Education Affinity Group

The Education Funders Affinity Group (EAG) brings together foundations, corporate giving programs, private donors, and United Ways committed to strengthening education across West Virginia and Central Appalachia.

Through peer learning, collaboration, and shared leadership, members exchange ideas, explore emerging challenges, identify opportunities for collective impact, and advance effective philanthropic investments in education at every level.

EAG is designed for Philanthropy West Virginia members who support education through grants, scholarships, and other charitable investments, including:

• Private, family, community, and corporate foundations
• Corporate giving programs
• United Ways
• Individual philanthropists and donors

• Opportunities to connect with fellow education funders
• Access to best practices and emerging trends
• Collaborative learning and problem-solving
• Partnerships that amplify philanthropic impact
• Insights into education challenges and opportunities across the region

The EAG is currently chaired by Melanie Claxton, Senior Program Officer at the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation and Laurie Albidso, Vice President at Your Community Foundation of North Central West Virginia.

For an overview of the EAG and its current collaborative priorities, view our EAG Overview.

This affinity group is available to Philanthropy West Virginia members. To learn more about membership or the Education Funders Affinity Group, contact Nina Riivald, Director of Membership Engagement, at nina@philanthropywv.org. 

EAG participants represent a diverse group of philanthropic organizations dedicated to advancing educational success throughout West Virginia, including community foundations, private foundations, corporate funders, and United Ways from across the state and region.

Founded in 2015, the Education Funders Affinity Group was established to strengthen collaboration among education-focused funders throughout West Virginia. Since its inception, EAG has provided a forum for learning, partnership-building, and collective action around key education priorities affecting the Mountain State.”

Check out the EAG overview and top funder collaborative priorities.

Check out this Rural Matters podcast episode focused on rural education partnerships in West Virginia.