Partnering with donors and community leaders to address Nantucket’s needs.
The Nantucket Fund is the Foundation’s unrestricted grant making resource which addresses the island’s most pressing needs from food security and childcare to mental health and attainable housing. Over the past two decades, The Nantucket Fund has responded to the changing patterns of these critical needs, including distributing more than $3 million in aid during the pandemic, even while the fund continues to grow so it can serve as a permanent endowment that informs and strengthens the island community for future generations
We see a Nantucket where everyone – equally and inclusively:
- Has a place to call home
- Has support when coping with personal struggles,
- Knows their children are safe and active during the workday,
- Can rely on year-round affordable transportation,
- May age gracefully with trust in the services they need and deserve
What is the Grant Making Process?
The Nantucket Fund makes grants based on priorities determined through convening the Island’s leaders. Our Advisory Committee of healthcare workers, educators, clergy, police, town officials, the media and others, meet throughout the year to identify the Island’s most critical needs.
Through an annual Grant Application process, The Nantucket Fund Grants Committee meets to discuss the applications, interview the applicants, and make suggestions to the Community Foundation’s Board.
With the assistance of the Advisory Committee and Grants Committee, the Board of Trustees awards Nantucket Fund Grants to community organizations working to address the island’s most pressing needs.
After awarding the grants, Community Foundation staff continues to follow up with the grant recipients through site visits, 6-month reports, and year end evaluations.
2026 Community Investment Grant
The Community Foundation for Nantucket, through a Community Investment Grant from the Nantucket Fund, a private Community Foundation Donor Advised Fund holder, and the Nantucket Golf Club Foundation have each committed $100,000 to launch a one-year Preschool Family Support Pilot Program in partnership with the Town of Nantucket’s Health and Human Services Department.
This $300,000 philanthropic investment will enable direct tuition assistance to working families with 3- and 4-year-olds enrolled in licensed Nantucket preschool programs during the 2026–2027 school year. The program is designed to serve approximately 30–60 families, with payments made directly to providers and quarterly reporting to ensure accountability and measurable impact.
2026 Grant Recipients
This year The Nantucket Fund awards supported 42 nonprofits providing critical services on Nantucket.
2026 Nantucket Fund Grant Recipients
- A Safe Place – Trauma Therapy Program
- About Fresh and Pip & Anchor – Send It Fresh Produce Program
- Addiction Solutions of Nantucket – Database Management Support
- Albert F. Egan, Jr. & Dorothy H. Egan Foundation – Mini Mariners
- Angel Flight of New England – Medical Flight Coordination Program
- Artists Association of Nantucket – Arts for Senior Wellbeing
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cape Cod and the Islands – One-to-one Mentoring for Nantucket Youth
- Bulgarian Education Center – Bulgarian School Cultural Education Program
- Cape Cod Healthcare Foundation – Maternal Child and Homebound Seniors Health Program
- Elder Services of Cape Cod and the Islands – Nantucket Meals on Wheels and Saltmarsh Senior Meals Programs
- Fairwinds – Telehealth Hybrid Counseling
- Friends of Children’s Cove – Children’s Trauma Therapist Travel Support
- Friends of Nantucket Public Schools – Scholarship Program for After School Activities
- Friends of Our Island Home – Programs for Seniors
- Habitat for Humanity Nantucket – Waitt Drive Village Project
- Health Imperatives – Health Clinic & Women Infant and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program
- Homeless Prevention Council – Program support for Unstably Housed Youth and Young Adults on Nantucket
- Housing Nantucket – Repairs and Upgrades in Rental Units
- In The Herd Cape Cod – Equine Therapy Sessions for Youth
- Kennedy-Donovan Center – Early Intervention Program on Nantucket
- Mass Audubon Nantucket Sanctuaries – Youth Environmental Stewards Program
- Montessori Children’s House of Nantucket – Teacher Housing Renovation
- Nantucket Center for Elder Affairs – Senior Expo
- Nantucket Community Music Center – Free Island Youth Orchestra After-School Program
- Nantucket Community Sailing – 4th grade Intro to Sailing Program
- Nantucket Community School – English for Speakers of Other Languages Program
