Foundations & Grantmakers in Hawaii
927 grantmakers in Hawaii reported grants on their latest 990s. The 290 that made at least 5 grants gave $200.7M. The largest by giving are Trustees of the Estate of Bernice Pauahi Bishop DBA Kamehameha Schools, Aloha United Way Inc and Kanu O Ka Aina Learning Ohana. The list below ranks grantmakers with at least 5 grants by annual giving, and each funder links to a profile with its grant history and financials.
Looking for open funding opportunities instead? Browse Hawaii grants
Foundation giving in Hawaii at a glance
Active grantmakers
927
reported grants on latest 990
Annual giving
$200.7M
from the 290 with 5+ grants
Typical grant
$19K
median of each funder's average grant
Median annual giving
$58K
per grantmaker
Top 10 foundations in Hawaii by annual giving
| # | Funder | City | Annual giving | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trustees of the Estate of Bernice Pauahi Bishop DBA Kamehameha Schools | Honolulu | $33.4M | 109 |
| 2 | Aloha United Way Inc | Honolulu | $14.0M | 175 |
| 3 | Kanu O Ka Aina Learning Ohana | Kamuela | $6.9M | 27 |
| 4 | Harold KL Castle Foundation | Kailua | $6.9M | 106 |
| 5 | Hau'oli Mau Loa Foundation | Honolulu | $6.8M | 28 |
| 6 | Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement | Kapolei | $6.0M | 157 |
| 7 | McInerny Foundation | Honolulu | $5.7M | 107 |
| 8 | The Clarence TC Ching Foundation | Honolulu | $5.4M | 63 |
| 9 | Kosasa Foundation | Honolulu | $5.2M | 84 |
| 10 | Ahahui Koa Anuenue | Honolulu | $3.5M | 5 |
Ranked by grants reported on each funder's latest 990. Only grantmakers with at least 5 grants are ranked; 14 organizations that reported large giving in fewer grants (usually one transfer to an affiliated charity) are left out.
Most common focus areas
- Education 56 · 27%
- Arts, Culture & Humanities 24 · 12%
- Environment & Animals 24 · 12%
- Community Improvement & Capacity Building 16 · 8%
- Health 15 · 7%
- Human Services 13 · 6%
Share of grantmakers with a program NTEE code (43% carry any NTEE code); general grantmaking foundations (NTEE T) are not counted.
Source: IRS Form 990 and 990-PF filings, latest available year per organization (most of the largest funders' latest filing: tax year 2025).
Most open to new grantees in Hawaii
Foundations based in Hawaii whose latest grant list had the largest share of organizations they had not funded in any earlier year on file.
| # | Funder | First-time grantees | Grantees | Avg first grant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Clarence TC Ching Foundation | 65% (40) | 62 in 2024 | $41K |
| 2 | Elemental Excelerator Inc | 59% (20) | 34 in 2024 | $23K |
| 3 | Hui Huliau | 57% (13) | 23 in 2024 | $119K |
| 4 | Cooke Foundation Limited | 52% (27) | 52 in 2025 | $20K |
| 5 | James & Abigail Campbell Family | 48% (12) | 25 in 2024 | $96K |
| 6 | Fred Baldwin Memorial Foundation | 48% (21) | 44 in 2025 | $6K |
| 7 | HPM Building Supply Foundation | 48% (10) | 21 in 2024 | $6K |
| 8 | Tradewind Group Foundation | 47% (68) | 145 in 2025 | $8K |
| 9 | Maui United Way | 47% (20) | 43 in 2025 | $50K |
| 10 | Nuestro Futuro Inc | 46% (12) | 26 in 2024 | $24K |
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990 and 990-PF grant lists. Only foundations with at least 20 grants in each of the last three years (and 20 distinct grantees in the latest), a filing from the last 2 years, and first grants averaging at least $1K are ranked; grants to individuals are left out, and recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed grantee can look new. How we calculate this.
