JOANNE MAHER
Building a Community Bond
By Sophia Soltes
Photos by Annie Graebner
Since Joanne Maher moved to Bainbridge Island in 2007, she has served the island community in a variety of ways. “You can't just let the community and its culture continue by itself,” she said. “You have to work at it actively.” With a robust portfolio in managing nonprofits, Maher in 2021 became executive director at Island Volunteer Caregivers, where she continues to give back to the community she loves.
How long have you been serving the public through nonprofit organizations?
I have three kids, all raised on the island, and I felt it was really important to be part of not only their experience at school, but also part of the community. To that end, I joined the board of Raising Resilience, another island nonprofit, and later became the director of Healthy Youth Alliance through Bainbridge Youth Services, before coming to IVC. I think we have a great community, so I want to make sure that it continues to be perpetuated, grown and nurtured.
Tell me about your current job.
I am the executive director of IVC. Our mission is to connect neighbors facing challenges related to aging, disability or adversity with volunteers. Through these connections, we offer free services that help people live independently, happily and with dignity. Every day, I see the difference that simple acts of kindness can make. Our over 300 volunteers give rides, make visits, deliver meals and provide companionship to make the lives of our community members better.
What is the need for IVC?
The need is great. Over 25 percent of our island residents are age 65 and older, and as we age, we all need support. This is where IVC steps in. We have trained volunteers that provide essential services to get people the support they need. In 2024 alone, we supported about 440 care recipients. What we do is all about fostering connection and combatting loneliness.
You went from working with the island’s youth at Bainbridge Youth Services to working with some of our more senior residents. What has that been like?
It’s definitely been a full-circle experience. At the end of the day, everyone, whether you’re
younger or older, needs connection and support to thrive. Frankly, these are my two favorite audiences, because these are two groups that benefit profoundly from being heard, accepted, valued and seen.
How has a background in technology helped you?
When I say I have a technology background, it wasn’t about writing code, it was about building partnerships. My focus was on creating and maintaining partnerships that made products and services better. That experience really translated into my work at IVC. I’m able to make better partnerships with not only our volunteers, but also with other organizations on the island, like Helpline House and Housing Resources Bainbridge, to strengthen volunteer coordination and care receiver services.
What special moment have you had at this organization?
I could talk about a lot of situations, but what I’ve really experienced is a common thread. No matter what your situation is, everyone wants to have control over their lives. Everyone also needs to rely on the generosity of a neighbor at times. Supporting one another in small acts can make a huge difference in people’s lives. It goes a long way.
What do you have planned for the future of this organization?
Our goal is to keep doing what we do best: connecting neighbors through compassion and support while identifying gaps that prevent people from living independently. To that end, we’re piloting new initiatives, such as the IVC Care Kitchen and an in-home safety program, as well as exploring additional partnerships to better address the needs of our care recipients.
How can those who want to help get involved?
By becoming a part of our IVC volunteer family! There is no time requirement. If you are interested in supporting your neighbors, you can sign up at ivcbainbridge.org. There are people who could really use your companionship and support, and we welcome every islander to join our team. We are deeply grateful to Bainbridge Island’s generous community, volunteers and donors, whose support allows us to continue this work.
