Ready to volunteer on MV? This guide helps to get you started, using the Martha’s Vineyard Nonprofit Collaborative Directory to highlight opportunities, with a few of my personal tips.
The Martha's Vineyard Nonprofit Collaborative (MVNPC) supports and strengthens the island's nonprofit sector by fostering collaboration, providing resources, and addressing community needs. I love that there is a centralized organization helping to unite all these amazing efforts!
There is so much to consider when finding a volunteer match. What interests you? What aligns with your schedule? What aligns with your strengths? This guide is here to help you match your schedule and passions with ways to help out in the community and make a real difference.
Key to Volunteering
Visual Guide Using Emojis:
🕒 Recurring time commitment
📝 Must Apply First
⏳ One-Time Commitment
🧍 Solo Work
🧑🤝🧑 Group Work
☀️ Summer only or seasonal
🗣️ Public-facing roles
🛠️ Skill-based volunteering
🆘 High-need areas
👵 Opportunities with the elderly
👶 Child-related volunteering
🌍 Environmental or conservation efforts
🏥 Health and wellness volunteering
🎨 Arts and Culture
MVacay Nonprofit Directory
Here is a list of volunteer spots. It’s not a full list, but it’s a great place to start! The MV Nonprofit Directory has the most up-to-date list of organizations.
Sustainability
Vineyard Conservation Society 🌍🕒📝🧍🧑🤝🧑🗣️
Sheriff’s Meadow Foundation 🌍🕒📝🗣️🛠️
Island Grown Initiative 🌍🕒📝🧑🤝🧑🗣️🧒
BiodiversityWorks 🌍🕒📝🧍🧑🤝🧑
Vineyard Power Cooperative 🌍🕒📝🧑🤝🧑
Friends of Sengekontacket 🌍🕒📝🧑🤝🧑🗣️
Education and Youth
NAACP Martha’s Vineyard 🌍🕒📝🧑🤝🧑🗣️
Camp Jabberwocky 🕒📝🧑🤝🧑🧒☀️
Martha’s Vineyard Boys + Girls Club 🕒📝🧑🤝🧑🧒🏥
Sail MV 🌍📝🧑🤝🧑🧒☀️
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cape Cod and the Islands 🕒📝🧑🤝🧑🧒
ACE MV 🕒📝🛠️🧍🎨
Island Autism Group 🕒📝🧑🤝🧑🧒
Arts
Martha's Vineyard Playhouse 🎨🕒📝🧑🤝🧑🗣️
Featherstone Center for the Arts 🎨🕒📝🧑🤝🧑🗣️
Martha's Vineyard Museum 🎨🕒📝🧑🤝🧑🗣️
The Yard 🎨🕒📝🧑🤝🧑🗣️
Circuit Arts 🎨🕒📝🧑🤝🧑🗣️
Vineyard Haven Harbor Cultural District 🎨🕒📝🧑🤝🧑🗣️
Oak Bluffs Association 🕒📝🧑🤝🧑🗣️
Visit Edgartown 🕒📝🧑🤝🧑🗣️
Stillpoint 🕒📝🧍🧑🤝🧑
Housing
Habitat for Humanity of Martha’s Vineyard 🏠🕒📝🧑🤝🧑🛠️
Harbor Homes of Martha’s Vineyard 🏠🕒📝🧍🧑🤝🧑
Martha's Vineyard Community Foundation 🕒📝🧑🤝🧑🛠️
The Process: Once you reach out to an organization, they will ask you about the type and frequency of work you want to be involved in. Then, they will likely have you fill out some forms, or depending on the type of work, a background check. This process can take a few weeks, so be patient and stay motivated!
Health Services
Martha’s Vineyard Community Services 🏥🕒📝🧑🤝🧑👶👵
Island Food Pantry 🏥🕒📝🧍🧑🤝🧑🆘
Hospice of Martha’s Vineyard 🏥🕒📝🧍🧑🤝🧑👵
The Red House Peer Recovery Support Center 🏥🕒📝🧍🧑🤝🧑🆘
Community Services
Animal Shelter of Martha’s Vineyard 🐾🕒📝🧍🧑🤝🧑
Vineyard House 🏥🕒📝🧍
Red Stocking Fund 🏥🕒📝🧑🤝🧑👶🆘
Not Listed: Individual neighborhood associations, education/school-focused groups, churches or places of worship, and other smaller or private groups that accept volunteers only on a membership-basis.
Drop-In Volunteer Options
This is the list I would want! A quick list of where you can volunteer without a recurring commitment:
Stores - Chicken Alley Thrift (MV Community Services), MV Clothes to Go and Act Two Second Hand Store
MV Center for Living
MV Cancer Support Group
Harbor Homes
Island Grown Initiative
Island Food Pantry
Want to help? Email these groups directly—they can tell you exactly what’s needed. Since winter schedules change, it’s best to ask them when and where they could use your help.
Join the Facebook Group - MV Volunteers to be alerted of single-day opportunities and needs.
Additional ways to help outside of volunteer organizations:
Bring food to community food pantries/fridges (West Tisbury Library, Grace Church, Boys + Girls Club)
Donate new or used clothes (Clothes to Go, Chicken Alley or the MV Family Center)
Create care packages for seniors or individuals in recovery centers
Volunteer to teach a class at your local library
Curious about more ways to help? Check out this throwback to the 2022 MVacay Archive:
