News

Nonprofit Collaborative Celebrates Longtime Board Chair

- The Vineyard Gazette, Wednesday, June 26, 2024 by Emma Killbride

"The indoor arena at Misty Meadows Equine Learning Center is usually full of horses and riders perfecting their equitation and honing their horsemanship.

On Tuesday night, it was filled with nonprofit leaders from all over the Island in celebration of the Martha’s Vineyard Nonprofit Collaborative’s 20th anniversary. The event honored special guest Gerald Jones, who has long served as board chair of Collaborative." 

Read the full article here or visit our webpage to learn more about our 20th anniversary and see party photos. 

MVTimes' "Nonprofit Notebook: Kinship Heals"

- MVTimes, Wednesday, August 9, 2023 by Mollie Doyle and Jennifer Randolph

The Nonprofit Notebook series is a collaboration between MVNC and MVTimes that aims to help Island nonprofits tell their stories and reach a broader audience across the Island. Each month will feature a nonprofit issue, program or person that educates the public about the work being done and its often unseen impact.

"Embracing Wampanoag culture is the best way for the Aquinnah Wampanoag community and Island community to stop violence and heal. 

Here on Martha’s Vineyard, we are comfortable talking about and celebrating certain aspects of our history and present reality, but we rarely talk about our historical and present violence." 

Learn more about the history of the Aquinnah Wampanoag and the work of island nonprofit Kinship Heals in this poignant addition to our Nonprofit Notebook series. Read the full article here. 

Nonprofit Notebook: Age in Action

-MVTimes, Wednesday, May 24, 2023 by Mollie Doyle

The Nonprofit Notebook series is a collaboration between MVNC and MVTimes that aims to help Island nonprofits tell their stories and reach a broader audience across the Island. Each month will feature a nonprofit issue, program or person that educates the public about the work being done and its often unseen impact.

"How do you age with grace? This is the question facing one in three Martha’s Vineyard full-time residents, who are more than 65 years of age. As most of us know, age is a funny thing. Depending on one’s health and a myriad of life circumstances — from job fulfillment and retirement finances to the health and richness of the relationships one has — one can be 80 and feel young or 60 and feel old. That said, no matter how one feels, one thing is true: As we age, at some point we will need help. It might be small. A railing to get down the stairs might suddenly be a necessary home feature. It might be big. Driving might no longer be possible, or a partner might have died sooner than expected, and one is stuck with a big house and bigger expenses. No matter what, Healthy Aging Martha’s Vineyard (HAMV) works to fill the gaps and offer support services to ensure that aging Islanders can live the healthiest, most enriched life possible."

Read the full article here. 

MVNC is thrilled to announce the first "Nonprofit Notebook." In collaboration with the MVTimes, the Nonprofit Notebook series aims to help Island nonprofits tell their stories and reach a broader audience across the Island. Each month will feature a nonprofit issue, program or person that educates the public about the work being done and its often unseen impact.

We are so excited to highlight the stories of the important work nonprofits and their teams are doing on the island. 

Check out a preview of the first Nonprofit Notebook article below. 

Nonprofit Notebook: Felix Neck

- MVTimes, by Mollie Doyle, April 26, 2023 

"A few years ago, I tried to organize a beach cleanup with my sister Erin and her fellow VIP (Vineyard Independence Partnership) members. For those who don’t know, Martha’s Vineyard’s VIP program is a “partnership of individuals with disabilities, their families, and friends working to ensure that opportunities for a full life are available to all.” It was during the pandemic, and I thought it would be a great way for my sister to get outside, gather with her friends in a safe way, and do some good. What I hadn’t thought about, even after being my sister’s sister for nearly 50 years, was accessibility." ...

Read the full article here. 

MVYRadio Celebrates Local Nonprofit Organizations

- The Vineyard Gazette, Monday, February 27, 2023

"On Saturday, March 25, MVY Radio will host the third annual MVY Radio Night Out for Nonprofits. The event celebrates the organizations and people who care for the Island through their work at and support of nonprofit organizations..."

Read the full article here. 

Revived Mass. charitable deduction takes effect this year

- MassNonprofit News, Monday, January 16, 2023

"Starting this tax year, Massachusetts taxpayers can deduct charitable donations on their state tax returns — a policy reinstated after a 20-year hiatus. The revived deduction comes as welcome news to Massachusetts nonprofits in an era of declining individual donors. ..."

Read the full article here. 

The West Chop Community Fund Announces its 2022-2023 Grant Application, Review and Awards Procedures

The West Chop Community Fund partners with the lead non-profit organizations on Martha's Vineyard that are addressing key "unmet needs" on the Island. 

The WCCF awards grants to eligible non-profit organizations whose work in the community is focused on one or more of the following seven areas of need:

1. Affordable Housing
2. Children’s Health, Welfare, and Recreation
3. Clean Water
4. Education and Workforce Development
5. Food Security
6. Health & Aging
7. Substance Abuse Counseling or other related support services. 

To Apply:

The WCCF's grant making authority is limited to registered, non-profit organizations operating on Martha's Vineyard. If your organization is an active 501 (c) (3), is working in the relevant areas of need on the Island, and would like to submit a grant application, please refer to the linked guidelines and the WCCF website, which contains the WCCF Grant Application, guidelines and related information. Applications must be submitted no later than November 30, 2022 to be considered for grants to be awarded in late spring or early summer 2023.  Applicants are encouraged to submit their application as early as possible ahead of the November 30th deadline. 

For more information, visit the WCCF website: https://westchopfund.org/

Please contact grants@westchopfund.org with any questions

Networking and Nurturing at Nonprofit Night Out

- The Vineyard Gazette, by Louisa Hufstader, Monday, May 9, 2022

"After two years of grappling with the coronavirus pandemic, Island nonprofits finally took a little time off to party on Saturday night. But it was play time with a purpose — two, in fact: To raise money for the Martha’s Vineyard Nonprofit Collaborative, and to provide the opportunity for foundation workers to gather with each other and the Island public...." 

Read the full article here. 

MVNC Featured in The Vine article "Good Neighbors, Good Partners" on February 9, 2022 by Elizabeth Bennett. 

Read the full article here. 

Jackie Friedman, executive director of the Martha's Vineyard Nonprofit Collaborative, said that on the Island, "People are working together to reduce the silos." — Ray Ewing

Eight Martha’s Vineyard nonprofits, including the Edgartown Library, the Boys & Girls Club, the YMCA and Island Grown Initiative, are getting ready for a season of unprecedented challenges as the Island reopens and children return to camp and other summer activities. Read more at the Vineyard Gazette HERE.