Elsie Wilcox Foundation
The Elsie Wilcox Foundation is a private foundation based in Honolulu, Hawaii. Established by Deed of Trust on February 15, 1938, it supports charitable, scientific, literary, educational, and religious purposes.
Elsie Wilcox Foundation at a glance
In short: Elsie Wilcox Foundation gave $60K across 16 grants in 2025 (avg $4K), mostly in Hawaii. 25% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $60,000
- +9.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 16
- +6.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $3,750
- +2.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $3,750
- Total assets
- $1,316,217
- +5.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 25% first-time grantees (4 of 16, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Hawaii (95% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Elsie Wilcox Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states on its 2025 filing that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Its program descriptions say support is usually provided to organizations with an established relationship with the Trust.
- Next open deadline
- September 1, 2027 (Elsie H. Wilcox Foundation Grant - General Capital Grants)
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 3170 Dept 715, Honolulu, HI 96802-3170
Phone: (808) 694-4399
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from Elsie Wilcox Foundation
Elsie H. Wilcox Foundation Grant - General Capital Grants
Elsie Wilcox Foundation
Amount
Up to US $500,000
Deadline
Expected ~September
Based on past cycles
Elsie H. Wilcox Foundation Grant - General Operating Grants
Elsie Wilcox Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Elsie H. Wilcox Foundation Grant - Program Grants
Elsie Wilcox Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Elsie Wilcox Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Malama Kauai ($5K). Together the top 10 received $45K.
Grant Size Distribution
71 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 71 grants of 71 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s program descriptions specify eligible organizations throughout Hawaii and state a preference for programs and projects on Kauai. In 2025, 95% of grant dollars went to recipients in Hawaii and 5% to a recipient in Georgia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Elsie Wilcox Foundation open to new grantees?
25%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 16 grantees (25%) were first-time recipients. With only 16 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $4K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $4K repeat.
- 56% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 29% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 89% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $50K (2020) to $84K (2022). In 2025 it made 16 grants totaling $60K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Malama Kauai Kiluea, HI | Unrestricted Gift | $5,000 |
| Helping Hands Hawaii Honolulu, HI | Unrestricted Gift | $5,000 |
| Waimea Sugar Mill Museum Waimea, HI | Unrestricted Gift | $5,000 |
| Island School Lihue, HI | Unrestricted Gift | $5,000 |
| Hawaii Foodbank Inc Honolulu, HI | Kauai Food Purchase | $5,000 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawaii Honolulu, HI | Unrestricted Gift | $5,000 |
| Kauai North Shore Food Pantry Kilauea, HI | Unrestricted Gift | $4,500 |
| Waioli Corporation Lihue, HI | Grove Farm and Kaipu Camp | $4,000 |
| Hawaii Academy of Science Honolulu, HI | Science and Engineering | $3,500 |
| American Cancer Society Kennesaw, GA | Unrestricted Gift | $3,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Elsie Wilcox Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,316,217 | $168,139 | $102,349 | $60,000 | 16 | $80,993 | $149,962 | $90,505 |
| 2024 | $1,250,427 | $170,689 | $93,274 | $55,000 | 15 | $75,314 | $153,917 | $82,623 |
| 2023 | $1,173,013 | $70,373 | $84,299 | $50,000 | 13 | $69,445 | $55,519 | $74,791 |
| 2022 | $1,186,767 | $44,628 | $127,921 | $84,000 | 17 | $106,923 | $25,397 | $70,339 |
| 2021 | $1,269,920 | $134,168 | $89,781 | $50,249 | 10 | $71,627 | $116,776 | $91,034 |
| 2020 | $1,222,719 | $108,276 | $91,021 | $50,000 | 12 | — | $92,787 | $74,410 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Elsie Wilcox Foundation reported a distributable amount of $91K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The trust’s stated purposes are religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational. Its grant programs include general operating, program, and small capital or equipment grants.
Grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the range of organizations supported. Mālama Kaua‘i describes its mission as community outreach related to strengthening local agriculture and sustainable practices. The Kauai North Shore Food Pantry says it works to feed underfed people in its community, while the Hawaii Academy of Science describes its mission as promoting scientific research and education in Hawaii and the Pacific Rim. Waioli Corporation says it preserves historic properties and collections and shares educational experiences about Kauai’s history and culture.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation awarded 16 grants totaling $60,000. Grants ranged from $2,000 to $5,000, with a median of $3,750. Among the largest awards were $5,000 each to Mālama Kaua‘i, Helping Hands Hawaii, Waimea Sugar Mill Museum, Island School, Hawaii Foodbank, and Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawaii. Other notable grants included $4,500 to Kauai North Shore Food Pantry, $4,000 to Waioli Corporation, and $3,500 to Hawaii Academy of Science.
The program descriptions list general operating grants, program grants, and capital grants for projects or equipment costing less than $500,000. They describe eligibility for qualified 501(c)(3) organizations serving communities in Hawaii, with a preference for Kauai. Program criteria include a preference for full board financial participation; the program-grant description also says fiscal sponsors are accepted. The capital-grant description gives an award range of $0–$500,000. The available descriptions do not provide a deadline or a complete list of restrictions.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Bank of Hawaii as trustee.
Elsie Wilcox Foundation's only listed officer is Bank Of Hawaii, Trustee on every filing since 2020 (compensated).
Officers on the 2025 filing
Bank Of Hawaii
Trustee
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$22K (2020) → $19K (2025)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $19K, to Bank of Hawaii (Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about Elsie Wilcox Foundation
How much does Elsie Wilcox Foundation give each year?
Elsie Wilcox Foundation gave $60K across 16 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $55K across 15 grants.
What is Elsie Wilcox Foundation's typical grant size?
Elsie Wilcox Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $3,750, and its average grant was $3,750, across 16 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Elsie Wilcox Foundation that year got $3K on average.
Where does Elsie Wilcox Foundation give grants?
Elsie Wilcox Foundation gives mostly in Hawaii: 95% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Georgia (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Honolulu, HI (9 grants) and Lihue, HI (2 grants).
Does Elsie Wilcox Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 81% of Elsie Wilcox Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (13 of 16) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Elsie Wilcox Foundation's largest grantees?
Elsie Wilcox Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Malama Kauai ($5,000), Helping Hands Hawaii ($5,000) and Waimea Sugar Mill Museum ($5,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 25% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Elsie Wilcox Foundation?
Elsie Wilcox Foundation reported $1.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $81K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $91K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Elsie Wilcox Foundation fund?
The trust’s stated purposes are religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational. Its grant programs include general operating, program, and small capital or equipment grants. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Elsie Wilcox Foundation?
The foundation states on its 2025 filing that it does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Elsie Wilcox Foundation's EIN?
Elsie Wilcox Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 99-6002441. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Elsie Wilcox Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 28, 2026)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS September 7, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 7, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 7, 2025)
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Elsie Wilcox Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Elsie Wilcox Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/elsie-wilcox-foundation-morg_d584b4d6bb714fc38de52ea1fc551b8b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_996002441_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Elsie Wilcox Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/elsie-wilcox-foundation-morg_d584b4d6bb714fc38de52ea1fc551b8b},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Elsie Wilcox Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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