They say the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. What about 50 years ago? That would take us back to 1972 — the year the Community Foundation for the Ohio Valley was founded. A small group of local businesspeople got together to try a new idea that had taken root in Charleston. As one of those original founders, Joe Boutaugh once told me, if they could do it in Charleston, then we could certainly do it here.

Along with Joe were several other prominent community members: Robert F. Thompson, William H. Homan, Kurt Fox, Hale Fox, and Stuart Bloch. The group met and planted the roots of the organization. The Articles of Incorporation were written by Richard G. Herndon in his law office at 1226 Chapline St.; ironically, the same building CFOV purchased in 2018 as its now permanent home.

As the organization grew in its earliest years, so too did the list of board members. The founding six were soon joined by Howard Corcoran, David Dalzell, George Dober, Anthony Filberto, James Giffen, James Haranzo, Richard Herndon, John Kinder, Donald Lewis, Ralph Mikasen, and Dr. Harry Weeks.

In those first years, the Foundation relied on its volunteer board and word of mouth to encourage people to establish charitable funds. There was no full-time staff. While the organization grew slowly at first, lasting partnerships were forged with many of our community’s most trusted financial intuitions. WesBanco, Security National Trust, and United Bank were instrumental in helping secure the Foundation’s footing. As CFOV grew, the Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce helped by providing office space and secretarial support.

Once established, donations were needed. A community foundation is a collaboration of individual funds, all designed to give back to the region. Many of the early funds focused on education, such as the Bridgeport Educational Assistance Foundation to support Bridgeport schools, the Lesley Galinski Endowment for the Arts for the benefit of Wheeling Country Day School, and the Wheeling Middle School Boosters Club Fund that provides support to a variety of academic and extra-curricular programs at Wheeling Middle School. Donor-advised funds soon became popular for individuals as well as corporations.

Quickly the grantmaking of the foundation became substantial.

In 1987 CFOV received its first unrestricted gift from the estate of Nellie Schlobolm. This gift would become the cornerstone of today’s Community Impact Grant program, the only unrestricted grant program that is offered to the entire eight-county region. Annually this fund is able to provide more than $50,000 in grants.

The 1990s saw more growth as CFOV was able to hire a part-time executive director and then a full-time staff soon after. More funds were added with the help of professional advisers, estate gifts, and word of mouth.

The 2000s and 2010s saw further growth. Tens of millions were granted to organizations across the Upper Ohio Valley, precipitating the need to add more staff to help carry out the Foundation’s work. Mergers with the Jefferson County Community Foundation and Weirton Area Community Foundation expanded CFOV’s footprint for impact. The Foundation weathered the recession of 2008 and the COVID-19 pandemic and has emerged stronger from each challenge it has faced. Today, a staff of six dedicated individuals manage over $70 million in charitable assets among 280 funds.

Much like a well-tended tree, the Community Foundation for the Ohio Valley continues to grow. From a seedling in the minds of its founders to a strong organization that has branched across eight counties, the Foundation is in a strong position as it enters the second half of its first century. With solid roots, we look forward to the future.

Because it is National Community Foundations Week and a week that marks the anniversary of our organization’s founding, we are taking some time to reflect on those past 50 years. In our minds, the best time to plant a tree was 50 years ago and the second best time is today. We work with donors every day who are interested in leaving their legacy on the Upper Ohio Valley region through a philanthropic vehicle that will continue to benefit a cause that is important to them.

Susie Nelson is the Community Foundation for the Ohio Valley’s executive director.