Grant in the Spotlight: Vineyard Conservation Society

VCS Moshup Sanctuary lands, Aquinnah. Photo Credit: Mya O’Neill

The Wyss Foundation is pleased to announce a grant of $10,000 to support the work of Vineyard Conservation Society, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the environment of Martha’s Vineyard. Founded in 1965, Vineyard Conservation Society, or VCS, was originally formed as a “watchdog” group, vigilant in the fight to protect the Island’s land and water from inappropriate development. Embracing a broad view of conservation, VCS’s mission is to promote awareness about environmental issues, grow community support for workable solutions, and advocate for preservation of the Island’s resources. 

The Island of Martha’s Vineyard is about 57,000 acres, and a third of that land has been protected over the last century by various conservation efforts. With only a quarter of the Island currently developed, much of the Island remains vulnerable to development. To advance its conservation mission, VCS acts as a facilitator of permanent land protections, creating avenues for collaboration between families, property owners, and government agencies to protect land on Martha’s Vineyard. Further, VCS initiatives aim to reduce the pollution associated with the use of disposable plastics and strengthen the bonds between human and natural communities.