The Martha’s Vineyard Donors Collaborative has regretfully decided to discontinue the special Martha’s Vineyard license plate program for lack of public interest. The plate campaign started in the summer of 2006 and 500 applications were received in the first 6 months. Less than 300 applications were received in 2007, however, despite a major print and radio advertising campaign. The Registry requires 1,500 applications before making the plate if the Collaborative posts a bond and 3,000 applications without a bond.

The Donors Collaborative felt prudence dictated that bonding was too much of a risk given the dropping pace of applications. Consequently we decided to end the program rather than continue to aim for 1,500. Applicants are being notified by postcard and all applications and checks that have been received will be destroyed.

The plates would have created a special fund at the Permanent Endowment Fund that would make grants to Island Non-Profit organizations. It was hoped that $100,000 per year would eventually be available.

The Donors Collaborative is continuing its other programs of capacity building workshops for Island charities, newsletters to seasonal residents alerting them to Island needs, and a general advocacy campaign to increase philanthropy, such as the movie trailer shown in local theaters during summer 2007.