A group of Vineyard citizens has launched a new philanthropic initiative, the Martha’s Vineyard Donors Collaborative (MVDC). Its principal goal is to expand the universe of donors contributing to the Vineyard’s nonprofit, voluntary organizations.
Representatives from about 60 Island nonprofits, along with the general public, gathered on Saturday at the PA Club for a nonprofits mixer and fundraiser.
Care for Community, the Island's volunteer coordination program, has transitioned to Martha’s Vineyard Nonprofit Collaborative from MV Community Services.
Collaboration is a buzzword in the nonprofit world that elicits varied reactions. Donors and foundations encourage it because they believe it makes their gifts have more impact and they see it as a solution to a glut of nonprofits.
As competition for donor dollars increases amid a crowded field of nonprofits on the Vineyard, new ideas have begun to emerge about fundraising. In the past decade, the total amount raised by Island nonprofits has gone up, but so has the number of groups seeking funds.
The data is clear: like the rest of the country, Martha’s Vineyard is bracing for a sharp increase in the population of older residents. The number of Vineyard residents 60 and older is growing at a faster rate then the rest of the state, and that demographic is expected to grow as the baby boomer generation gets older. Some estimates show that Island residents between 60 and 70 years of age will triple by 2020.
Today is Philanthropy Day on Martha’s Vineyard. Proclaimed by Dukes County, it’s a day to honor everyone, seasonal and year-round for the tremendous amount of time and money you donate to preserve the Vineyard and keep its nonprofits running.
In the last year there’s been a lot of philanthropy to thank you for. Some of it preserved or improved important Island institutions.
