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Mission Possible
In Mission Impossible II, agent Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) tells the IMF director that the plan to stop the bad guys is going to be difficult. Without missing a beat, Swanbeck (Anthony Hopkins) replies: “Well, this is not mission difficult, Mr. Hunt. It's mission impossible. Difficult should be a walk in the park for you.”
While we can’t rival the cutting dialogue, elaborate stunts, and high-stake plots of the MI film franchise, we know a thing or two about working together to navigate challenges. Last year, the economy and changes in the state and federal funding landscape posed some very real difficulties. Yet, advancing our mission was not impossible. In fact, we’ll refer to 2025 and every year ahead as Mission Possible.
2025 RECAP
- Increased total assets to over $126 million and total distributions since inception to over $113 million.
- Raised over $11.5 million in additional resources through the generosity of private foundations, corporate partners, and individual donors.
- Completed—and exceeded—our $3.5 Million Community Challenge to build resources for key impact areas.
- Distributed more than $5.7 million in grants to nonprofit organizations working in diversified impact areas across Cape Cod.
- Distributed over $1 million in scholarships to 184 students pursuing many educational paths. Together with our partner, the Cape Cod Association, we provided over $1.5 million in scholarship support.
- Provided $973,000 in Flexible Funding Grants to 53 organizations to help them meet increased demand for services and those planning for change, creating new partnerships and collaborations to maximize impact and/or building organizational resilience in other ways.
- Quickly deployed $115,000 to bolster regional efforts to ensure food access for those at risk of food insecurity during the federal government shutdown
- Raised nearly $600,000 towards our $1 million goal for The Women and Girls Fund and completed our third grant cycle, awarding $50,000 to three organizations serving women and girls across Cape Cod.
While there’s strength in numbers, the real strength lies in how those dollars were spent:
- Expanding access to safe, affordable housing
- Ensuring food security and access
- Promoting healthy living
- Expanding access to mental and behavioral health programs
- Expanding access to services and resources for families
- Closing the opportunity gap for young people
- Supporting workforce development efforts that strengthen our economy
- Enriching our community through arts and culture
- Preserving our environment and the living things that inhabit it
2026 SNAPSHOT
While everyone loves an unexpected plot twist on the big screen, the Foundation’s strategic priorities will remain consistent in 2026. The initiatives in which we’ve invested our time, energy, and resources have been impactful. While we’re continually monitoring community needs and reevaluating our response, the best course is to continue to double down on proven strategies. We’ve highlighted a few key priorities below.
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Building Resources for Basic Human Needs. We are concerned that our most vulnerable populations will continue to be impacted the most by shifts in federal priorities. We will use resources we have set aside and specifically raised to support nonprofit organizations serving those in need. Food and housing security, healthcare, childcare, and education will be among our top funding priorities.
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Re-Launching the Competitive Capacity-Building Grant Program. We’ll report on the external evaluation of our existing grantmaking program conducted in 2025 and announce the expansion of and enhancements to our priority grantmaking program for 2026.
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Advancing the Annual Scholarship Program. We’ll report on the multi-year external evaluation conducted on this program and how we are using the results to expand our impact for the community and donors going forward. We’ll also announce the new Cape Cod Foundation STEM scholarship and volunteer opportunities on our Scholarship Committee.
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Promoting Planned/Legacy Giving. We’ll announce a recent significant bequest, the largest unrestricted gift we’ve received, and our plans to put it to work in the community. We’ll also continue to share individual Legacy Stories about gifts that have had an incredible impact on Cape Cod.
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Facilitating Community Engagement. We’ll announce new opportunities for community members to learn about philanthropic trends and tactics, along with the region’s current needs, resources, and opportunities for engagement.
YOUR MISSION—SHOULD YOU DECIDE TO ACCEPT IT.
We are on a shared mission: to strengthen the community we love. While we can’t prevent global catastrophes like IMF secret agents, what we have done—individually and collectively—has mattered. What we can continue to do this year—and the next—matters even more.
There are many ways to partner with the Foundation. As always, thank you for your continued support.
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Stay Informed. We’ll share information about our grantmaking and other initiatives in upcoming newsletters and on our website.
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Create a Fund. Through professional investment and fund management, access to Foundation experts, and educational opportunities, we can help you expand impact and achieve your charitable goals. MORE INFO
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Become a Community Partner. The Cape Cod Foundation is also a nonprofit organization, reliant on donations to support our operating budget. Your gift helps us sustain and build the capacity of the Foundation to serve this community now and in the years ahead. MORE INFO
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Make a Donation. Support something you are passionate about or make an unrestricted gift to the Foundation to give us the flexibility to direct resources where they’re needed the most. MORE INFO
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Consider a Legacy Gift. In 2025, we completed our Creating a Strategic Philanthropic Plan series, which highlighted the legacies of some of our local change-makers and illustrated the impact their thoughtful bequests have had in our community. Learn how you can be among those change-makers. MORE INFO
Kristin O’Malley
President and CEO
508.790.3040, Ext 115
komalley@capecodfoundation.org
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