Island nonprofits are central to Island life in good times and nothing less than essential during this pandemic. There is no way to know what will happen next. But we do know that people will continue to need help, and the Island’s nonprofits have been the first to step up and meet needs. Whether you care about health-based initiatives, addressing hunger and food inequity, elderly programs, combatting climate change, or supporting the arts and humanities, a nonprofit is trying to make a difference.

MVNC has collected a list of immediate unmet needs from island nonprofits with the hope that our community will come together, give time and money so they can continue to be strong and focused on delivering help wherever possible.

Not seeing what you are looking for? Visit our Nonprofit Directory to view the 150+ organizations that preserve, celebrate and protect this Island that we call home.

MV NonProfit Directory

The organizations are listed in alphabetical order. Click the organization to read more about they do. Please make a donation directly to the organization.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cape Cod & the Islands:  Big Brothers for 10 Boys Waiting ($1,800 per child)

BBBS knows that young people who have a mentor are more likely to be leaders, volunteer, and go to college. With a minimum of a mentor for a year, children make measurable strides in critical factors of youth development. Each Big Brother costs us approximately $1,800 to recruit, screen, train, and support annually.

Edgartown Board of Trade:  VisitEdgartown.org Website Upgrade ($4000)

The Edgartown Board of Trade is the Edgartown business community's backbone, producing four events and year-round promotion. To better meet the growing list of community initiatives and events, they need a 21st Century Toolkit (Adobe for graphics, website maintenance) and Operational Business Expenses (Quickbooks Online).

Featherstone Center for the Arts:  COVID Recovery and PPE Supplies ($5,000)

Featherstone creates community through Arts. They have kept creativity flowing through virtual offerings, their loss of revenue is considerable due to the COVID-19 and the cancelation of summer camp and other programming and fundraising events. Funding will help Featherstone to keep connecting with their community by engaging and enriching art, creative experiences, and providing education.

First Cong. Church of W. Tisbury:  ServSafe Certification for Community Supper Coordinator ($5,000)

First Cong. Church of W. Tisbury looks to turn the volunteer Community Supper Coordinator role into a paid position equipped with a ServSafe Certification. Due to the pandemic, there are additional requirements by the Board of Health that need to be responded to rapidly. This Coordinator will work with the Board of Health and train all of the volunteers who prep, cook, serve, deliver, and clean.

Friends of MVYRADIO:  Hire Donation Call Center Service ($5,000)

MVY RADIO "A Voice For The Vineyard" need funds to expand their On-Air-Fund Drives donation collection capabilities with a "Call Center." The funds would cover the cost of development work required to integrate the Call Centers software with Mvyradio's database. The entire Project will cost $11,000.

Grace Episcopal Church:  Feed More People at Friday Night Community Suppers ($4,000)

Grace Episcopal Church aims to continue to provide and increase the capacity of their Friday Night Community Supper program (both dine-in and take out) from October 2020 through March of 2021 to meet an anticipated increase in hunger on the Vineyard this Fall and Winter.  The Community Suppers collaborate with other houses of worship on the Vineyard who cover the other six nights of the week. Volunteers prepare meals with food from the Boston Food Bank and donated items. Each week Grace Church's dinners feed approximately 40 Islanders.

Great Pond Foundation:  Sterilization Equipment for Work on Island Coastal Ponds ($285)

Great Pond Foundation works to enhance the Edgartown Great Pond's health and beauty by supporting solutions to environmental problems affecting it. The sterilization equipment analyzes nutrient concentrations within Island coastal ponds. Typically GPF can sterilize and reuse filtration equipment; however, our sterilization capabilities are restricted due to COVID-19. This equipment is necessary to understand how land-use changes and human development impact water quality in coastal ecosystems.

Habitat for Humanity of Martha's Vineyard:   Storage container to hold tools and materials on-site ($4,500)

Habitat for Humanity of Martha's Vineyard has been building simple, decent, affordable housing for Islanders that is perpetually affordable.They build the homes using donated land, building materials and volunteer labor. Habitat will be building two new affordable homes in Oak Bluffs in 2021 and need a storage container to hold tools and materials on-site. These containers are purchased locally, and reused every time they build a new home.

Havenside:  Walk-In Shower Modification ($5,000)

Havenside provides housing at or below cost for retired, elderly full-time residents of Martha's Vineyard. The modification will convert the old apartment bathtubs into walk-in showers to promote healthy aging in place and to keep our seniors safe and comfortable in their Havenside homes.

Healthy Aging Martha's Vineyard:  Printing and Postage for Island-Wide Elder Survey ($5,000)

Healthy Aging Martha's Vineyard mission is to create an aging-friendly Island. HAMV last conducted a comprehensive island-wide survey with island residents 65 years or older to identify wants and needs to facilitate island-wide planning an aging-friendly island (49% participation rate). These new funds will help the organization update and expand their understanding of how island elders' needs and wants have evolved, and guide planning priorities for 2021 and beyond.

Hospice MV:  Basic Laptops for Hospice Nurses ($3,000)

Hospice MV offers quality hospice and bereavement services – at no cost – to the Island community. All five Hospice of Martha's Vineyard RNs and one bereavement counselor each need a basic laptop, which will mainly be used to input patient documentation and participate in virtual meetings. Currently, these staff members are either using their own devices or the few outdated devices available in the Hospice office.

Island Community Chorus:  Commissioned Music About Nancy Luce, the Chicken Lady ($2,000)

Island Community Chorus fosters choral singing and presents concerts for Island audiences. The Chorus aims to complete payment on commissioned music by Thomas LaVoy, PhD, for the Winter/Christmas concert. The local community and the worldwide community benefit from new musical compositions, the same as from new art or books.

Island Grown Initiative:  20-Gallon Delfield Electric Salad Dryer ($2,570)

Island Grown Initiative, who recently merged with the Island Food Pantry, is building a regenerative and equitable food system on Martha's Vineyard that engages, informs, and integrates the community. The Electric Salad Dryer will help IGI process approx. 8,500 pounds of greens harvested each year at Island Grown Initiative's farm. Nearly one-third of the 8,500 pounds of salad greens grown in IGI's fields and the greenhouse is donated to island food equity efforts, such as the Island Food Pantry and other MV Food Equity Network organizations. An additional ten percent of the harvest is sold through our Mobile Market, which delivers fresh produce and eggs at wholesale prices to under-served and vulnerable constituencies, and our sliding-scale CSA farm-share program.

Island Housing Trust (IHT):  Hire Strategic Planning Consultant ($5,000)

IHT is the leading nonprofit developer of affordable housing on Martha's Vineyard. The Island Housing Trust seeks funding for a consultant to assist with their 2025 strategic plan, that will aim to further the exponential growth they have realized over the past three years. The strategic planning process will result in a retreat during the fall of 2020 to identify the housing production and funding goals and strategies for IHT's next five years, entitled Vision 2025.

Martha's Vineyard Agricultural Society:  Update with Online Store ($5,000)

MVAS brings immense joy and agricultural exposure to over 35,000 people at our annual fair. They support local farmers with grant funding and scholarships and offer agrarian education to the Island's youth. To keep serving farmers and expanding online abilities, the MVAS website needs updating with an online store. A generous donor will match a contribution of $2,500.

Martha's Vineyard Center for Living:  Support for Dementia Family Support Services ($4,500)

Martha's Vineyard Center for Living enriches the lives of islanders aged 55+ through partnerships and island-wide services.Support for their Dementia Family Support Services will fund for up to 3 months, through September 2020. Doors were closed to in-person programs and services on March 16 because of the vulnerable population they serve, elders in our community, underlying conditions and cognitive decline, and their family members and caregivers. A-Zoom Dementia Caregiver Support Group and telephone outreach have continued. However, due to technology challenges and the limitations of online programs, many have been unable to connect. Outreach through Dementia Family Support is a reliable source of support for these families and caregivers.

Martha's Vineyard Film Festival: live music at its drive-ins at the YMCA ($3,000)

Martha's Vineyard Film Festival (MVFF) produces community events, educational programs, and films that spark discussion, debate, and action. The MVFF has teamed up with the YMCA of Martha's Vineyard to create a fun and family-friendly event that is pay-what-you-can so anyone, no matter their economic situation, can attend. They are now working with WMVY to provide a safe performance space, at the drive-in, for local musicians who have lost their usual venues and gigs because of the pandemic.

