The Cape Cod Foundation Awards $50,000 to Nonprofits Supporting Women and Girls Across Cape Cod

The Cape Cod Foundation recently announced inaugural grants totaling $50,000 from The Women and Girls Fund to four local nonprofit organizations. The Foundation established this permanent endowment fund in 2022 to build flexible resources to support programs and initiatives that strengthen the lives of women and girls throughout the region, now and in the years to come.

Kristin O’Malley, President and CEO of The Cape Cod Foundation said, “While there is much we can work on together, we determined that grants in our first year of the Fund would help break the cycle of poverty by increasing economic opportunity and self-sufficiency for women through trainings and educational programs and break down barriers for girls by providing new, expanded, or more accessible educational opportunities, out-of-school programs, and mentorship opportunities.”

The inaugural recipients are:

• WE CAN and Amplify POC, $20,000 ($10,000 to each organization): To support a pilot partnership between the two organizations that will increase economic stability and opportunities for women of color living and working on Cape Cod and building capacity for both organizations to better support these women into the future.
• Falmouth Volunteers In Public Schools, $15,000: To support the Be Bold mentorship program for 4th grade girls in Falmouth schools. The program is designed to instill confidence and nurture leadership skills through education and opportunities with diverse female entrepreneurs, professionals, and community members.
• Entrepreneurship for All (Cape Cod), $15,000: To support access and participation in the Accelerator program for women, with focus on immigrant and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) communities. This program helps individuals to launch new businesses through trainings, individualized support, and mentorship.

The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod provided seed funding to establish the fund and has pledged two years of additional support for a total investment of $50,000.

“Cape Cod is not immune to the socio-economic challenges women and girls face throughout the world, and these disparities were exacerbated even further by the global pandemic,” Lisa Oliver, Chair, President and CEO of The Coop, said. “To help break the cycle of poverty and inequity, The Coop is proud to support The Women & Girls Fund of The Cape Cod Foundation. Together, we can help support our community and break down the obstacles that prevent female-identifying people from recognizing their full potential. I hope other organizations and members of the community will donate generously to the fund and support improving the lives of women and girls right here on Cape Cod.”

Over the first few months, with support from individual donors, private foundations, and corporate partners, the Foundation has raised nearly $175,000 toward its 5-year goal of raising $1 million.

“Our community is aware of the need,” O’Malley said. “With continued support, we can fuel initiatives that will redress systemic inequities and give women and girls new opportunities to thrive.”

To learn more about or to donate, visit The Women and Girls Fund website. Donations can also be sent to: The Cape Cod Foundation; 261 White’s Path; Unit 2; South Yarmouth, MA 02664.

The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod Charitable Foundation Trust (The Coop Foundation) has awarded $40,000 in grants to six local nonprofit organizations dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in the region.

The new grants awarded mirror the bank’s corporate giving focus areas for fiscal year 2023 – Housing Initiatives and Solutions, and Social Justice and Racial Equity.

“I congratulate the extraordinary nonprofit organizations awarded Foundation grants this quarter – their dedication to making our communities better and more equitable places to live deserves recognition and support,” said Lisa Oliver, Chair, President and CEO, The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod. “The challenges facing Cape Cod, especially the severe housing crisis, homelessness and poverty are significant and require all of us to participate in developing and implementing solutions, whether it be a financial commitment or through volunteerism.”

During the recent quarterly meeting of the Board of Trustees, the following grants were awarded:

• $5,000 to Cape Symphony to support its ongoing initiatives to provide need-based financial assistance and scholarships for its arts education programs, which annually serve more than 20,000 school children throughout Barnstable County. Historically these scholarship awards range between 10% and 75% of the total tuition cost. In cases of extreme financial need, full scholarships will be ordered.
• $5,000 to Health Imperatives, Inc. to support its Partnering for Progress initiative for improving the coordination of immigrant services in Barnstable County. The initiative will spearhead outreach into immigrant communities, deliver training to nonprofit organizations to better assist immigrants, conduct resource fairs for immigrants to obtain information and services and launch a working group of nonprofits to streamline, coordinate and remove barriers to immigrant services. Health Imperatives’ Hyannis location serves nearly 6,000 people annually, of which approximately 40% are immigrants.
• $10,000 to Champ Homes for its Transitional Housing Assistance Program, an intermediate step between emergency shelters and permanent housing that serves approximately 75 individuals annually who are on the brink of homelessness. The program addresses immediate concerns such as hot showers, clean towels, clothing and toiletries, an address for mail services, and food. Additionally, participants work closely with a team of care coordinators to navigate continuing education, access healthcare, complete housing applications, obtain employment, and learn to advocate for themselves.

In addition, The Coop also distributed the next round of multi-year grants to three nonprofit organizations, including:

• $5,000 to Cape & Islands Council, Boy Scouts of America for a new Welcome and Education Center at Camp Greenough in Yarmouth.
• $5,000 to Outer Cape Health Services for its new health center in Harwich.
• $10,000 to Cotuit Center for the Arts for its recently finished ceramics studio.

