Wendy Schmidt is a philanthropist and investor who has spent the past 14 years creating innovative non-profit organizations to address challenges facing communities around the world, working for clean, renewable energy, healthy food systems, healthy oceans and the protection of human rights. The critical interconnections between human activity, the land we live on and the ocean we depend upon are the central drivers of Wendy’s philanthropic work.

Wendy is president of The Schmidt Family Foundation, which she co-founded with her husband Eric in 2006. She leads the foundation’s two grant-making and investment programs—The 11th Hour Project, which works to create a just world where all people have access to renewable energy, clean air and water and healthy food, and Schmidt Marine Technology Partners, which invests in the development of promising technologies that solve complex ocean health issues and have strong commercialization potential.

Wendy and Eric also co-founded Schmidt Ocean Institute in 2009 to advance oceanographic research through the development of innovative technologies, open sharing of information and broad communication about ocean health. The institute operates Falkor—the only year-round, seagoing philanthropic research vessel in the world—and a 4500m remotely operated underwater robotic vehicle, SuBastian. Both are made available to the international science community at no cost.

A competitive sailor, Wendy has extended her oceans-focused work to the sporting world through 11th Hour Racing, an organization she co-founded in 2010 to work with the sailing community and maritime industry to advance solutions and sustainability practices that protect and restore the health of the Ocean. Wendy also founded ReMain Nantucket and ReMain Ventures, two charitable and entrepreneurial organizations that support the economic, social and environmental vitality of downtown Nantucket.

In 2017, Wendy and Eric co-founded Schmidt Futures, a philanthropic initiative that finds exceptional people and helps them do more for others together while promoting innovative approaches to problem solving across disciplines.

In the fall of 2019, Wendy and Eric announced a $1 billion philanthropic commitment for their organizations and initiatives to identify and support talent across disciplines and around the world to serve others and work to solve the world’s most pressing problems. 

Cecil Barron Jensen moved to Nantucket with her husband in 1996 seeking a small, tightknit community in which to raise their three daughters. In the years since, Cecil worked at the Nantucket Historical Association and Nantucket New School, and, most recently, served as the Executive Director of the Artists Association of Nantucket. Cecil became the Executive Director of ReMain Nantucket and ReMain Ventures in 2018.

In addition to her experience in leading dynamic organizations to achieve strategic goals, Cecil has a deep understanding of how cultural organizations contribute to the vitality of downtown Nantucket and the enthusiasm to drive ReMain’s mission forward into the future. A past board member of several Nantucket nonprofits, Cecil has recently been appointed to be a member of the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

Rachel Hobart has been a summer resident of Nantucket since 1968, and moved permanently to the Island in 1987 in order to practice law. She took a break from her practice to raise her three children, and was a partner in the opening of Fahey and Fromagerie, a gourmet wine and food store. In that time, she also served as Vice President of the Nantucket New School. Rachel started with ReMain in May of 2008 as its Project Manager.

Rachel manages ReMain’s public/private partnerships with the Town of Nantucket, particularly focusing on the Island’s transit and transportation systems. Furthermore, Rachel’s 17 years with the Nantucket New School has informed and enhanced her work in encouraging the educational offerings on the Island at ReMain’s 56 Centre Street facility. She also serves on the board of trustees of the Nantucket Dreamland. Rachel graduated from Yale University with a B.A. in English and received her law degree from Northeastern University School of Law.

A frequent visitor to Nantucket since 1989, Virna Gonzalez received her B.F.A. from St. John's University. From there, she began her New York City graphic design career in areas of television, software manufacturing, book publishing, and promotional advertising before running her own design firm for several years. She traded her urban life in 2002 to find a new home in the bucolic beauty that is Nantucket within its incredibly welcoming community.

In 2008, Virna joined the ReMain team. As Program and Marketing Manager, she applies her skills to support ReMain's colorfully diverse projects that benefit the Nantucket community especially in the areas of plastics reduction education and awareness, sustainability support, grant management, and cultural programming. She has served on the boards of the Nantucket Arts Council and the Nantucket Education Trust. She currently serves as an Advisor for the Nantucket Cultural District.

Jenn King first discovered Nantucket through the suggestion of family friends during her time as an undergraduate student at Mount Holyoke College. As soon as she received her B.A. in Biology, she completed her move to the Island.

