Editor’s Note: This is the first story in a series that will explore the state of nonprofits on Vashon, specifically how they fared in 2015 and what they have planned for 2016.

Vashon Island has dozens of nonprofit organizations catering to every aspect of life from seniors and the homeless, to animals and the land we live on. Together they aim to make this place better for all who live here, but as they rely heavily on the generosity of others, they always face uncertain financial futures. The calendar has turned to December, and the season of giving has begun, leaving some island organizations hoping for miracles this month to continue their work. This year saw the community rally behind many nonprofits, but also saw cuts to funding for several others.

One of the nonprofits that the community rallied around this year is the Vashon Maury Island Land Trust, which also celebrated its 25th anniversary. A successful year for the home-grown organization was marked by a Vashon Island Conservation Initiative (VICI) grant extension, the purchase of the Matsuda Farm, a first-of-its-kind fundraising gala and the opening of the Judd Creek Trail. The VICI extension that came in June will provide the Land Trust with $2 million for the next two years, and the 25th Anniversary gala brought in more than $100,000. Land Trust Executive Director Tom Dean said last week that he has been “blown away by the community’s support.”

“We’re honored to have so much support from the community,” Dean said. “I’m looking forward to another 25 years.”

For 2016, Dean said the organization has projects planned in three different areas: shoreline preservation, forests and farmland. According to Dean, the Land Trust next year is expecting to announce the purchase of a piece of shoreline “in a new project area.” In the forest sector, Dean said the organization is working on a project with King County to start a third community forest, and is expecting to announce the first purchase of forested land next year. Meanwhile, in farmland preservation, the finalization of the Matsuda Farm purchase allows the Land Trust to begin work restoring the house and finding a resident farmer to lease the farm.

“It’s a brand new venture for us. It will be exciting and challenging,” Dean said.

Another local organization expected to make headway on a large project in 2016 is Vashon Household, the island’s affordable housing arm of the nonprofit world. The organization already has five affordable housing projects on Vashon and has a sixth in the works. Household Director Chris Szala says he hopes to finish up the sixth project, a home ownership community dubbed Sunflower, next year. The Sunflower plan calls for the construction of 14 homes for low-income, first-time buyers. The homes are expected to be sold for less than $200,000.

“Our biggest challenge is trying to figure out this Sunflower project and finish it up,” Szala said last week. “The (King County) comprehensive plan (also) presents opportunities and possibilities for us for affordable housing, so that is something new to look into.”

He said that the organization is always focused on the constant upkeep of the housing projects, which isn’t a “sexy” cause, but is necessary.

“We hope to convey that fact (to the public), that they are supporting people in a constant need,” Szala said. “We still need 20-30 percent of our budget, which is roughly $60,000 every year in donations in order to continue what we need to do.”

While Szala caters to those who need affordable housing, Vashon Community Care (VCC) and the Vashon Senior Center cater to the island’s large senior population. The senior community is one of the many large island groups in need.

VCC and the senior center provide a multitude of services for seniors, ranging from free hot meals and social gatherings to assisted living and skilled nursing housing. Both organizations needed large donations this year to keep offerings available, and the same is expected next year.

VCC started 2015 needing $500,000, the result of a constant funding shortfall due to Medicaid not providing enough money for care. As of this week, VCC Executive Director Verna Everitt said that she has four weeks to raise the last $100,000 needed for the year.

“Christmas miracles happen now, and we need a Christmas miracle this year,” she said about the $100,000 VCC still needs.

She said the center will need at least $500,000 next year, and she hopes the community will once again rally around VCC.

“I couldn’t be more pleased with the generosity (from the community in 2015). I’m just so thankful.” Everitt said. “The whole premise of what I’ve been trying to accomplish this year is to introduce the people who live here, the life-long islanders who have contributed to some of the nonprofits here. Their contributions have been and continue to be incredible.”

Everitt said that she is going to build on the success of this year and get the message out that “everyone has someone who will need” VCC.

Meanwhile, the senior center last month found out it will be losing $15,000 next year because United Way of King County is changing its direction and is shifting focus to fund more homelessness prevention programs.

Senior center director Ava Apple has sent out the center’s appeal letter in hopes that the community will help make up for the unexpected cuts.

“We are between a rock and a hard spot right now,” Apple said last month.

Vashon Youth & Family Services (VYFS) Executive Director Kathleen Johnson said that her organization will also be feeling the squeeze and lose $30,000 next year due to the United Way decision.

The organization is coming off a year that brought a cancelled Raft Up event, which was supposed to be one of the organization’s largest fundraisers, and the relaunch of VYFS’ PlaySpace thanks to grants from the Norcliffe Foundation and King County. The county’s Best Starts For Kids Initiative also passed in November, but Johnson said the funding from that initiative will not come until 2017.

She has started a giving campaign that will run through Dec. 20 and involves bell-ringing elves collecting donations in town.

She said that in 2016, VYFS will continue to have a “big push for” the PlaySpace and for the organization’s childcare program: Vashon Kids. However, Johnson said her largest goal for 2016 is to address the fact that there is so much funding unavailable to island nonprofits because of a lack of municipal government on Vashon.

“(Nonprofits) have no representation and that needs to be addressed,” Johnson said. “We’ll never get the money (that cities give out) because we have no city above us.”