Community & Impact Grant FAQs

Not-for-profit organizations that serve Martha’s Vineyard and benefit our community may apply for a Community & Impact grant from the Community Foundation. Applicants must be based on Martha’s Vineyard or have a strong history of continuous service to the Island. 

Eligible organizations are those with Internal Revenue Service 501 (c) (3) or similar status. If an organization has incorporated and/or received not-for-profit status within the last year, we advise that they wait to have a full year of operations and financial documents in place before applying for a Community & Impact grant. 

Yes, if the services provided take place on the Island, are for the benefit of the people of Martha’s Vineyard, and clearly link to improving this community’s quality of life.

In 2025, grant awards will range from $1,000 to $25,000. Awards at the $25,000 level will be made only for projects with specific goals, clear identification of who will be served, and anticipation of deep impact on Island life. During the 2024 competitive application process, we received requests totaling more than $1M and awarded approximately $530,000 in support to 46 organizations. The average award size was approximately $11,500. 

Yes. All grant requests must use the Foundation’s online application form. Letters or other written requests will not be considered. 

Incomplete applications will be deferred until the Foundation has received all of the required information. Organizations that have received grants from the Community Foundation in the past must file final narrative and financial reports for those grants in order to be considered for a new grant.

Yes, you can preview the Questions List for each of the three types of applications. Click here for a PDF of the Question List: 2025 Community & Impact Grants

The deadline for 2025 Community &Impact Grant applications is Monday, September 29, 2025 at noon. No applications will be accepted after that time. 

The funds at Martha’s Vineyard Community Foundation have been established by individual donors, families and organizations as a way of providing support to enhance the quality of life on Martha’s Vineyard.

The Foundation staff reviews all applications and follows up on missing information or with questions regarding a submission. An incomplete application will be deferred until all of the necessary information has been provided. We highly encourage you to reach out to Program Manager Elizabeth Bennett with any questions or to review your application up to one week prior to the deadline: .

All applications will be reviewed. If necessary, additional information may be requested afterwards to help clarify a project. Some organizations will be invited to meet informally with representatives from the Foundation’s Board of Directors so that the applicant can provide a better understanding of a project’s goals, activities to be undertaken and anticipated impact on the community. 

Community & Impact applications are reviewed by the Foundation’s Board of Directors which votes on each request and determines the amount of every grant approved. All applicants will be notified in mid-November.

Organizations may submit one application per year to the Community & Impact Grant process. 

An organization that has multiple subsidiaries is encouraged to coordinate and determine which subsidiary will apply for a Community & Impact grant. The parent/umbrella organization cannot be awarded more than one grant per year through the process.

Community & Impact grant funding for programs or projects is available for up to one year.

Organizations receiving grants from the Foundation are required to submit a final report on program activities within a year of the grant award. The report consists of a narrative about the impact of the project, a final financial accounting, and photos of the program/project awarded funding. Subsequent requests for support will not be considered until all reports for prior grants have been received.

The Community Foundation will not consider grants for political purposes, religious causes or projects benefiting members of a specific church or religious denomination, agency endowments or for individuals, other than for scholarships or educational programs as determined by a fund’s special provisions.

The Community Foundation does not award funding for capital construction projects. We have funded small renovation and equipment purchase projects but do not fund large-scale capital projects. 

Yes. Requests for funding outside of the Foundation’s annual grant process may be considered in an emergency. To discuss the details of a situation and receive more specific information, please contact Program Manager Elizabeth Bennett at or 508-338-4665.