In 2016, when Jim Feiner began donating 10 per cent of every commission earned by his real estate firm to various nonprofit companies across Martha’s Vineyard, he said many people thought he was crazy.
But since the first check was given to Island Housing Trust for $4,500, Feiner Real Estate has given out $500,000 over the last decade to 30 nonprofits on the Island, supporting efforts in housing, healthcare, conservation, education and food insecurity.
“When I started to do this, I think there was animosity towards my company and me personally because I was raising the bar on being socially responsible, and not everybody wants to be socially responsible, and everybody has a different relationship with money,” said Mr. Feiner, who started his real estate firm in 1976.
Mr. Feiner said that recognizing the need for “good disruptors” within the real estate market across the United States inspired him to find ways to make a difference in the community.
“I think it’s pretty clear we cannot build our way out of this problem of affordable housing shortage,” said Mr. Feiner, who added that shifting demographics on the Island will create issues for nonprofit organizations who are overly dependent on donations from specific individuals.
Mr. Feiner said he has noticed that many nonprofits have been shifting their fundraising tactics to address these changing scenarios, something he hopes to address too.
“This is something that’s come up more than once when nonprofits talk about the future,” said Mr. Feiner.
To achieve wider results, Mr. Feiner also created a sister program called Refer2Give, a national real estate referral program designed to help buyers and sellers anywhere give back to their communities.
“I think giving back and making a difference is really important in a small community like ours, where the actions we take can have visible effects on the community and people in it,” he said.
This article appears in June 5, 2026.
way to go Jim!