BUCKHANNON, West Virginia — In furthering its commitment to supporting the local community, the Center for Community Engagement & Leadership Development (CCE) at West Virginia Wesleyan College will host a Community Lab on Fundraising on Friday, Feb. 6, from 3–4:30 p.m. in Hyma Auditorium (1st Floor Christopher Hall of Science) on Wesleyan’s campus.

The Community Lab will feature training and practical strategies presented by Mike Bell & Associates and is open to CCE community partners, WVWC students (including Wesleyan Service Scholars), and businesses across the Buckhannon–Upshur region interested in strengthening their fundraising efforts. The session is designed to support nonprofit and community-based organizations, mission-driven initiatives, and local businesses seeking to build sustainable support for their programs and operations.

Participants will leave with practical tools, actionable insights, and best practices that can be applied to real-world fundraising challenges. The Community Lab format emphasizes learning, dialogue, and shared problem-solving, creating space for participants to build capacity while connecting with peers across campus and the broader community.

CCE’s Community Lab series supports the Center’s mission to advance West Virginia Wesleyan College’s commitment to transformative learning and community engagement that promotes positive social change.

The CCE will also host a second Community Lab on Friday, April 10, focused on marketing, featuring content provided by Agency LMC, a firm specializing in advertising, marketing, public relations, and social media management. Both Mike Bell & Associates and Agency LMC operate within the region and bring valuable insight into navigating fundraising and marketing challenges while considering the local environment and market.

CCE Community Labs are free and open to the public. Community members, partners, and students are encouraged to attend. If you have other topics you desire to see addressed in future Community Labs, please reach out and share with the CCE.

ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE
West Virginia Wesleyan College (WVWC) is a private, four-year residential liberal arts and sciences college in Buckhannon, West Virginia. A tradition of excellence for 135 years, West Virginia Wesleyan is home to 14 Fulbright Scholars. The Princeton Review ranked Wesleyan as one of its 2026 Best Colleges in the Mid-Atlantic Region of the United States. U.S. News & World Report’s 2026  Best College Rankings designated Wesleyan second in Best Value – Regional Universities (South). WVWC offers students nearly 60 majors and 40 minors; graduate programs in athletic training, business administration, creative writing, nursing and counseling; 22 NCAA Division II athletic programs; multiple performing arts groups; and more than 50 organizations. Founded in 1890, the College is closely affiliated with the United Methodist Church and abides by the Wesley doctrine that emphasizes service to others. For more information, visit wvwc.edu.