Grant Funds
Funds for Grants
These funds range from unrestricted to those focused on specific donor interests or designated for individual organizations.
Ruth J. Bogan - Ruth Redding Memorial Fund
Ruth Redding, a long time Island resident, created this fund to honor the creative spirit and love of Martha’s Vineyard of her friend, Ruth J. Bogan. Funds are designated to a number of Island organizations supported by Ruth Bogan during her lifetime. In addition, the annual Creative Living Award was established in the name of the fund to honor an individual or individuals who exemplify Ruth Bogan’s creativity and love of the Vineyard and whose artistic, humanitarian and civic accomplishments have contributed significantly to life on the Island.
James P. Cahen Fund
This fund was created for the purpose of “defraying expenses of equipping and staffing medical, surgical or health care service providers, including preventive health care” serving the residents of Martha’s Vineyard, with priority given to low income families and individuals.
General Discretionary Fund
This unrestricted fund supports projects and programs addressing important Island concerns and, to a limited extent, capital investments. As a matter of policy, grants from the General Discretionary Fund are not available for an organization’s general operating expenses.
Alfred F. Ferro and Edward S. Redstone Fund for the Elderly of Tisbury
This fund was established in 1986 for the benefit of the elderly residents of the town of Tisbury.
Harriet N. Goldberg Fund
Harriet N. Goldberg, who was raised on Martha’s Vineyard, bequeathed a portion of her estate to address the physical and spiritual needs of the Island’s commercial seafarers and individuals pursuing educational programs in preparation for commercial maritime careers. The fund, originally associated with the Boston Seaman’s Friend Society, was transferred to the Permanent Endowment in 2006 to insure that members of the Vineyard maritime community would continue to benefit from the financial support of the Goldberg Fund.
Lillian Hellman Recreational Fund
Established in 2009 through a bequest from the estate of Lillian Hellman, this fund supports recreational, leisure and educational activities for school age children on Martha's Vineyard both after school and during the summer months. Preference is given to programs serving children from Aquinnah.
Island Fund
This fund was started in 2007 in response to the need for more flexibility in funding Vineyard nonprofit organizations. Unlike traditional endowed funds, the Island Fund distributes all of its assets annually. Donors interested in supporting particular Vineyard organizations or fields of interest can direct their contributions to benefit specific organizations, programs or projects. This allows donors to respond more effectively to current funding needs on the Island.
Martha’s Vineyard Savings Bank Charitable Fund
Established by the Endowment’s Trustee bank, this unrestricted fund is designed to support a wide range of programs and projects on the Island. Grants from the Martha’s Vineyard Savings Bank Charitable Fund are determined quarterly by the bank’s leadership in cooperation with the Permanent Endowment.
Mayhew-Nevin Memorial Fund
Created in 1945 and transferred to the Permanent Endowment in 1986, this fund honors two distinguished and devoted Vineyard physicians, Orland S. Mayhew and Clement C. Nevin. The fund helps pay for the medical expenses of families and individuals in need who have received care from the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital.
Jack Ware Fund for Martha's Vineyard
In honor of Jack Ware, founder of the Permanent Endowment, this grant fund was established in 2009 to support nonprofit organizations working to better the quality of life on the Island.
