of its Hold the Line Tour, a site visit to Southern West Virginia Fellowship Home, an IOG-funded recovery program serving the Beckley region. The visit offers Board members a closer look at how opioid settlement funds are already making a difference on the ground and provides time for direct conversations with leadership and residents.
“Our work is moving from promise to practice, and with each visit, we’re reminded that behind every number is a name, a story, a life,” said Matthew Harvey, Chairman of the WVFF Board of Directors. “Whether we’re learning from partners like Jobs & Hope or walking the halls of Southern West Virginia Fellowship Home, the mission is clear: to help West Virginians reclaim their hope, find healing, and build a future that lasts.”
“We’ve built meaningful momentum, and the energy across our six regions is undeniable,” said Jonathan Board, WVFF Executive Director. “The next grant cycle, set to launch during National Recovery Month in September, will be here before we know it. We’re committed to making each round stronger, more informed, and more impactful. As we hold the line against this epidemic, every step forward brings us closer to lasting change.” For more information on WVFF, visit www.wvfirst.org.
