Martha’s Vineyard Community Foundation is pleased to announce that grants totaling $530,000 will be awarded to 46 exceptional local nonprofits through the 2024 Community & Impact Grants program. This unprecedented level of funding is a 26% increase over the 2023 awards distributed to support community-based projects. 

Executive Director Paul Schulz of the Community Foundation, comments, “We are so grateful for the generosity of our dedicated donors and for the energy and commitment of our board members. Even before starting this year’s grant cycle, we anticipated seeing increased need from local nonprofits. When the applications were submitted, we received over $1.1 million in requests for support. With the combined forces of our donors and the board, we raised additional funds that expanded our ability to support more organizations than has been possible in the past.”  

The Community & Impact Grants program is offered annually to nonprofits based on or providing significant service to the Island. The Community Foundation received 66 applications – a 10% increase over 2023 — from organizations of vastly different budget sizes but who proposed projects with a common purpose: making a significant positive impact on the lives of Islanders. 

A closer look at the 2024 grant recipients and their initiatives: 

Accessibility:

• Island Autism Group

• Mass Audubon / Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary
• Misty Meadows Equine Learning Center
• Sail Martha’s Vineyard
• The Trustees of Reservations
• YMCA of Martha’s Vineyard

Arts and Cultural Enrichment:

• Circuit Arts
• Island Community Chorus
• Islanders Write
• Martha’s Vineyard Chamber Music Society
• Martha’s Vineyard Diversity Coalition
• The Yard

Health Services:

• Health Imperatives
• Hospice & Palliative Care of Martha’s Vineyard 
• Martha’s Vineyard Hospital
• Vineyard Health Care Access Program

Educational Opportunity:

• Aquinnah Cultural Center
• Garden Gate Child Development Center
• Martha’s Vineyard Museum
• Martha’s Vineyard Ocean Academy
• Penikese Island School
• Sassafras Earth Education
• Vineyard Montessori School

Environmental Initiatives:

• Biodiversity Works
• Great Pond Foundation
• Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Society
• Martha’s Vineyard Shellfish Group

Food Security:

• First Congregational Church of West Tisbury
• Grace Church
• Island Grown Initiative
• Martha’s Vineyard Boys & Girls Club
• Martha’s Vineyard Fishermen’s Preservation Trust

Language Access:

• ACE MV
• Communication Ambassador Partnership (CAP)
• West Tisbury Library Foundation

Housing: 

• Habitat for Humanity of Martha’s Vineyard
• Harbor Homes
• Island Housing Trust

Other Community Groups:

• Animal Shelter of Martha’s Vineyard
• Camp Jabberwocky
• Chappaquiddick Community Center
• Community Action Committee of Cape Cod and the Islands
• Healthy Aging MV
• Martha’s Vineyard Center for Living
• MV Mediation
• Vineyard House