After 13 years of experience at Nantucket Bank, Jenn now brings her project management and accounting skills to the ReMain Ventures team. She has been instrumental in the planning, supervision, and maintenance of ReMain’s building projects on 22 Federal Street, 35 Centre, and 56 Centre. When she isn’t taking care of her two boys or chasing around her new puppy, Jenn also sits on the board of directors as secretary for Small Friends on Nantucket, the early-education and care group for young children on the island.

Tim Feeney joined ReMain in 2019 as Property Manager. Tim is responsible for managing the property of all of ReMain’s buildings. Growing up in the coastal town of Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia, he quickly fell in love with the island after arriving in 2014 when he served as the General Manager of NIR Retail. Tim was responsible for overseeing the operations of more than one hundred retail properties.

As an entrepreneur at heart, Tim stepped away from his property management role in 2016 and introduced Waypoint Marine Service and Nantucket Tug Company. He remains dedicated to responsible stewardship and marine conversation. Tim graduated with a B.A. from McMaster University and is currently a USCG Certified Captain. 

ReMain Philanthropy Location: 
58 Main Street, 2nd Floor
Office Line:  508.901.4140

Mailing Address:
P.O Box 359 
Nantucket, MA 02554

ReMain Ventures Location: 
58 Main Street, 2nd Floor
Office Line: 508.901.4145

Mailing Address:
P.O Box 868 
Nantucket, MA 02554

Please email all inquiries to:
info@remainnantucket.org

ReMain Nantucket announced that the next in a series of surveys studying the economic impacts of COVID-19 on local businesses and organizations is being released starting today. With the summer season concluding and the remaining economic uncertainty, the Town of Nantucket and the Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce are interested in learning how to best support business and non-profit sectors this fall and winter with a Phase II Economic Impact Survey.

The survey was developed by the Nantucket Economic Survey Team (NEST), which was formed in April and includes representatives from ReMain Nantucket, the Nantucket Department of Culture and Tourism, Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce, Nantucket Island Center for Entrepreneurship (NICE), and Community Foundation for Nantucket.

Phase II will focus on the current economic status of local businesses, pandemic-related challenges and insights into post-season sustainability and needs. All businesses and organizations islandwide, including members of Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce, Nantucket Island non-profit organizations, Nantucket Builders Association, and day care providers sourced through the Public Health Department of Nantucket, are invited to respond.

“It is inspiring to see how businesses have reinvented themselves during the pandemic. It speaks to the entrepreneurial spirit of business owners on Nantucket,” said Cecil Barron Jensen, executive director of ReMain Nantucket. “Still, even though the summer was better than expected, there is an ongoing worry about how our neighbors and friends will fare this fall and winter. That’s why we continue to support the Town and Chamber leaders in their work to collect data in order to make better informed decisions to reinforce a steadier economy in the months ahead.”

The initial survey, conducted in April, gathered information from over 450 respondents and identified short- and long-term needs, including grants and loans, rent deferrals, delayed tax payments, permission to reopen, communication about available resources, marketing tools and business loss insurance.

“There was an abundant amount of information collected during the Phase I survey, and it helped shape our recommendations for how best to support our local businesses and organizations,” said Janet Schulte, director of culture and tourism for the Town of Nantucket. “With the COVID crisis continuing into the fall and perhaps beyond, we want to continue to measure the economic impacts. We’re hoping to hear from the same respondents again and expand this survey even further. We encourage anyone who owns a business, is self-employed, or runs an organization to take the survey.”

The Boston-based consulting firm EBP US, which specializes in evaluation and analysis to support economic development planning and policy decisions, will continue working with NEST to again administer the survey.

The estimated time to complete the survey is less than 10 minutes. Answers collected from the 32-question survey will be aggregated, and names will be kept confidential by EBP. The deadline for submission is Friday, Sept. 25. EBP US will release preliminary summarized findings of the study by Oct. 30, with an executive report to follow in early November.

To participate in the survey, please visit Phase II Impacts of COVID-19 on Nantucket Businesses and Organizations Survey here or on the Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce website. A read-only copy of the survey in pdf form is also available for review.  