Help local families this holiday season by bringing donations of warm accessories, books and gift cards to any of our branches. The unwrapped items can be dropped into the giant stockings located at each branch through Friday, December 16th.

This year’s Stuff A Stocking will benefit:

Homeless Prevention Council works directly in our community with our neighbors in need. They are confronting the housing crisis by providing support and resources to ensure that everyone in our community can thrive.

Items needed: 

• Hats
• Scarves
• Gloves or mittens
• Socks
• Children’s books
• Gift Cards for teenagers
• Gift Cards to local grocery stores for families

Monetary donations also can be made directly to the Homeless Prevention Council online, as well.

For the ninth consecutive year, The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod will support local food pantries for Giving Tuesday 2022. The Coop will donate $10,000 to 10 local pantries serving communities from Falmouth to Provincetown.

“With inflationary pressures and the worsening housing crisis, the number of people across Cape Cod experiencing food insecurity has never been higher,” said Lisa Oliver, Chair, President and CEO of The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod. “The Coop applauds the dedication and hard work of these food pantries and their volunteers to ensure Cape Cod families have food on the table. Please join us and generously support our local food pantries during the holiday season and throughout the year.”

The pantries receiving $1,000 donations include Cape Cod Military Support Empowerment Center; Falmouth Service Center; Family Table Collaborative; Hands of Hope Community Outreach Center and Food Pantry (operated by Cape Cod Council of Churches); Helping Our Women; Lower Cape Outreach Council; Sandwich Food Pantry; SKIP (Soup Kitchen in Provincetown) Food Pantry; The Family Pantry of Cape Cod; and Yarmouth Food Pantry.

Giving Tuesday was established in 2012 as a dedicated day during the holiday season to encourage people to do good. Over the past decade, Giving Tuesday has grown into a global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate and celebrate generosity.

The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod announces that FAIR (Financial Assistance in Reentry) Project, Inc., its nominee for a Massachusetts Bankers Association (MBA) Charitable Foundation award, has received an Honorable Mention designation with an accompanying $1,500 grant.

FAIR Project, Inc. is Cape-based nonprofit organization that is dedicated to improving the lives of formerly incarcerated people through financial lending and community support. It helps recently released individuals legitimately overcome financial barriers to get resettled in their communities by providing low-interest loans. Repaid principal and interest are reinvested, which increases the organization’s capacity to serve more individuals.

“FAIR is very grateful to the Massachusetts Bankers Association for their generous donation, and to The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod for nominating us,” said Jud Phelps, vice president, FAIR Project, Inc. Board of Directors. “The formerly incarcerated population on Cape Cod is a vulnerable group who face unique challenges. FAIR will put this donation to good use and make a significant difference in the life of a person who truly needs it.”

Additional information about FAIR Project, Inc. can be found here.

“FAIR Project gives hope for the future by providing a second chance to formerly incarcerated individuals returning to the community and looking to rebuild their lives,” said Lisa Oliver, Chair, President and CEO of The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod. “The Coop is proud to support FAIR Project and its efforts to provide clients with resources needed for successful reentry and reducing recidivism.”

Past recipients of funding from the MBA Charitable Foundation nominated by the bank include Amplify POC Cape Cod, Calmer Choice, Cape Kid Meals, Duffy Health Center, and Pause A While.

The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod Charitable Foundation Trust (The Coop Foundation) has awarded $98,000 in grants to five local nonprofit organizations dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in the region.

The grants awarded mirror the bank’s  corporate giving focus areas for fiscal year 2023 – Housing Initiatives and Solutions, and Social Justice and Racial Equity.

“I congratulate the five deserving nonprofits that have been awarded The Coop Foundation grants and applaud their tireless work to make Cape Cod a better and more equitable place to live,” said Lisa Oliver, Chair, President and CEO, The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod. “The latest cohort of grant recipients exemplifies The Coop Foundation’s mission to cultivate vibrant and thriving communities. While the region’s housing, social justice and racial equity issues will not be resolved overnight, these organizations are creating and implementing innovative programs to make an immediate difference and contribute to long-term solutions.”

During the recent quarterly meeting of the Board of Trustees, the following grants were awarded:

