We are proud to support these projects working hard to support communities and protect precious natural and cultural resources.


If you would like to support any of these programs, you may donate directly online via the links below or send a check made out to the Center for Responsible Travel, with the program name in the memo line, to 1225 Eye St. NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20005.

CARE for the Cape & Islands

CARE for the Cape & Islands was founded in 2012 by Jill Talladay as a grassroots organization to engage visitors and residents to preserve and protect the natural environment, culture, and history of Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket. To date, CARE has:

  • Awarded more than $65,000 to fund more than 50 projects in the areas of environmental education, environmental stewardship, community livability, sense of place, food and culture, “reduce and reuse”, and protection of the natural environment, culture, and history.
  • Generated 7,000+ hours of volunteer labor with 3,000+ volunteers
  • Engaged 70+ companies and organizations in the Cape Cod Stewardship Collaborative.

In 2020, CARE for the Cape and Islands also launched a new “Compostable Food Serviceware Buying Guide,” which aims to provide restaurants and other food-service businesses with alternatives to plastic take-out containers and service ware that have seen an increase due to COVID-19.

Destination Stewardship Center

The Destination Stewardship Center’s (DSC) mission is to help protect the world’s distinctive places by supporting wisely managed tourism and enlightened destination stewardship. The program’s goal is to help people find the resources they need to achieve that mission. 

The DSC was founded in 2011 by Jonathan Tourtellot, continuing a program he founded and directed at National Geographic Society. Jonathan originated the concept of geotourism, defined via National Geographic as “tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place – its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage, and the well-being of its residents.” This approach informs the DSC’s strategy.

The DSC works closely with CREST and the Global Sustainable Tourism Council on matters of destination management and sustainability. Sign up for their newsletter here for updates.