ReMain Nantucket Launches Envision Resilience: Nantucket Challenge, Calling on Design Students to Reimagine Nantucket Harbor

ReMain Nantucket announced on July 22 the inception of Envision Resilience: Nantucket Challenge, a coastal resilience initiative that will leverage academia and local leadership to develop and consider innovative and adaptive solutions to sea level rise. Nantucket Island is one of hundreds of U.S. cities and towns threatened by sea level rise. By 2100, much of Nantucket’s Historic Downtown is projected to be completely inundated with water. The challenge, which will build on the Town of Nantucket’s coastal resilience efforts, calls on multidisciplinary teams of graduate students to reimagine Nantucket Harbor through an iterative, design-driven approach focused on three study areas.
With growing expressed interest from a number of prestigious architecture and design schools, ReMain anticipates that six to eight interdisciplinary university teams will participate in the spring 2021 design studio. Throughout the five-month challenge, teams will be asked to identify threats, research solutions, and propose adaptive designs that align with the Town’s Coastal Community Resilience Planning time increments of 2030, 2050 and 2100.
“By bringing together the experience of local experts, the visionary insight of design students, and stories from the people who live here, ReMain Nantucket hopes to inspire the Nantucket community to envision a future that is resilient in the face of sea level rise,” said Cecil Barron Jensen, executive director of ReMain Nantucket. “We are thrilled to add to the conversation, elevate community engagement, and showcase innovative strategies to a community that is deeply committed to the environment and each other.”
The final designs will be conceptual, showcasing principles and pathways, rather than project lists or prescriptive blueprints. The design proposals will be evaluated at a summer 2021 exhibition, during which the Island community will be invited to participate in a series of concurrent cultural and community events.
ReMain has convened a group of more than 20 local and regional advisors to bring expertise in conservation, public works, real estate, architecture, historic preservation, natural resources, marine biology, fisheries, civil engineering, science, and transportation to participating student teams.
"We are working in conjunction with the Town of Nantucket and have representatives from several town departments on our advisory committee,” said Jensen. “Through academic exercise we are hoping to inspire people who live, work, and own homes on the Island, to participate in the Town's efforts to envision adaptation solutions and build upon what they learn to take their own steps to create resiliency plans for their personal properties.”
Carolyn Cox, of the University of Florida, was selected to design and lead the Envision Resilience: Nantucket Challenge. Cox is the coordinator of the Florida Climate Institute, a 10-university consortium started at the University of Florida. Morris (Marty) Hylton III, director of the University of Florida Historic Preservation Program and the Center for World Heritage Research and Stewardship, and Bob Miklos, artist and founder of designLAB architects, have been selected by ReMain as Envision Resilience: Nantucket Challenge co-chairs.
Through this challenge, ReMain will continue to fulfill its mission to strengthen the sustainability of Nantucket’s downtown district by leveraging the latest scientific research and collaborating with a broad representation of stakeholders and experts.
ReMain Nantucket and ReMain Ventures were founded by philanthropist Wendy Schmidt to support the economic, social, and environmental vitality of the island of Nantucket. In addition to ReMain Nantucket providing grants and sponsorships to support sustainable and cultural initiatives across the island, ReMain Nantucket has worked in conjunction with ReMain Ventures to revitalize the downtown district year-round through the preservation of historic buildings that are home to a mix of nonprofit and commercial businesses.

ReMain Nantucket announced in early April that it has commissioned a series of studies on the short-term economic impacts of COVID-19 on local businesses and organizations. The initial survey, which was conducted and analyzed by the Boston-based consulting firm EBP US, was emailed to members of Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce, Nantucket Island non-profit organizations, Nantucket Builders Association, and daycare providers sourced through the Public Health Department of Nantucket. 

The survey was organized by a new committee--the Nantucket Economic Survey Team (NEST)--that includes representatives from ReMain Nantucket, the Nantucket Department of Culture and Tourism, Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce, Nantucket Island Center for Entrepreneurship (NICE), and Community Foundation for Nantucket. The team also includes Nantucket Select Board member Jason Bridges and Wendy Hudson representing the Retailer’s Association of Massachusetts, in addition to local merchants.  

