Domestic violence is yet another issue to which philanthropy has responded more quickly, creatively, and effectively, than was possible for government institutions and laws. The challenge for philanthropy, as always, was: how to meet exploding needs adequately on donated funds.

New philanthropic ventures can be funded from two sources: the right people (interested, with resources), which new ventures almost always lack, and foundations -- which in principle have funds available, but in practice are not always hospitable to new ideas, which by definition fall outside current grantmaking guidelines.

IH began in 1979 with one volunteer, one telephone, and a card table. Today it is Cape Cod's and the Islands' principal complete service agency for victims of domestic violence, their children, and survivors of sexual assaults.

Barnstable County reports the second largest number of domestic-violence crimes in Massachusetts. In 1996, IH received 16,451 hotline calls, to which it responded with an array of options for rescue, help, and support. It also received and responded to over 1,400 calls for help from outside the Cape and the Islands. A recent national study of hospital emergency-room records suggests that up to 47% of victims of violence may be hurt by a closely-related person; this ratio far exceeds that of police records for spousal or parental abuse, which are also exploding.

To try to meet growing needs, IH has grown, but it is the only agency of its kind, in a large area, not networked by mass transit, and whose year-'round population lacks sufficient major-donor potential. IH therefore needs your help.