By Stephen Smoot
Almost a decade and a half ago, the State of West Virginia offered Pendleton County a deal. It would fund 90 percent of a new Franklin Elementary School building if local efforts could secure the remaining 10 percent. Those efforts fell somewhat short. Enter the Pendleton County Community Foundation, who helped to raise the rest of the funds under direction from fundraising and financial experts.
As Luke Taylor-Ide described, the organization’s brick campaign bore fruit, brought in the money, and also helped to establish an organization for community good going forward. It went on in 2014 and 2015 to support a beautification program for Franklin that included the black wrought iron style hanging flower pots, flag poles, and other elements still in action and showing the town’s best side every spring, summer, and fall.
Over time, however, momentum dissipated. Taylor-Ide explained that those involved in leadership had a number of other needs to tend to and the organization’s energy lapsed. “We got distracted,” he admitted. Taylor-Ide explained quickly that was no reflection of the generosity of the community, saying that “this is a community where giving is not foreign, where helping out is not foreign.”
In recent years, the Tucker Community Foundation had started exploring where else to expand its impact. Nearly four decades ago, the TCF started with only a relatively small seed. After 37 years of fiscally conservative stewardship, that seed grew into $51 million in assets that will continue to accumulate wealth and create more opportunities to help worthy individuals and organizations, as well as their projects and/or aspirations.
TCF leadership saw that Pendleton was one of three counties that lacked a true community foundation; PCCF was not considered one officially. Over a period of time, those connected with the PCCF crossed paths with those of the TCF and discussions led to a merger proposal. Taylor-Ide, Bill Loving, president of the PCCF, and Ryan Boggs, treasurer, were immersed in that process. Negotiations on terms of the combination led to agreements concluded in December of 2025.
Taylor-Ide explained that the merger of the two made sense for Pendleton because “we weren’t doing anything” and that participation in TCF offered opportunities on different levels.
Conservative stewardship means that each fund only pays out five percent annually in distributed funds. Maintaining this threshold ensures that assets will continue to accumulate as donations continue to come and interest on accounts builds. As David Cooper, chief executive officer of TCF, explains, “that five percent allows the fund to grow” because “we’re in for the long haul . . . to grow and have it forever.”
Under direction of a Pendleton County based advisory group will go three funds. Taylor-Ide stated that the group identified EMS as not only a need, but an issue whose support would “unify the county.” Additionally, EMS was seen as less complicated to fund directly since the county only has one organization, whereas the fire services have multiple independent organizations.
Anyone can donate to the EMS fund to help its growth accelerate. Each year, Pendleton County Emergency Rescue will receive five percent. They will get their first check from the fund in January 2027 for $500. As Cooper and Taylor-Ide stressed, over years and decades, that fund will expand to become a substantial revenue support for PCER.
EMS’s “countywide mandate” is unique. Additionally, the county will have a general fund and a “fast start” fund that can help worthy organizations with project ideas. The advisory board will accept applications and make determinations based on resources and needs.
However, Pendleton County need not limit itself to those three. Anyone can start a fund for a reasonable purpose. Additionally, as part of the network, Pendleton County residents can apply for grants directly from TCF. Students pursuing trades, community and technical college, or university education can apply for scholarships, even if they are already in post secondary education.
Luke Taylor-Ide encouraged all who have an idea, whether it be for how to use or raise funds, to reach out to him. As part of both the Pendleton County advisory board and the county representative to the TCF board, he is in a position to help with all aspects of the opportunity the area has.
“There are a lot of ways to invest in a community,” stated Taylor-Ide, who went on to add that “if we don’t want the government doing it” with all of the strings attached to that help, “then we want individuals and corporations doing it.”
“It’s a win-win-win for everybody, or we wouldn’t have done it,” noted Taylor-Ide.
