Donors

Since 1982, with an initial gift from Ruth Redding, over 800 donors of gifts and bequests who care deeply about all aspects of island life on Martha’s Vineyard have created an extraordinary force for good in the Permanent Endowment Fund for Martha’s Vineyard.  With just under $11 million in current assets under management, 46 individual funds, and a robust $1.7 million General Discretionary Fund for unrestricted use, The Endowment is a mosaic of sophisticated, smart, poignant donor intent that is distributed each year with great care by our Board.

Donors of gifts and bequests who choose to work with The Endowment will enjoy customized and thoughtful service from our staff, wise counsel from our island-based Board, and increasingly creative and entrepreneurial options from the organization, as a whole.  We look forward to providing our donors and bequest intenders with exciting new ways to express themselves philanthropically, and we are eager to learn from all of our donors as we grow together.

Giving

Community foundations offer an effective way for donors to make charitable gifts with the greatest flexibility.  The Permanent Endowment works closely with donors to help them achieve their philanthropic goals while meeting their financial needs.  As a local organization governed by a Board with broad expertise on community issues, the Endowment helps donors gain a better understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing our community, connects them with others concerned about the Island’s well-being and opens avenues for partnering with other philanthropists.

With more than 30 years of philanthropic experience on Martha’s Vineyard, the Permanent Endowment offers local giving expertise coupled with the many advantages of working with a community foundation.  Giving to – or through – the Endowment is easy.  Contributions in any amount are welcome and gifts can be designated for a particular Island organization or field of interest or can be unrestricted to address the Island’s current needs.  Whether creating a fund or making a contribution to the Endowment’s General Discretionary Fund, donors benefit from the flexibility, administrative support, investment management expertise and program evaluation services we offer.

Some of the practical reasons for partnering with us are:

  • The Permanent Endowment is part of the Vineyard community and focuses solely on Island issues.
  • The members of our Board are rooted in the community.  Their knowledge of the Island and civic engagement informs all grant making decisions and shapes policies to grow and strengthen the Endowment.
  • The Endowment offers a range of giving options designed to match donor goals with grant making opportunities.
  • As a public charity with 501 (c) (3) status, contributions to the Endowment provide donors with tax advantages under state and federal laws.
  • Through the Endowment donors are able to enhance the impact of their gifts through pooled and coordinated giving.
  • The Endowment’s mission is to build permanent assets that will benefit the Island forever.

Captain Fred Bennett / Harriet N. Goldberg Fund

Suzanne & Hugh Weisman

The Kerry Alley Fund

Permanent Endowment for Martha's Vineyard - The Island's Community Foundation