As we approach the holiday season, and end of the fiscal year, donating to non-profits is top of mind! I’ve decided to list 20 non-profits I’ve had my eye on donating to this season. This is not at all an all-encompassing list (you can get that over at Martha’s Vineyard Nonprofit Collaborative) but I hope it gives you some inspiration or awareness of some of the great things happening on island.

Sustainability

Vineyard Conservation Society - VCS is dedicated to preserving the environment of Martha’s Vineyard through advocacy, education and the protection of the Island’s land and water.

Sheriff’s Meadow Foundation - Sheriff’s Meadow seeks to conserve the natural landscape and character of Martha’s Vineyard through conservation, stewardship and education programs.

Island Grown Initiative - Building a regenerative, equitable food system on Martha's Vineyard that engages, informs and integrates the community.

Slough Farm Foundation - Slough Farm is a nonprofit educational farm and arts center committed to the integration of small-scale, sustainable farming and the creative arts through place-based educational programming. Slough Farm is also committed to supporting fellow food equity partners, Island farmers and nonprofits.

Others within this category: Great Pond Foundation, Felix Neck, FARM Institute, Trustees of the Reservation, Friends of Sengekontacket, Lagoon Pond Association, Martha’s Vineyard Fishermen’s Preservation Trust, The Polly Hill Arboretum

Equity

NAACP Martha’s Vineyard - The Martha’s Vineyard chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People works to ensure equality and justice for all and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination

Camp Jabberwocky - Camp Jabberwocky is a community of friends with a diversity of disabilities who come together for summer camps, family camps, and retreats. 

Education + Youth

Martha’s Vineyard Boys + Girls Club - Since 1937, the Martha’s Vineyard Boys & Girls Club has worked to enable all island youth, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as innovative, caring, and responsible citizens.

Martha’s Vineyard YMCA - The YMCA is a full-service facility with gym, pool, and programming for all ages. It also includes Alex’s Place, the Island’s premiere gathering space for teens.

Sail MV - Sail MV offers free summer sailing instruction for Island children; the organization is dedicated to perpetuating the Island’s maritime heritage and culture.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cape Cod and the Islands - Big Brothers Big Sisters is a youth-mentoring organization for Cape and Islands youth in need of an additional positive adult role model.

ACE MV - ACE MV offers career training, college credit, certification and licensure in the trades, business, education, health and hospitality sectors, as well as enrichment classes for residents of all ages.

Housing Stability

Habitat for Humanity of Martha’s Vineyard - Habitat for Humanity is the Island chapter of a national organization dedicated to building housing for families in the lowest qualifying income range.

Island Housing Trust Corporation - Island Housing Trust creates and sustains permanently affordable housing solutions, both rental and ownership.

Vineyard House Inc. - The Vineyard House campus provides temporary housing for Island men and women in early stages of recovery from alcohol and drug addiction.

Harbor Homes of Martha’s Vineyard - The mission of Harbor Homes of Martha’s Vineyard is to provide safe and secure housing and life skills education to low income residents to prevent them from being homeless and help them move toward greater self-sufficiency.

Health + Services

Martha’s Vineyard Community Services - MVCS provides comprehensive support, counseling, education, and services through several core programs that include youth support, veterans support, substance use recovery, domestic and sexual violence advocacy, disability services, employment services, childcare, family education, a Head Start program, and a Thrift Shop.

Island Food Pantry - The Island Food Pantry provides food for those in need from mid-October through mid-April.

Martha’s Vineyard Center for Living - MV Center for Living provides services, programs and activities for Islanders 55 and older through partnerships with the town councils on aging and other related organizations.

Hospice of MV - Hospice is a community-supported organization dedicated to offering free, quality hospice and bereavement services to those facing advanced illness, grief and death.

Friends of Family Planning of Martha’s Vineyard - Friends of Family Planning of Martha’s Vineyard supports the family planning clinic on the island. We support compassionate, inclusive, life spectrum sexual health care for all people in our community.

Animal Shelter of MV - The Animal Shelter of Martha’s Vineyard is a no-kill shelter that houses and provides vaccinations, neutering and care for animals, as well as helping to find proper adoptive homes for them.

Enjoy giving back this holiday season! -MVacay