Martha's Vineyard Film Society:  Rented Movie Projection Equipment, Large Inflatable Screen for Free Summer Movie Series ($5,000)

Martha's Vineyard Film Society presents year-round film programming at the MV Film Center, Capawock, and Strand Theaters enjoyed by the  island-wide community. The MV Film Society is collaborating with Featherstone Center of the Arts this summer to provide the Vineyard community with OUTDOOR MOVIES as a safe "social distancing" family fun event. The funds would directly pay for the costs of rented movie projection equipment and sizable inflatable screens. Along with the safety materials, they will need to safely social distance families during these nights out (under the stars) at the movies.

Martha's Vineyard Fishermen's Preservation Trust: MacBook Pro 13” ($1,299)

MVFPT Safeguards Martha's Vineyard's fishing heritage and future by supporting its small-boat, owner-operated fishing fleets, and their sustainably harvested catch. A new computer will equip an office staff with new technology that is needed to assist the organization with all of their initiatives that support 50 local vessels and captains, 28 crew, and 19 individual oyster farmers.

Martha's Vineyard Institute of Creative Writing:  Visiting Poet/Writer Support for Free Program ($1,000)

Martha's Vineyard Institute of Creative Writing enriches the lives of writers by fostering creativity, community, and craft among established authors and poets. Visiting Writer Series Support will help bring an award-winning poet/author to the Island to give a free public reading and panel discussion (hosted at The Vineyard Arts Project) in June 2021. Donors may choose to name the evening reading series, which they sponsor. 

Martha's Vineyard Mediation Program:  Hire Outreach Coordinator for Conflict Resolution Services  ($3,500)

Martha's Vineyard Mediation Program is a court-connected community mediation program. Funds will hire an outreach coordinator to facilitate our year-long focus on providing conflict resolution services to families and individuals within the aging community. Through our Solidarity Fund, they will wave fees for community members who need financial assistance.

Martha's Vineyard Museum: Translation for Interactive Map for Self Guided Tours ($2,500)

The Martha's Vineyard Museum inspires everyone to discover, explore, and strengthen their connections to this Island and its diverse heritage. MVM is creating a map and scavenger hunt that will facilitate outdoor self-guided history tours of their 4-acre campus, both for families with children and general visitors. The funding will help translate the map and scavenger hunt into Portuguese so that Brazilian friends and neighbors feel welcome at the Museum.

Martha's Vineyard Playhouse: Promotion Video ($5,000)

Martha's Vineyard Playhouse presents professional theatrical shows on the Island. The short film will be used to highlight the importance of the Playhouse and for promotion and fundraising purposes. The film would feature many voices from our local community and include videos of donors, supporters, and participants in Playhouse programs and shows - plus still images from a multitude of productions and art exhibits and events and programs. 

Mass Audubon at Felix Neck:  Preschool Tuition Support for Islanders ($5,000)

Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary is a place for everyone, protecting the habitats, wildlife, and spectacular views. Felix Neck's new nature-based preschool provides care, learning, and outdoor exploration. They hope to provide Island families with financial assistance to help with the cost of tuition. COVID has had a significant economic impact on Islanders. Last year, Felix Neck provided $11,000 in tuition assistance and needed donations annually to continue to fill the need.

Media Voices for Children:  Video and Photograph storage (Adata Technology 3.84 Terrabytes) ($2,350)

Media Voices for Children is a 25 year, locally based educational nonprofit that focuses on advocating for children's human rights. Their focus is on child labor, modern slavery, and supply chains and the impacts on children for the items we all use, eat, wear, and buy that children make. MVFC's wish is to purchase additional drive storage that will enable them to share and utilize their library of 5000 hours of footage and a half million still photographs shot across the United States and around the world for educational purposes in schools, organizations, and government.

Misty Meadows Equine Learning Center:  Donor Management Fundraising Software ($2,400)

Misty Meadows offers unique, equine-assisted, year-round programs for participants of all ages. Donor Management Fundraising Software from Network For Good will help the organization manage its donor base and create fundraising campaigns with the support of coaching and webinars. The money raised from this software's use pays for their ten horses' care and the cost to run their barn. 

