Cape & Coast Bank Foundation Partners with Local Nonprofits to Achieve Lasting Community Impact
Q1 2027 Grants Support Foundation Pillars Including Housing, Healthcare and Community Vitality
The Cape & Coast Bank Foundation continues its mission to transform lives through the power of community banking with the awarding of $17,500 in grants to local nonprofit organizations addressing critical needs across Cape Cod.
“Philanthropy, local engagement and relationship building are at the heart of community banking,” said Cape & Coast Bank President and CEO Erik Porter. “Cape & Coast Bank is committed to making our region a better place to live, work and thrive through community involvement and financial support of nonprofit organizations dedicated to bettering the lives of Barnstable County residents. I congratulate Cape Cod Cape Verdean Museum and Cultural Center, Colorful Kidz, Falmouth Housing Trust, Lower Cape Outreach Council and Provincetown Commons for being named Foundation grant recipients for the first quarter of the bank’s fiscal year 2027.”
Cape Cod Cape Verdean Museum and Cultural Center
As Cape Cod’s first museum and cultural center dedicated to celebrating Cabo Verde’s rich history, the $2,500 grant will help with preservation efforts, allowing the museum to purchase digitizing equipment to assist in cataloging a recently donated collection.
“We are tasked with not only sharing this history, but preserving and protecting it,” said Cape Cod Cape Verdean Museum and Cultural Center co-founder and curator Barbara Burgo. “We honor those who came before us, and we thank Cape & Coast Bank for helping us ensure that these priceless artifacts will be on display for generations to come.”
This Sandwich-based organization brings joy to children facing difficult life transitions through its personalized room makeovers. The Cape & Coast Foundation’s $2,500 grant gives the organization flexibility to utilize funds for any project in any community on Cape Cod, allowing Colorful Kidz to increase its impact locally.
“Cape & Coast Bank is invested in the Cape, and we’re so appreciative,” said Caren Berry, founder of Colorful Kidz. “Many of our projects are funded through town grants, so they are restricted to that specific town. The Cape & Coast Bank Foundation grant allows us the freedom to work in any community on Cape Cod and purchase paint, flooring and other materials to complete these makeover projects and create lasting impacts for these deserving kids.”
The Falmouth Housing Trust promotes homeownership for low to moderate income residents in Falmouth earning 80-140% AMI (Area Median Income). This $5,000 grant provides support for the organization’s New Projects Fund and Home Buy-Down Program, which provides attainable homeownership opportunities for the area’s year-round workforce.
“The Cape & Coast Bank Foundation is committed to the creation of affordable and attainable housing solutions for local residents and families,” said Kate Ayson, Falmouth Housing Trust Development Officer. “We are grateful for the recent grant award which will assist a new homeowner through our Home Buy Down Program. We look forward to a continued partnership with Cape & Coast Bank Foundation as we continue to provide housing opportunities and innovative homeownership programs in Falmouth.
A vital resource for Lower and Outer Cape residents in need, a $10,000 commitment over two years will support the organization’s Hunger & Hope Can’t Wait capital campaign, and in particular the relocation and renovation of Katy’s Korner, which provides free clothing and home goods.
“Lower Cape Outreach Council is deeply grateful to the Cape & Coast Bank Foundation for its multi-year commitment to support our first-ever capital campaign, a transformative initiative for our organization and those we serve,” said Gerry Desautels, Lower Cape Outreach Council Director of Development. “Cape & Coast Bank reflects the true heart of community banking, showing genuine care for the people of Cape Cod and a concerted commitment to helping our communities live, work, and thrive.”
Offering year-round studio, exhibition, meeting, and conventional desk spaces, educational workshops and events, Provincetown Commons is a vital driver of the region’s creative economy. The Cape & Coast Bank Foundation’s $2,500 grant provides greater flexibility for the organization to continue its mission to create structure and opportunities for the bustling and oldest continuous art colony in the United States.
“We strive to be mission driven in all areas of our organization,” said Lesley Marchessault, Executive Director of Provincetown Commons. “The services and opportunities Provincetown Commons offers not only sustains, but builds Provincetown’s year-round economy, and support from Cape & Coast Bank is helping tremendously in that regard.”
In true community spirit, the Foundation forges collaborative partnerships with nonprofits on Cape Cod to address issues directly affecting the Cape’s most vulnerable residents, creating lasting change. The Foundation’s current areas of focus include:
- Building Community: Assisting in the creation of spaces and programs that bring people and communities together
- Financial & Economic Vitality: Spurring financial literacy and economic development through educational programs
- Health and Wellbeing: Helping expand equitable access to healthcare and mental health services for those most in need
- Housing Solutions and Initiatives: Tackling housing insecurity and affordable housing challenges through strategic community partnerships
- Supporting Families: Reinforcing resources that help children and parents collectively thrive