The NEST team asked anyone who owns a business, is self-employed or runs an organization to participate in the survey to let us know how this crisis is affecting you. A read-only pdf version of the survey is available. The work was completed on April 27 and the Preliminary Summarized Findings of the Covid-19 Impact Survey were released on May 7.

To answer support needs, the new Nantucket Economic Recovery Group—with representatives from the Nantucket Island Chamber Commerce and the Town of Nantucket’s Economic Impact Task Force—will use this information to design a response strategy and plans for recovery.

“Rebuilding, resourcing, and recovery efforts and ideas are already emerging and range from immediate responses to plans that require a long term strategy,” said Janet Schulte, director of culture and tourism for the Town of Nantucket.

Keep the Rock Solid, an online hub of business resources for grant and relief opportunities that was established by the Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce, is an example of how the community is trying to immediately support small businesses. The site includes specific ways that businesses can apply for support, while also offering individuals opportunities to support the Island economy. A radio show associated with Keep the Rock Solid has also been launched on WACK and shares stories of how local business owners are adapting their business models as a way to recover.

“Underwriting EBP’s survey and helping to launch Keep the Rock Solid are just two examples of how ReMain is helping,” said Cecil Barron Jensen, executive director of ReMain Nantucket. “Being nimble in this new environment is essential if we want to build a strong and more resilient economy. We’ll continue to work with our NEST and EBP partners to research opportunities as we try to define a path forward.” 

We hope you and your loved ones are staying healthy and safe in these unprecedented times during the CoVid-19 crisis.

There will undoubtedly be numerous challenges, including short-term and long-term economic repercussions of this quarantine. ReMain recognizes that its mission to support and strengthen the lasting economic, social, and environmental vitality of downtown Nantucket is critical and support for the non-profit community is especially needed now.

To start, we are partnering with the Community Foundation for Nantucket’s Emergency Relief Fund with a matching donation of up to $250,000. Please visit their website to review the criteria and instructions to apply to receive support from the Fund.

In addition, the Community Foundation for Nantucket’s ReMain Fund will be reopened on Monday, March 30 to allow current applicants the opportunity to re-evaluate submitted applications in the face of cancelations, postponements, and shifts in priority due to the CoVid-19 crisis. This initiative will be offered to new applicants as well. We’re all in this together and here to help.

ReMain Nantucket will release the results of a new study examining Nantucket’s cultural programming that explores Nantucket’s cultural landscape and reveals opportunities for collaboration among the Island’s many organizations. The study and report were prepared by EBP, a Boston-based consulting firm specializing in evaluation and analysis supporting planning and policy in economic development and related disciplines. The Nantucket Cultural Programming Study will be presented at the Nantucket Atheneum, 1 India Street, on Monday, March 30 at 5:30 p.m. Refreshments will be served following the free presentation.

Together, ReMain and EBP used a multi-pronged approach to complete this eight-month study, including an online survey of 66 local organizations and follow-up interviews with 14 leaders from Nantucket’s nonprofit community.

The Nantucket Cultural Programming Study examines the island’s cultural landscape and reveals opportunities for collaboration among the island’s many nonprofit organizations. The research in the report offers cultural organizations a greater understanding of when and what type of cultural programming is offered.

“It is astonishing how much is offered on Nantucket annually,” said Scott Middleton of EBP. “Our study revealed a number of opportunities to help the Island’s cultural organizations make effective use of their resources, while also limiting confusion among residents and visitors who have so many cultural events and activities from which to choose.”

In addition, the report offers detailed findings that highlight potential recommendations in several areas, including opportunities for partnership, programming gaps, barriers to event attendance, and new options for ticketing and event marketing.

“The report is chock full of ideas and recommendations for Nantucket’s nonprofits and businesses,” said ReMain Nantucket Executive Director Cecil Barron Jensen. “We are really encouraged by the report and have identified several future projects for ReMain and the cultural community to continue to explore.”

“Ultimately, we want to see more people downtown more often, and we see the Island’s many cultural organizations as our partners,” said Jensen. “The team at ReMain wants to do as much as we can to support them in their efforts to present wonderful programming for our year-round and seasonal communities.”

ReMain Nantucket is a charitable organization, founded by philanthropist Wendy Schmidt to support the economic, social and environmental vitality of the island of Nantucket. In addition to providing grants and sponsorships to support sustainable and cultural initiatives across the island, the organization has worked to revitalize the downtown district year-round through the preservation of historic buildings that are home to a mix of nonprofit and commercial businesses.