MV Sharks Baseball Foundation:  Upgrade for Outdoor Batting Cage ($3,500)

MV Sharks is a nonprofit summer collegiate team. Their field and batting practice equipment is used by the entire community of Martha's Vineyard. An upgrade for the outdoor batting cage will include new nets, essential for safety reasons.

Sail Martha’s Vineyard:  Digital/ Power Point Projector for Winter Series ($800)

Sail Martha's Vineyard offers maritime culture, and sailing skills to kids eight and up. Sail MV requests a Digital/PowerPoint projector to use during their winter lecture series, high school classes, and special events and lectures. In addition to teaching Maritime Studies at MVRHS, Sail MV puts on year-round educational events to inform Islanders about the area's maritime heritage. Compelling images, videos, and sound are critical in presenting this information, making it more accessible.

Sassafras Earth Education:  Shed for Indigenous Land Culture Project ($5,000)

Sassafras Earth Education is a nature connection organization.Sassafras is engaged in a land restoration project transforming to create abundant food resources for people and wildlife, that find their origin in pre-colonial systems. This decolonization project will provide an educational model for the Island and beyond. The shed will store materials needed for the Indigenous Land Culture (aka permaculture) Project.

Sheriff's Meadow Foundation: A Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) to Support TrailsMV Hiking App ($600)

Sheriff's Meadow Foundation preserves the natural, rural landscape of Martha's Vineyard. Their free hiking app TrailsMV app launched in 2018 has been downloaded 17,000+ times. In recent months, usage has spiked dramatically, as people on Martha's Vineyard have sought refuge in the outdoors from the constraints and stresses of COVID-19. This winter, the app was opened just under 2,000 times a month, this Spring, usage climbed to 5,522 per month. A Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver to map trails, will enable us to describe routes better, and plot points of interest on the Island's public conservation land, greatly enhancing its usefulness to walkers, hikers, and bikers.

The Cottagers:  New Rug for Second Floor Meeting Room ($3,000)

The Cottagers, Incorporated is a philanthropic organization of African-American women homeowners on Martha's Vineyard. A small make-over for the community room by updating the rug of 25 years will make a big difference for the comfort of their guests and organizations who use it year-round.

The Yard: Visiting Artist Support for August Programs ($5,000)

The Yard is a contemporary artist residency, dance, and performance center, for Martha's Vineyard and beyond. They are looking to continue online programming and restart in person (socially distanced!) activities, including potential site-specific performances in August. The funds will compensate participating artists. In this challenging and unprecedented time, The Yard's support of artists as change-makers, healers, and agents of culture feels ever more important. Support and The Yard and contribute to a culturally vibrant summer despite COVID-19!

Vineyard Committee on Hunger: Used 26 ft Refrigerated Truck ($4,187)

VCOH's goal is to encourage self-help initiatives and raise awareness and money to alleviate hunger, particularly childhood hunger, on Martha's Vineyard. Vineyard Committee on Hunger wishes to complete payment on the used Refrigerated Truck that was purchased and is shared by many nonprofit food groups (Serving Hands, Island Food Pantry, MV Food Baskets, to name a few). The truck picks up groceries from the Greater Boston Food Bank and delivers them to various locations.

Vineyard Conservation Society: Internet Hardware Upgrade ($4,000)

VCS preserves Martha's Vineyard's environment through advocacy, education, and the protection of the Island's land and water. VCS is seeking funds to improve connectivity technology to address the challenges presented by their office staff working remotely. The team has struggled both with inadequate internet bandwidth and, in some cases, outdated or insufficient equipment.

YMCA of Martha's Vineyard:  YMCA Camp Kindness Camper Kits ($1,700)

YMCA is the Islands year-round recreational community center. YMCA Camp Kindness Camper Kits provide each child with all the supplies they will need at camp, including markers, color pencils, scissors, glue sticks, etc. as well as learning support tools and various fun and engaging camp supplies. Providing these individual kits to each child for all six weeks of camp will help with supplies not getting cross-contamination and preventing the spread of germs between campers. 

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

Have questions? Contact  jackie@mvnonprofits.org.

Download the 2020 Summer Wish list HERE.