Contact: Mark Skala, Cape and Islands United Way
Phone: 508-775-4746
Email: mskala@uwcapecod.org
Website: www.capeandislandsuw.org
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
Cape & Islands United Way Awards More Than $580,000 to 44 Local Nonprofits Across Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket
 
HYANNIS, Mass. — The Cape & Islands United Way (CIUW) has awarded more than $580,000 in Community Impact Grant funding to 44 nonprofit organizations serving residents across Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket. The grants support programs that strengthen health, housing, education, financial stability, food security, and other critical services that help individuals and families thrive.
 
Made possible through the generosity of local donors, businesses, and community partners, the Community Impact Grant Program invests in organizations addressing the Cape and Islands' most pressing challenges. The funding provides essential support for innovative, community-based programs that deliver measurable impact while helping ensure critical services remain available to those who need them most.
 
"Every year, we are inspired by the incredible work being done by nonprofits throughout our region," said Mark Skala, President and CEO of the Cape & Islands United Way. "These organizations are solving complex challenges, supporting our most vulnerable neighbors, and strengthening the fabric of our communities. Thanks to the generosity of our donors and partners, we're proud to invest more than $580,000 this year to help expand their impact and ensure these vital programs continue serving our region."
 
Community Impact Grant recipients are selected through a comprehensive application and volunteer review process designed to ensure funding is directed toward programs that demonstrate strong community need, measurable outcomes, and lasting impact.
 
The 2026 Community Impact Grant recipients and funded initiatives are:

• Atlantic White Shark Conservancy – Gills Club
• YMCA Cape Cod – Summer Camp Scholarships
• Cape Cod Toy Library
• Cape Cod Children's Place – Wellspring Project
• Dennis Conservation Land Trust – Home Grown Educational Farming
• Penikese Island School
• Boys & Girls Club of Cape Cod – Education Program
• Cape Cod Challengers Club
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cape Cod & the Islands
• Sustainable CAPE
• Love Live Local
• Cape Kid Meals
• Cape Cod Neighbors Fund – Child Access Initiative
• Cape Cod Fishermen's Alliance
• Lower Cape Outreach Council
• Food 4 Kids
• Cape & Islands Veterans Outreach Center
• Sail Martha's Vineyard
• Hospice & Palliative Care of Martha's Vineyard
• Island Grown Initiative – Community Lunch Program
• My Meditation Center
• Sassafras Earth Education (Sassafras Camp)
• Duffy Health Center
• Nantucket Interfaith Council
• Independence House
• Housing Assistance Corporation
• Homeless Prevention Council
• The Warming Place
• Champ Homes
• Belonging to Each Other
• Alzheimer's Family Support Center
• Sharing Kindness
• Community Health Center
• Cape Cod Village Center for Developmental Disabilities
• Brazilian Resource Center
• Behavioral Health Innovators
• Cape Wellness Collaborative
• Family Table Collaborative
• AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod
• The Herren Project
• Cape Cod Council of Churches
• WE CAN
• Health Imperatives
• Lemon-Aide Charitable Corporation

 
"These grants are possible because our community believes in the power of working together," added Skala. "Every donation to Cape & Islands United Way is reinvested locally through trusted nonprofit partners that are creating meaningful change every day. Whether it's helping a child succeed in school, ensuring a senior can age safely at home, supporting families experiencing food insecurity, expanding access to mental health care, or strengthening economic opportunity, these investments improve lives across our region."
 
The Community Impact Grant Program is one of the many ways Cape & Islands United Way brings together donors, volunteers, businesses, and nonprofit partners to address the region's most pressing needs. By investing in organizations that are deeply rooted in the communities they serve, CIUW helps build a healthier, more resilient Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket.
 
To learn more about the Cape & Islands United Way, its Community Impact Grant Program, or how you can help strengthen local communities, visit www.capeandislandsuw.org.
 
About Cape & Islands United Way
Cape & Islands United Way mobilizes the caring power of the community to improve lives across Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket. Through strategic investments, partnerships, and community leadership, the organization advances health, education, financial stability, and basic needs, ensuring that local residents have access to the resources and opportunities they need to thrive.