Showing 290 grantmakers in Hawaii with 5+ grants on their latest 990, most giving first
Trustees of the Estate of Bernice Pauahi Bishop DBA Kamehameha Schools
Honolulu, HI
Assets
$13.0B
Grants
109
Total Given
$33.4M
Aloha United Way Inc
Honolulu, HI
Assets
$23.5M
Grants
175
Total Given
$14.0M
Kanu O Ka Aina Learning Ohana
Kamuela, HI
Assets
$18.3M
Grants
27
Total Given
$6.9M
Harold KL Castle Foundation
Kailua, HI
Assets
$171.3M
Grants
106
Total Given
$6.9M
Hau'oli Mau Loa Foundation
Honolulu, HI
Assets
$155.9M
Grants
28
Total Given
$6.8M
Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement
Kapolei, HI
Assets
$72.8M
Grants
157
Total Given
$6.0M
McInerny Foundation
Honolulu, HI
Assets
$139.0M
Grants
107
Total Given
$5.7M
The Clarence TC Ching Foundation
Honolulu, HI
Assets
$131.8M
Grants
63
Total Given
$5.4M
Kosasa Foundation
Honolulu, HI
Assets
$159.4M
Grants
84
Total Given
$5.2M
Ahahui Koa Anuenue
Honolulu, HI
Assets
$5.7M
Grants
5
Total Given
$3.5M
The Waterhouse Charitable Trust
Honolulu, HI
Assets
$39.6M
Grants
5
Total Given
$3.3M
Mosher Galt Foundation
Honolulu, HI
Assets
$216K
Grants
11
Total Given
$3.1M
Maurice and Joanna Sullivan Family
Honolulu, HI
Assets
$36.3M
Grants
27
Total Given
$3.0M
Robert E Black Memorial Trust
Honolulu, HI
Assets
$50.1M
Grants
11
Total Given
$2.8M
Hawaii Justice Foundation
Honolulu, HI
Assets
$15.1M
Grants
27
Total Given
$2.7M
Thomas J Vincent Foundation Inc
Kaneohe, HI
Assets
$22.2M
Grants
9
Total Given
$2.3M
The Hawaii Pacific Foundation Inc
Honolulu, HI
Assets
$192.7M
Grants
46
Total Given
$2.2M
The Ifuku Family Foundation
Honolulu, HI
Assets
—
Grants
6
Total Given
$2.2M
HMSA Foundation
Honolulu, HI
Assets
$16.3M
Grants
19
Total Given
$2.1M
Gary O Galiher Foundation Inc
Honolulu, HI
Assets
$10.0M
Grants
13
Total Given
$2.1M
Frost Family Foundation
Honolulu, HI
Assets
$7.2M
Grants
17
Total Given
$2.0M
Hui Huliau
Waianae, HI
Assets
$71.6M
Grants
23
Total Given
$2.0M
LGA Family Foundation
Honolulu, HI
Assets
$8.8M
Grants
21
Total Given
$2.0M
Maui United Way
Wailuku, HI
Assets
$27.3M
Grants
43
Total Given
$2.0M
Here's the math on clicking through this list.
You, clicking into all 24 funders
~2.8 hrs
at ~7 min per funder profile
Your agents, the same 24
~1 min
every profile evaluated and scored, with reasoning
Questions about foundations in Hawaii
What are the largest foundations in Hawaii?
By grants reported on their latest 990s, the largest are Trustees of the Estate of Bernice Pauahi Bishop DBA Kamehameha Schools ($33.4M across 109 grants), Aloha United Way Inc ($14.0M) and Kanu O Ka Aina Learning Ohana ($6.9M). Together the top 10 account for 47% of the $200.7M given by the 290 grantmakers in Hawaii that made at least 5 grants. Organizations that reported large giving in fewer grants, usually a single transfer to an affiliated charity, are left out of the ranking.
How big is a typical foundation grant in Hawaii?
The typical grant is about $19K (the median of each grantmaker's average grant). Half of these grantmakers gave less than $58K in total in their latest filing year, so many are small foundations that give to a few organizations they already know. The largest funders make many more grants, but also get the most requests.
How do I find Hawaii foundations that accept unsolicited proposals?
Most private foundations don't run an open application. Their 990-PF says whether they only give to preselected charities, and their past grants show who they actually fund. Start with the funders above whose grant counts and typical grant size fit your budget, then check each profile's grant history for organizations like yours before you reach out. Read the grant prospecting guide.
Related guides
- Grant prospecting: how to find funders that fit
How to shortlist foundations in Hawaii from their 990s and giving history.
- AI grant writing: draft proposals in your voice
Turn a shortlist into LOIs and proposals drafted from your own materials.