Scholarship Impact
We invest in the future. The MVCF is one of Martha’s Vineyard’s largest providers of scholarships. We help Islanders of all ages—from high school seniors to current college students to working adults—realize their dreams and secure a bright future.
Since 1984, we have awarded thousands of scholarships for undergraduate and graduate college degrees, vocational training, and professional certifications, including Captain’s licenses for mariners.
The Community Foundation manages 30 scholarship funds. Many of the funds are endowed, meaning they will support Island students for generations to come. To apply, use the online application below. We will automatically match you with all scholarship opportunities for which you qualify.
2025 Stats
128
Students awarded in 2025
$375,000
Scholarships awarded in 2025
Lifetime Stats
2,314
Students awarded to date
$5,300,000
Scholarships awarded to date
Photo: Maria Thibodeau
STUDENT TESTIMONIALS
Violet Cabot
- Syracuse University
- James S. and Violet M. Rego Scholarship Fund — 2024, 2023, 2021, 2020
- Hall/Anderson Family Fund – 2024
- Dr. Clement N. and Vera A. Amaral Scholarship Fund — 2022
- Our Island Club Scholarship Fund — 2020
“My dream since seventh grade has been to become a speech language pathologist. In high school I discovered the accelerated masters degree for SLP at Syracuse University. It became my dream program.
The Community Foundation has been an integral part of my educational journey. Their support during my four years of undergraduate studies and their continued support for my masters degree program has allowed me to work towards entering the field I’ve dreamed of since middle school.
Communication is a right that all people deserve and I look forward to helping future clients develop their communication and language skills.”
Eduardo Marques
- Bridgewater State University
- Donna Dolinsky and Vincent Reid Memorial Fund — 2024
- Inspiration Fund — 2024, 2023
“I sincerely thank the Martha’s Vineyard Community Foundation for its invaluable support throughout my academic journey at Bridgewater State University. As a first-generation college student, their unwavering assistance has been instrumental in my pursuit of a degree in Operations Management and Finance. Their belief in my potential has given me the fortitude to approach each day with determination and dedication to my studies.
With a focus on transportation, I am eager to leverage the knowledge and skills gained to contribute meaningfully to improving transportation systems on Martha’s Vineyard. The MVCF’s support has not only propelled my academic endeavors but has also ignited a passion within me to effect positive change within my community.”
Darby Patterson
- Berklee College of Music
- MVCF Scholarship Fund – 2024
“Graduating from Berklee College of Music completed an education I had started eight years prior. When I went back to school after taking time off for the pandemic and to earn money to pay my own way, I really appreciated every class and every opportunity.
The scholarship I received from Martha’s Vineyard Community Foundation is the only reason I was able to return to school and complete my degree. I found out about the foundation’s award just days before tuition was due. It’s a cliché to say it takes a village but everyone went above and beyond to support me. To receive that help after working so hard for many years has meant a lot.”
Maria Sanchez Roa
- UMASS Amherst
- Katherine Harding Deeble Scholarship Fund – 2024
- Inspiration Fund – 2024
- Albridge C. and Margaret Righter Smith Scholarship Fund – 2023
“Thankfully with the help of Martha’s Vineyard Community Foundation and their scholarship program I have been able to pursue my passion in environmental conservation and research. Their contribution has helped me achieve higher education, research and internship opportunities as well as a strong background in environmental topics that I can use in my future career. I hope to use this opportunity to further my education and help research environmental issues and work with peers to find solutions for conservation.”
Jesse Yacubian
- Bridgewater State University
- Inspiration Fund, MVCF Scholarship Fund – 2024
- Inspiration Fund – 2023
- Walter and Irene Dumais Scholarship Fund, Inspiration Fund — 2022
At the MVRHS Awards Night in 2022, graduating senior Jesse Yacubian didn’t know what to expect. “I was never a Straight A kid,” he recalls. “I thought that’s who would get the money.” He was “super happy” to receive scholarship funding from Martha’s Vineyard Community Foundation and the Portuguese American Club.
The scholarships Jesse has continued to receive from the Community Foundation have played a role in his success at Bridgewater State University, where he is now a junior focused on audio and video production. In the Fall of 2024, Jesse’s professional and personal interests aligned with a paid internship as the video intern for the New England Patriots.
Though he continues to play lacrosse, his family’s financial constraints mean filling his free time with working part-time jobs to support himself. He is grateful to his mother, a single parent, for supporting his academic and career success, including working countless hours to help juggle tuition costs with the Island’s high cost of living. During summers at home on the Vineyard, Jesse works a job he loves for the Chilmark harbormaster.
As he looks to the future, Jesse is grateful for many kinds of support from the Island. “Never take anything that involves financials lightly,” he cautions himself. “Someone’s putting money into you.”
