The West Virginia First Foundation unveiled the West Virginia Wayfinder, a comprehensive data initiative led by West Virginia University to evaluate community needs on substance use disorders.
The project aims to use statewide data and community insights to guide future funding decisions.
“This is a monumental step for the foundation,” said Jonathan Board, executive director of the West Virginia First Foundation.
“This was one of the original mandates that we’re tasked with accomplishing, that are creating an interoperable network. And the fact that we are moving forward with this process in roughly the first 18 months or so of operation is really extraordinary.”
The organization had its first meeting of the year on Thursday, lasting about 20 minutes.
The West Virginia First Foundation is a non-profit organization established in 2023 to manage and distribute 72.5% of the state’s opioid settlement funds, totaling hundreds of millions of dollars. The organization is aimed at combatting the addiction crisis through grants and regional projects.
The foundation’s cash and investments, officials said today, totaled $371,605,788, with $34,341,224 in grants paid.
The board also introduced the Community Catalyst Grant, set to accept applications in June, alongside a flexible regional funding model known as RECAP.
RECAP, which stands for Regional Contingency Allocation Program, is a new funding model, set to launch July 1 to give regions increased flexibility to address emerging local needs through “mission-aligned investments” that might not fit within larger grant cycles.
“This approach is designed to support timely, regionally informed investments that can address immediate needs and strengthen local impact across the state,” said Anthony Woods, the chief financial officer for the West Virginia First Foundation.