As a trusted charitable resource, we provide education, guidance, and support for donors, nonprofits, and the community. We bring together local leaders to assess pressing needs and collaborate on impactful solutions. By managing funds and creating lasting charitable legacies, we help ensure that Nantucket remains a vibrant place where all residents can flourish.
The Community Foundation awards grants through the funds we hold including the Nantucket Fund, Donor Advised Funds, Initiative Funds, the Remain Fund, and Community Wind Fund. This section provides information on the scope of grant making CFN facilitates. In 2024 the Community Foundation granted $4.6 million to non-profits.
Nantucket Fund
CFN’s unrestricted funding source that provides annual grants to the island’s most critical needs and initiatives. Grants support everything from pre-kindergarten readiness programs and elder services to trauma therapy resources and affordable housing initiatives. The Nantucket Fund granted a record high of $500,000 in 2024.
Initiative Funds
Initiative Funds include Field of interest, and Designated Funds supporting a broad cause or issue that fund holders care about, such as the arts, education, healthcare, or environmental conservation.
Donor Advised Funds
A Donor Advised Fund (DAF) is a flexible charitable giving account that allows donors to support multiple causes over time while receiving an immediate tax deduction for their contributions. Donors make a gift to establish the fund, and the contributions can be invested to grow tax-free.
Scholarship Funds
A Scholarship Fund provides financial assistance to students pursuing education at various levels, from high school to college and beyond. Currently CFN awards scholarships from 14 funds focused on a variety of disciplines. $91,000 was awarded in Scholarships in 2024.
Past Grantees
Grants are the primary means by which the Community Foundation for Nantucket improves and enhances the Island. Proceeds for grants come from restricted and unrestricted endowments and donations from charitably-minded organizations and individuals.
2024 Nantucket Fund Grant Recipients
- A Safe Place’s Trauma Therapy Program
- Addiction Solutions’ Database Management
- Artists Association for Nantucket’s Community Arts Program
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cape Cod and Islands’ Mentoring Program
- Cape Cod Healthcare Foundation Medical Services
- Elder Services of Cape Cod and Islands’ Meals On Wheels Program
- Fairwinds’ Telehealth Hybrid Care
- Friends of Children’s Cove Travel Support
- Habitat for Humanity Waterproofing and Insulation Support
- Health Imperatives’ Health Access Now
- Housing Nantucket’s Affordable Rental Property Maintenance
- Maria Mitchell Association’s STEM Mentoring Program
- Mass Audubon Nantucket Sanctuaries’ Youth Environmental Stewards
- Nantucket Book Foundation’s Authors in Schools Program
- Nantucket Center for Elder Affairs’ Senior Enhancement
- Nantucket Community Sailing’s Community Programs
- Nantucket Community School’s Summer Boost & ESOL Program
- Nantucket Community Television’s ACK Ambassadors Program
- Nantucket Dreamland’s Educational Programming
- Nantucket Food, Fuel, & Rental Assistance’s Food Pantry & Emergency Assistance Programs
- Nantucket Lighthouse School’s Extended Day Program
- Nantucket S.T.A.R’s Summer Adventure Program
- New England Life Flight’s Emergency Flight Service Support
- Our House’s Outreach Manager Position
- Rising Tide Preschool’s Teacher Retention Program
- Sharing Kindness’ Perinatal Loss Support Group
- Small Friends Nantucket’s Childcare Providers Retention Program
- Sustainable Nantucket’s Farm-to-School Program
- The Warming Place’s Emergency Shelter Support
2024 Wind Community Fund Grant Recipients
Town Of Nantucket – Total award: $223,078:
- Department of Culture & Tourism -Virtual Visitor Guide
- Cemetery Commission- Historic Colored Cemetery Walking Tour Virtual Guide
- Department of Public Works- Solar project on Nobadeer Farm Rd. Field House
- Planning and Land Use- Historic Properties Survey Plan
- Sewer Dept.- Solar project on Surfside Rd. Sewer Plant
- Landbank & TON Select Board- Washington Street-Outreach and communication.
- Wannacomet Water Company- Solar project on main office building
Nantucket Preservation Trust – Total Award amount $304,453:
- Design and printing of annual preservation magazine, Ramblings, for two years.
- Reprinting Off Centre: The Wesco Acre Lots, The Houses and Their Histories
- Integrity and Condition Study of the Nantucket Historical Land District to document major changes that have occurred since its destination in 1966.
- Preservation Easements Program that works to support the creation, administration, and defense of historic preservation easements.
Community Fund – Total award: $254,462
- First Congregational Church Community Group- Stormwater Management Project
- Independent Order of Odd Fellows- Energy Optimization Heat Pumps
- NHA Properties, Inc./Housing Nantucket- Solar panels for affordable rental units
- Nantucket New School & Strong Wings- Solar power system for campus buildings
- Linda Loring Nature Foundation- Resilience Restoration Project at North Head of Long Pond
- Mass Audubon Nantucket Sanctuaries- First phase of Forest Management and Resilience Initiative at Lost Farm Wildlife Sanctuary
- Artist Association of Nantucket- Preservation of Permanent Collection
- Nantucket Historical Association- Year 2 of a disaster and climate risk management plan for historic properties.
- Nantucket Island School of Design- Solar panels on historic Long Shed Ceramics and Fine Arts Studio building
- Nantucket Conservation Foundation – Solar panels at Squam Farm
- Nantucket Conservation Foundation – Engineering and design steps for Nantucket’s first raised bridge at Medouie Creek
- Nantucket Boys & Girls Club- Solar panels to the main building