Our House Nantucket gains charitable status and achieves fundraising milestone. 

The organization, which works to fill critical needs for local youth, has received 501(c)3 tax-exempt status from the federal government and has reached beyond the halfway point of a $1 million fundraising goal. 

Our House Nantucket (“Our House”), an organization established in late 2021 to provide programs, resources, and mentorship for Nantucket high schoolers, has achieved three key milestones this Summer. 

• The Internal Revenue Service has approved Our House as a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. This means that donations to Our House from individuals, businesses, or other organizations are tax-deductible charitable contributions. 

• Our House has already passed the halfway point of an ambitious $1 million two-year fundraising goal. A challenge grant from an anonymous donor will provide an additional $500,000 if the organization reaches its goal of $1 million by the end of 2023. 

• Our House has taken ownership of its property at 5 Wherowhero Lane. The property, purchased for Our House by child advocate Thekla Reese Shackleford in late 2021, had been owned by an LLC created by Shackelford until last week. 

“Our House has great momentum,” said Shackleford, the volunteer founder of Our House. “Our charitable status and our early fundraising success demonstrate not only that Our House has an important mission, but also that Our House is winning votes of confidence at every turn.” 

Our House was created in response to rapidly increasing needs among local youth. The rate of poverty among year-round youth has quadrupled in the past decade. Today, 40% of Nantucket high school students live at or near the poverty level. 

“Our House began with a single act of generosity and vision,” said Pauline Proch, executive director of Our House. “Our work continues through the generosity of our growing community of donors. Their support is driving us forward in the work of designing programs, assembling resources, and recruiting volunteers that will help the young people of Nantucket on the path toward productive and fulfilling lives.” 

“It has never been more important for our young adults to receive support in finding and exploring their passions and developing a path to a meaningful life,” said Michael Cozort, retired superintendent of Nantucket Public Schools and the program director at Our House. “Our House can do just that by providing a safe environment which connects them to their peers and to adults who can support and mentor them.” 

“In my two decades of representing client organizations’ in their applications for tax-exempt status, this is the fastest turnaround time I have ever seen,” said Sharon Lincoln, a partner at the law firm of Casner & Edwards, LLP, who represents Our House. “It took less than a week for the IRS to approve Our House’s application.” 

After the 2022-23 academic year starts on September 6, Our House will begin open enrollment of high school-aged young adults in its programs. 

For the past year, the organization has been working with a select group of young adults to gather ideas on programs and resources that would benefit people their age. 

Our House plans to be actively serving enrolled young adults by late October. Programs and resources will include mentorship, recreation, creative activity, homework help, college preparation, financial literacy, career planning, job placement, and community service opportunities. The end of every day at Our House will be centered around preparing and sharing a communal meal together.