The Martha’s Vineyard Savings Bank Charitable Foundation, the nonprofit arm of the local bank, held its annual celebration last Tuesday at Camp Jabberwocky to recognize the organization’s contribution of more than $2.3 million in charitable donations to community initiatives on the Island and in Falmouth so far this year.
These donations included a $1 million grant to the Martha’s Vineyard Boys and Girls Club to construct a new 22,000-square-foot clubhouse in Edgartown, $500,000 to Harbor Homes of Martha’s Vineyard to build a permanent winter homeless shelter in Vineyard Haven, and $210,500 to Island Elderly Housing for the purchase and installation of a backup generator serving elderly residents at Woodside Village in Oak Bluffs.
The foundation, established in 2019, receives funding through donations as well as from the M.V. Bank, its parent company.
Joanna Dimmick, head of marketing at the bank, told The Times in an email this was a “record-breaking year for decisioned grants, donations, scholarships and sponsorships,” and is expected to “end higher as we are still receiving requests and applications for 2026.” The foundation gave away $1,016,840 last year, as of the end of October 2025, and has awarded $14.3 million since 2019 across 146 nonprofits and other entities.
This year, the foundation also awarded $161,500 in college scholarships to students from the Vineyard and Falmouth through the new Ronald Rappaport Scholar Fund, named after the celebrated Islander and esteemed lawyer who passed away unexpectedly in 2024. Leah Palmer, ELL director for Martha’s Vineyard Public Schools (MVYPS), was named as the first Ronald H. Rappaport Scholar. Palmer is currently pursuing a doctorate in education, leadership, and policy at Vanderbilt University.
“As a community bank, we believe our success is closely connected to the strength and well-being of our neighbors,” James Anthony, president and CEO of M.V. Bank, stated in a press release. “Supporting the organizations and individuals addressing local needs is an important part of that commitment. These investments help create opportunities and build stronger communities for the future.”
The bank also allows its 116 employees and 12 trustees to direct $1,000 each to an organization of their choice, which contributes a total $128,000 to more than 50 organizations across areas like housing, education, youth sports, animal welfare, arts, and environmental stewardship.
