Friends of the Water: How Woodlands Supported Two Water-Focused Nonprofits

by Ana Lucia Ubalde

Watershed organizations lead the charge in cleaning and protecting West Virginia waterways. Two groups have had significant impacts – and experienced significant financial challenges – in Northern West Virginia in recent years. Woodlands’ assistance in navigating their financing difficulties is a great example of how a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) can support the critical work of non-profits.

Friends of the Cheat, based in Kingwood, works to preserve the Cheat River Watershed while Friends of Deckers Creek in Morgantown focuses on improving and promoting Deckers Creek Watershed. Recently, both organizations received funding from Woodlands Development and Lending (Woodlands), which helped strengthen and stabilize them in different ways. Woodlands financed a rail-trail project for Friends of the Cheat and provided Friends of Deckers Creek with a bridge loan to support working capital.

Only 30 years ago, the condition of these bodies of water was critical. At the time, it was common practice to abandon mines, which, left unsupervised, contaminated the area and downstream ecosystems through acidic mine drainage. By 1995, the Cheat River had been declared one of the nation’s 10 most endangered rivers. Today, a rust-colored layer of orange sediment still clings to its rocks, a visible reminder that we can do better for our home. Deckers Creek faced similarly alarming conditions.

In 1994, Friends of the Cheat was formed, bringing together volunteers who began organizing river clean-ups. Soon after, Friends of Decker’s Creek emerged, and by the year 2000, they were able to establish themselves as a non-profit organization. Though each organization addresses distinct challenges, they share the same vision: to protect the health of the rivers so that the ecosystems and communities can thrive. Their efforts promote tourism and recreation, which, in turn, strengthen the local economy.

Members of the community participating in an activity conducted by Friends of Decker’s Creek at the Outdoor Learning Park (OLP) in Sabraton, Morgantown.

Despite the success of their work, environmental nonprofits face ongoing financial challenges. Reliance on grant funding distributed on a reimbursement basis requires significant capital reserves, extensive documentation, and enormous amounts of overhead. Amanda Pitzer, Executive Director of Friends of the Cheat (FOC), explained that the delay between funding applications, project expenses, and reimbursement creates financial pressure and risk for their organization. “Grant reimbursements can often take 90 days,” Pitzer noted. To cover this cash gap, FOC secured a loan through Woodlands, allowing their project to move forward without delaying contractors or partners.

Friends of the Cheat started the Cheat River rail-trail project with Woodland’s financing, a scenic corridor along the Cheat River for various outdoor activities. Although first intended for the rail project, she mentioned that “the loan touched much more than our ability to implement that project (…),” it permitted them to start a long-term investment. “Since we’ve secured the Woodlands loan, we have grown our board reserve,” she explained. “We’ve been able to take our unrestricted dollars, invest them, and then use the interest to pay for some of our programming, which, if you open the nonprofit textbook, that’s how it’s supposed to work.”

Similarly, Friends of Deckers Creek, led by Executive Director Brian Hurley, requested a loan to bridge the gap between invoicing and reimbursement from the State. He appreciated Woodlands’ grassroots approach to requesting financing, saying he, “felt like there was a human element, as opposed to running through a computer program.” Hurley attributed the Woodlands’ loan to “a means by which the organization, Friends of Decker’s Creek, can maintain the connection to the community as well as fulfill all the requirements of funding our organization.”

The Friends of the Cheat organization members at the ribbon-cutting event for the Cheat River Trailhead. Photo: Joel Wolpert.

By understanding the realities of nonprofits and the challenges they face, we recognize that it can be discouraging to serve the community while navigating financial uncertainty. That is why we are proud to form long-term partnerships with organizations like Friends of the Cheat and Friends of Deckers Creek.

At Woodlands, we bring these concerns into the light, to be seen, heard, and supported. As a mission-driven organization, we are inspired by those who dedicate themselves to protecting critical community resources such as our water, from which so much life emerges.