Susie Nelson has been the Executive Director of the Community Foundation for the Ohio Valley (CFOV) since 2007. She has been instrumental in driving the foundation’s growth, tripling its annual grantmaking from $1 million to $3 million in the Upper Ohio Valley region.
Beyond her role at CFOV, Susie is deeply involved in service to the community at large. Susie has also been an active board member for various regional nonprofits, including the YWCA Wheeling and Wheeling Health Right. Her efforts extend to statewide roles, having served as the Chairperson of Philanthropy West Virginia and on boards of the West Virginia Commission on Volunteerism and the State of West Virginia Neighborhood Investment Program Advisory Board. Nationally, she recently finished her term as chairperson of the Community Foundations National Standards Board. Susie is a past president of the Rotary Club of Wheeling, on the executive committee of the Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce, and on the Board of Directors at RED.
Before joining CFOV, Susie’s career included marketing roles for the Wheeling Nailers and as the Marketing and Communications Specialist for the City of Wheeling. Throughout her CFOV tenure, she’s been honored with awards such as the Spirit of Philanthropy Award for Staff Leadership, WV Living Magazine’s Wonder Woman Award in 2017, and the 2021 City of Wheeling’s Distinguished Service Award. She also played an instrumental role in CFOV earning the Critical Impact recognition for the Women’s Giving Circle. These honors reflect her effective leadership and unwavering dedication to philanthropy.
Outside of her professional responsibilities, Susie is deeply invested in the Wheeling community. She actively supports the region’s cultural and economic development, driven by her vision of a thriving future for the area. Along with her professional achievements, Susie enjoys family time with her husband Doug, their two children, and their two dogs.
