In-kind grants to West Virginia nonprofit organizations serving low-income residents. Grantees will receive tax vouchers that they may distribute to donors. The purpose of this program is to promote charitable giving and to increase the capacity of local organizations. Additionally, funding is intended to create local partnerships between nonprofits and businesses and to encourage charitable organizations to support community development activities. Eligible project types include neighborhood assistance, community service, crime prevention, job training and education, and other projects that serve low-income individuals and distressed areas.

When awarded, the organization can distribute the vouchers to business and individuals who contribute a minimum of $500 to organizations, receiving up to 50% in tax credit, allowing the donor or corporation to reduce their West Virginia tax liability no more than 50%. Contributions can be in the form of cash, personal property, real estate, stock and in-kind professional services. 

Applicants to the program are scored and ranked based on the following criteria:

• Projects should be Emergency Assistance and/or Direct Needs.
• Projects should be community-based.
• Projects should serve primarily low-income persons (incomes within 125% of the federal poverty line).
• Projects should serve highly distressed neighborhoods (economically distressed, crime and unemployment problems, high numbers of uneducated citizens, etc.).
• Projects should be collaborative with other local organizations to maximize project benefits.
• Projects should be innovative or unique.
• Projects should maintain low administrative costs.
• Projects should be clearly needed in the project area.
• Applying organizations should demonstrate the capacity to deliver the proposed services.

NIP Project Types

• Neighborhood Assistance is the provision of financial assistance, labor, materials, and/or technical advice in the physical or economic improvement of the project location. Neighborhood Assistance also includes providing technical advice to promote higher employment in the area.
• Community Service is to provide at no charge: a) Any type of counseling, b) Emergency assistance or medical care, c) Recreational or housing facilities, d) Economic development assistance, or e) Community technical assistance and capacity building.
• Crime Prevention includes any project whose aim is to reduce crime.
• Job Training and Education is to provide instruction to individuals within the project area that enables them to acquire the vocational skills needed to become employed or to seek a higher grade of employment. This type of project would also include any other forms of scholastic instruction with the exceptions of physical training, physical conditioning, sports training, and sports camps.
• Other Project Types are those that would meet the overall goals of the NIP--serving low-income individuals and distressed areas.