Vision and Mission
The Community Foundation for Nantucket works to enhance the well-being of our community by addressing critical issues and supporting the social, physical, cultural, economic, and environmental conditions essential for all Islanders to flourish and fulfill their potential.
Our mission is to strengthen Nantucket now and for future generations through thoughtful philanthropy and community leadership. In pursuit of this mission we act as a:
- Grantmaker โ by strategically awarding grants through the Nantucket Fundโข and donor-directed funds to critical island nonprofits to support their work and provide essential services to our island community.
- Charitable Resource โ by maintaining a trusted in-depth knowledge of the nonprofit sector, we provide education, discussion forums, resources, and managerial support to donors, nonprofits, and the broader community.
- Convener โ by organizing community leaders to assess Nantucketโs most critical needs and facilitate collaborative solutions.
- Steward โ by creating and managing funds to ensure a permanent legacy for charitable solutions and providing donors with informed gift-giving advice.

CFN’s 20 Year History
Supporting the Nantucket Community Since 2005
In 2005 a group of local residents identified the need for an organization to support and enrich the quality of life for Nantucketโs growing community. The Community Foundation started in order to raise money to give to the community.
The Community Foundation over the last 20 Years:
- Grown assets under management to $31 million.
- Established over 110 philanthropic funds including Donor-Advised, Designated, Scholarship, and Field of Interest Funds.
- Granted over $46 million to nonprofit organizations through all funds held at the community foundation.
- Received $1.85 million in critical federal funding to address food insecurity during COVID-19. State and Federal funding went specifically through Community Foundations because of their ability to address funding needs quickly.

What Is A Community Foundation?
Learn more about what community foundations do.
National Standards
Strategic Goals
Goal 1: Increase awareness of the Nantucket Fund and the services CFN provides.
Goal 2: Grow the Nantucket Fund to Increase Annual Grant making
Goal 3: Increase Total Assets and Diversify Donor Engagement
Goal 4: Achieve Organizational Excellence