MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A funding effort for charities is getting a reboot in Morgantown.
The 100 People Who Care community group has started again.
The way it works is community members agree to make a $250 donation in each quarter at the end of a 60-minute meeting and presentation from select nonprofits. The program started in 2018 under former Mon Health President David Goldberg.
The next meeting is set for April 27 at Smokin’ J’s Rib & Brewhouse in Morgantown.
“We rebooted this 100 Plus People organization and have committed to providing funding to charities here in the Morgantown area,” West Virginia Growth Investment Fund Chairman Mike Green said.
Morgantown native and co-founder of Intermed Labs, Ashok Agarwal said community groups are urged to submit an application to be considered at their website. Organizations like the arrangement where they can make a pitch and walk out with a donation to continue their work after the 60-minute meeting.
“We’ve already had several charities apply and we have an application process at the website,” Agarwal said. “The Charities Committee picks three of the charities to come present to us.”
The program is very attractive for donors who get to learn about the organization and then watch 100 percent of their gift go to the organization. The group has no management structure other than the rules that govern the 60 minute meeting and that means zero overhead and more money available for the organization.
“We put names in a fish bowl and take a vote,” Agarwal said. “At the end of the meeting we’ll pick a charity and that charity will get $25,000 on the spot.”
The group name, 100 Plus People is exactly what they want- more than 100 people that care about issues in the community and are willing to help. There is no application process, but a form to complete at the 100 Plus People Morgantown website.
“Fill out your name and commit to giving $250 per quarter, $1,000 per year, and come to our events and participate,” Agarwal said.
Each quarter the group will meet, talk about issues in the community, and hear from a slate of nonprofits. Mike Green believes the group will have an impact in the city while educating the members of the group about the challenges we face.
“The people here in the Morgantown area are very generous people that care about their community,” Green said. “We think this is a great opportunity not only to give to worthy charities but also to get together as a community and talk about the issues that are important to us.”