EBP US (formerly EDR Group) is an American company based in Boston that provides state-of-the-art economic analysis and research to support planning and policy in multimodal transportation, regional development, energy, and infrastructure. It is part of the EBP family of companies, with full-service offices in the United States, Switzerland, Germany, China, Brazil, and Chile.

Please find a copy of the EBP Nantucket Cultural Programming Study report here. For more information about ReMain Nantucket and EBP, please visit remainnantucket.org and ebp-us.com. 

ReMain uses a combination of research and advocacy to strengthen the sustainability of Nantucket's downtown district. With these tools, ReMain helps address the Island’s seasonal challenges and works to keep the downtown a center of activity for the community year-round.

To better understand the nature of Nantucket’s downtown community, we have worked with various research groups such as the Urban Land Institute and hosted prominent speakers like Douglas Loescher from the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Main Streets Program. Recently, ReMain helped to establish the Nantucket Cultural District and commissioned EBP, an economic and research firm, to do an inventory and study of the cultural programming offered throughout the year.  

We are proud of our partnership with the Community Foundation for Nantucket. They administer the ReMain Nantucket Fund grants, supporting nonprofits who work to make the downtown vibrant and the Island more sustainable. In addition, the Community Engagement Fund offers reimbursements to qualified nonprofits who host meetings, public programs, and educational opportunities in the downtown.

For more stories about ReMain Philanthropy’s own work in enhancing the downtown’s vitality, visit our Archives page.

ReMain collaborates with our local government and nonprofits to identify and support projects for assisting the year-round community, often relying on professional resources to bring comprehensive thinking to the issues.

To help residents and visitors get around without cars, ReMain collaborates with The WAVE, Nantucket's Regional Transit Authority to improve the rider’s experience, by providing a downtown bus stop at its Greenhound property and helped initiate the TransLoc “Ride the WAVE” app which allows riders to track the location of their bus in real time. Year-round service was launched in 2018. 

More Nantucket encourages visitors and residents to get more out of Nantucket when they leave their car at home. The website promotes healthy and convenient transportations options including biking, walking, and public and courtesy transportation. It also hosts convenient links to bike rentals, walking and biking trails, and educational tours of all kinds.

We also believe that reliable data will lead to better decision making for everyone invested in the Nantucket community. By working with the Nantucket Data Platform, ReMain commissioned and delivered the Effective Population Study. By merging public and private data, the study offers a detailed portrait of daily changes in the Island’s population. In addition, the Nantucket Data Platform has completed both a Cost of Living Calculator and an Island Life Survey.

For the full stories on ReMain’s efforts to strengthen the Island community, visit our Archives page.

ReMain seeks to promote the wiser use of natural resources in all of its operations, from simple office practices to major collaborations and investments. Our Sustainability Guidelines are a great tool for businesses wishing to lighten their environmental impact. 

Nantucket Footprints is a nexus of information and ideas to care for our Island. Visitors to the website will find local and global news stories, facts, and statistics about how to make green choices and a list of resources for Nantucket visitors and residents. Nantucket Footprints has also sponsored educational and public programming opportunities, including the Annual Nantucket Litter Derby and a screening of The Human Element, with filmmaker and photographer James Balog. 

ReMain’s has recently increased its support of Nantucket Public Works and its efforts to manage the Island’s recycling and composting programs more efficiently, including a study by the Nantucket Data Platform. In addition, we funded a joint study of microplastics in the ocean and our shellfish population by the Public Works staff and scholars from UMass Boston. 

We are also supporting the Town of Nantucket’s efforts to eliminate several of the most ubiquitous single-use plastics. Starting in 2020 a limited number of single-use plastics (including water bottles) will be banned and unavailable for purchase on the Island. To learn more about the ban, please visit the Town of Nantucket.

Also, read about our latest news about the launch of Envision Resilience: Nantucket Challenge.

For more stories about ReMain’s environmentally responsible projects, visit our Archives page.

For stories about ReMain Ventures’ downtown investments and work in enhancing the vitality of the downtown, visit the ReMain Ventures page.