• $30,000 to Amplify POC (People of Color) over the course of three years for communications and programs capacity building. Amplify POC promotes racial equity by providing accessible resources and education that enhance visibility and increase sustainable ownership opportunities for communities of color. The grant will be used to create communication and education materials, enhance the organization’s website to connect the BIPOC community to more financial and educational resources, and compile data about program participant demographics, community need and program impact
• $3,000 to Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts to provide scholarships for six low- and middle-income girls to attend summer camp in 2022. The organization’s camps offer girls a nurturing single-gender community that fosters healthy development and opportunities to build self-esteem, learn new skills, enjoy the natural world around them and stay mentally and physically active while under the guidance of caring, trained adults.
• $10,000 to Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod to help fund the cost of building materials and licensed contractors to construct four new two- and three-bedroom homes in Falmouth. For four families, the opportunity to help build their own home and then purchase it on terms they can afford will provide a permanent solution to the housing insecurity they may have experienced for years.
• $50,000 to Housing Assistance Corporation over the course of four years for its new THRIVE (Tools to House Residents in a Vulnerable Economy) housing voucher program. The program has been designed to help participants decrease debt, improve financial health and establish more stable and sustainable housing by bridging the gap between resources currently available. Strong results from a recent pilot of the program have already yielded a two-year grant from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to assist daycare and disability care workers, whose professions are critical to households dependent upon them to remain in the workforce
• $5,000 to Lower Cape Outreach Council for emergency food assistance to serve clients at its nine food pantries on the Lower and Outer Cape. The grant will be used to purchase additional protein, produce and dairy products for the pantries, which have been experiencing supply issues from a primary inventory source.

The Falmouth Chamber of Commerce in partnership with The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod and Falmouth Community Television produced a three-part series aimed at educating the community on why housing is an issue that is affecting us all.

Additional Resources

As a homeowner, how do I get started to build an ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit)? 

• An ADU is a self-contained living space or apartment in a single-family home that is either attached to it or in a separate structure on the same property. They have been recognized as effective solutions to provide much needed affordable housing while generating revenue for homeowners as they become landlords in the comfort of their own homes.
• The Coop has implemented flexible qualifying guidelines to streamline the ADU loan qualification process, including allowing the use of projected rental income to be considered with the applicant’s existing income. Financing for an ADU can take either first or second lien position depending on what best suits an individual’s needs. Applicants must also present evidence of a town-issued building permit and copies of construction plans and specifications.
• Visit our ADU webpage for more information.

Falmouth Housing Corporation

• The Falmouth Housing Corporation‘s goal is to research and advocate for the production, maintenance, support, construction, rehabilitation, financing, and improvement of affordable housing and housing programs in Falmouth, for the benefit of persons of very low income, low income, and any other persons in need of assistance.

Falmouth Housing Trust

• Falmouth Housing Trust is an independent nonprofit organization. The Trust is not affiliated with the Town of Falmouth or other housing organizations, but collaborates with them to promote and develop affordable work force housing in our community. With an eye toward small, strategic projects, we acquire properties and create housing to fit into the landscape of our community. Our housing is rented or sold to qualifying, working individuals at affordable prices.

Housing Assistance Corporation

• Housing Assistance Corporation was founded in 1974 as a pilot project to test the use of rental vouchers to help secure housing for year-round workers on Cape Cod. Since that time, our programs have expanded to assist more than 175,000 low- and middle income households on Cape Cod, Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard.
• Homeowners interested in creating an ADU can contact Housing Assistance Corporation or visit https://haconcapecod.org/adu/ for technical assistance in determining what they can build on their property, connecting with contractors, landlord support, and possible financial incentives to help further offset construction costs.

The Boston Business Journal has named The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod an honoree in its annual 2022 Corporate Citizenship Awards, a recognition of the region’s top corporate charitable contributors.

The Business Journal annually publishes this list to showcase companies that promote and prioritize giving back to their communities – a feat that is even more important during times of turmoil and crisis, such as those we all collectively experienced throughout 2021.

“The past couple of years has presented companies and communities with many challenges, and the needs have continued to grow.  It is with honor that we present our list of the Top Charitable Contributors in Massachusetts – companies who gave $100,000 or more to Mass.-based in charities in 2021. Collectively, they gave $322 million in cash contributions – a true example of the business community coming together to help those in need.  We are proud to celebrate these organizations who give both money and time to make Boston a stronger and better place for all.” said Boston Business Journal Market President and Publisher Carolyn Jones.

This year, 95 companies have qualified for the distinction by reporting at least $100,000 in cash contributions to Massachusetts-based charities last year as noted above. The honorees this year include companies from such industry sectors as financial and professional services, health care, technology, retail, and professional sports.

“We are honored and proud to be recognized by the Boston Business Journal as one of the region’s most charitable companies,” said Lisa Oliver, Chair, President and CEO of The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod. “Philanthropic support of local nonprofits working to keep our communities and neighbors strong, vibrant and healthy has been a hallmark of The Coop for more than a century. As Cape Cod’s needs evolve, so does our focus. That’s why we will be concentrating our charitable giving on housing solutions and racial equity and social justice issues during our fiscal year 2023.”

The Cooperative Bank of Cape Cod, whose contributions in many instances include both the corporation and its charitable foundation, will be honored at the BBJ’s 17th Annual Corporate Citizenship Awards on Thursday, September 8th at the Revere Hotel Boston Common (200 Stuart St., Boston) from 5:30pm – 8:30 pm. The evening will be filled with networking, making connections, and recognizing all the Charitable Contributors, the Alnoba Lewis Family Foundation CEO Social Leadership Awardee and our 2022 Corporate Citizenship Community Collaboration Awardees (previously our Partners of the Year).