A New Chapter for Pendleton County
Three new funds highlight the benefits of local decision-making with regional support.
The Pendleton County Community Foundation (PCCF) formed in 2012 with a singular goal: to raise funds to build the new Franklin Elementary School. Through an incredible community effort, the organization achieved that goal in just three years. From there, operating as a private foundation, PCCF continued to receive anonymous donations and pivoted its focus to local beautification and redevelopment projects. But without the same pressing need the new elementary school campaign had presented, growth and impact began to slow.
“Pendleton County has a strong culture of giving, but often around a specific need. So once those needs had been met, we didn’t do much,” said Luke Taylor-Ide, former PCCF board member.
In an effort to strengthen the organization’s long-term impact, PCCF made the decision in 2025 to partner with the Tucker Community Foundation. Together, we plan to build on Pendleton County’s history of needs-based generosity while expanding opportunities to support a broader range of individuals, nonprofits, and community initiatives.
For Pendleton County leaders, this partnership is about both preservation and possibility. By working alongside the Tucker Community Foundation, Pendleton County donors maintain local leadership and local vision while gaining the long-term investment management, administrative support, and grantmaking infrastructure that ensures sustainability for generations to come.
L to R: Mike Moore (TCF Chief Financial Officer), David “Coop” Cooper (TCF Executive Director), William “Bill” Loving (CEO of Pendleton Community Bank), and Luke Taylor-Ide (TCF Board Member and Interim President and CEO of Future Generations University)
The collaboration officially launched with the creation of three new funds designed specifically for Pendleton County: the Pendleton Community Fund, the Pendleton County Emergency Services Fund, and the Pendleton County Fast Start Fund.
The Pendleton Community Fund provides unrestricted grant funding to organizations. This means that any nonprofit or charitable organization in the county, regardless of its mission, is eligible to apply. This allows dollars to go where they are needed most each year. TCF knows that local residents are best equipped to identify where funding is needed in their communities. That’s why our Community Funds are governed by a local committee from that county. This committee reviews applications and distributes grant funding. Applications for this fund open during TCF’s annual grant cycle, which typically runs from late July through mid-September. This year, the grant cycle opens on Monday, July 27.
The Emergency Services Fund is designated specifically for Pendleton County’s EMS. When a donation is made to this fund, the donor knows that the gift will be distributed solely to Pendleton County EMS. This type of fund provides a forward-thinking way to create a reliable yearly income stream for essential services. As the fund grows, so will the annual distribution. Careful investment management and accruing interest ensure that the organization can continue receiving support in perpetuity.
Taylor-Ide said the Emergency Services Fund is the result of a community-identified need, designed to help address gaps in medical service funding that many rural counties face. “I’m looking forward to seeing the benefits over the next few years,” he added. “There’s a lot of potential here.”
The Fast Start Fund encourages the establishment of new permanent funds through a match program. Starting an endowed fund may seem out of reach, but partnerships like the Fast Start Fund can make the required threshold more manageable. For Pendleton County individuals or organizations looking to start a fund with TCF, the Fast Start Fund may match a portion or even the full amount of the initial contribution, helping establish the fund more quickly and allowing those dollars to begin benefiting the community sooner.
As the momentum builds in Pendleton County, there are many ways to get involved. Any resident now has the opportunity to establish a fund, apply for a grant or scholarship, or participate in TCF events such as the annual fundraising 5K run/2K walk, Run For It. For rural communities, collaboration is often the key to sustainability. As Pendleton County comes into the fold, we celebrate not just a partnership, but a shared commitment: neighbors investing in neighbors, today and for generations to come.