- Nantucket Community School – Summer Boost Kindergarten Readiness
- Nantucket Dreamland Community – Screenings for Seniors
- Nantucket Education Trust – Journey Across the Sound- College Visits
- Nantucket Education Trust – Teacher Housing Renovation
- Nantucket Family Resource Center – Financial Literacy and Coaching Program
- Nantucket Food Fuel Rental Assistance – Rental Assistance Program
- Nantucket Food Fuel Rental Assistance – Food Pantry Program
- Nantucket Island Fair – Nantucket Island Fair 2026
- Nantucket Lighthouse School – Extended Day Program for Pre-K through Grade 5
- Nantucket Police Department – Public Safety Translation Access Program
- Nantucket S.T.A.R. – Adapted Water Sports for those with special needs
- Nantucket Wellness Festival – Free Community Wellness Program
- New England MedFlight – Emergency Flight Service Support
- Our House – Communal Meals for Young Adults Program Support
- Palliative and Supportive Care of Nantucket Foundation – Expanding Access to Serious Illness Care
- Preschool Pilot Program – Universal Tuition Support for Pre-k students
- Rising Tide Preschool – Learning Space Support
- Small Friends on Nantucket – Tuition Assistance
- Sustainable Nantucket – Harvest of the Month Program
- The Warming Place – Counseling Services at The Warming Place
2025 Community Investment Grants
In the spring of 2025 the Community Foundation’s board voted to support three critical initiatives in response to urgent needs in areas of behavioral health, childcare, and food insecurity as identified by its Advisory Committee, nonprofit partners, and other stakeholders. The three Community Investment Grants:
The Community Foundation’s award of these community investment grants reaffirms our long-standing commitment to strengthening year-round life on Nantucket through strategic philanthropy and deep community partnerships.
2025 Grant Recipients
2025 Nantucket Fund Grant Recipients
- A Safe Place – Trauma Therapy Program
- Addiction Solutions Nantucket – Database Management Support
- Artists Association of Nantucket – Senior Arts Outreach Program
- Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Cape & Islands – Nantucket Mentor Program
- Bulgarian Education Center – Bulgarian School Cultural Education Program
- Cape Cod Healthcare Foundation – Maternal/Child Health Program
- Elder Services of Cape Cod & the Islands – Nantucket Meals on Wheels and Saltmarsh Senior Meals Program
- Fairwinds – Telehealth Hybrid Program
- Friends of Children’s Cove – Children’s Trauma Therapist Travel Support
- Friends of Nantucket Public Schools – Scholarship Program for After School Activities
- Habitat for Humanity – Waitt Drive Village Project: Duplex
- Health Imperatives – Health Clinic & Women Infant and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program
- Homeless Prevention Council – Program support for Unstably Housed Youth and Young Adults on Nantucket
- Housing Nantucket – Rehabilitate Rental Properties
- In The Herd – Equine Therapy Sessions for Youth
- Mass Audubon Nantucket Sanctuaries – Youth Environmental Stewards Program
- Montessori Children’s House of Nantucket – Tuition Stabilization for 2025
- Nantucket Center for Elder Affairs – Programs for Nantucket Seniors
- Nantucket Community Ice Rink – Program Support
- Nantucket Community Music Center – Nantucket Island Youth Orchestra Free After School Program
- Nantucket Community School – Summer Boost & English Language Learners Program
- Nantucket Community Television – ACK Ambassadors Program
- Nantucket Dreamland Foundation – Free Youth Matinees & Community Screenings
- Nantucket Interfaith Council – Food Pantry and Rental Assistance Programs
- Nantucket Island Fair – 2025 Island Fair
- Nantucket Lighthouse School – Extended Day Program for Pre-K to Grade 5
- Nantucket Pride – Nantucket Pride Film Festival
- Nantucket S.T.A.R. – Sports and Therapeutic Accessible Recreation Wellness Program
- New England LifeFlight – Emergency Flight Service Support
- Our House – Outreach to Hard to Reach and At Risk Youth
- PASCON – Caregiver Support Program
- Rising Tide Preschool – Building Bright Futures Program
- Small Friends on Nantucket – Opening an Older Toddler & Early Preschool Classroom
- St. Paul’s Church on Nantucket – Early Childhood Family Space & Free Community Suppers Program
- The Maria Mitchell Association – Learning Labs Program
- The Nantucket Book Foundation – Visiting Authors in Schools Program
- The Warming Place – Emergency Shelter Program
Give to the Nantucket Fund
Your donation to the Nantucket Fund will help all of Nantucket. This fund supports the people, systems, and services that make Nantucket thrive, and your generosity is needed now more than ever.