HMSA Foundation
HMSA Foundation is a private foundation based in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. Its stated mission is to uplift community practices that build health and connection among people and place, and its website describes a multi-year strategy of partnering with nonprofits addressing the deeper roots of health in Hawaiʻi.
HMSA Foundation at a glance
In short: HMSA Foundation gave $2.1M across 19 grants in 2024 (avg $109K), mostly in Hawaii. 47% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,068,000
- -10.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 19
- -13.6% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $108,842
- +4.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $16,348,213
- -9.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 47% first-time grantees (9 of 19, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Hawaii (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to HMSA Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s website says it does not accept unsolicited requests through an open grants process. The 2024 filing lists HMSA Foundation as the contact, refers to Statement 10 for forms and materials and Statement 11 for restrictions, and states that there are no deadlines.
- Contact
Application contact: Hmsa Foundation
Mailing address: PO Box 860, Honolulu, HI 96808
Phone: (808) 948-5145
Website: https://hmsafoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who HMSA Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was University of Hawaii Foundation ($1.2M). Together the top 10 received $1.9M.
Grant Size Distribution
133 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 74 grants of 133 (56%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars itemized for filing year 2024 went to recipients in Hawaiʻi. The foundation’s website describes its funding as supporting Hawaiʻi-based organizations and lists Hui partners serving communities across the state.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 19 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is HMSA Foundation open to new grantees?
47%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 9 of 19 grantees (47%) were first-time recipients. With only 19 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $19K; repeat grants $190K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $75K repeat.
- 53% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−14%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 201% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.2M (2020) to $2.4M (2021). In 2024 it made 19 grants totaling $2.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Hawaii Foundation Honolulu, HI | Building learning innovations for Hawaii's future doctors and interprofessional health sciences education and simulation program | $1,200,000 |
| Five Mountains Hawaii Kamuela, HI | Operational Expenses (Hui Partner) | $100,000 |
| Kokua Kalihi Valley Comprehensive Family Services Honolulu, HI | Operational Expenses (Hui Partner) | $100,000 |
| Waimanalo Health Center Waimanalo, HI | Operational Expenses (Hui Partner) | $100,000 |
| Kualoa Heeia Ecumenical Youth Project Kaneohe, HI | Operational Expenses (Hui Partner) | $75,000 |
| Ma Ka Hana Ka Ike Building Program Hana, HI | Operational Expenses (Hui Partner) | $75,000 |
| The Food Basket Inc Hilo, HI | Operational Expenses (Hui Partner) | $75,000 |
| Hawaiian Community Assets Inc Honolulu, HI | Operational Expenses (Hui Partner) | $65,000 |
| Kumano I Ke Ala Waimea, HI | Operational Expenses (Hui Partner) | $60,000 |
| Molokai Child Abuse Prevention Pathways Kaunakakai, HI | Operational Expenses (Hui Partner) | $50,000 |
Ready to take the next step with HMSA 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $16,348,213 | $626,256 | $4,964,343 | $2,068,000 | 19 | $2,068,000 | $614,602 | $1,026,556 |
| 2023 | $17,981,438 | $1,407,161 | $471,963 | $2,301,000 | 22 | $2,302,360 | $1,407,161 | $1,004,295 |
| 2022 | $19,108,586 | $1,011,023 | $931,333 | $2,305,633 | 27 | $2,305,633 | $1,011,023 | $1,126,699 |
| 2021 | $20,430,673 | $4,646,838 | $616,959 | $2,405,000 | 35 | $2,405,000 | $4,646,838 | $1,278,284 |
| 2020 | $18,488,325 | $337,265 | $7,898,669 | $1,179,071 | 30 | — | $524,450 | $1,169,006 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, HMSA Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.0M for 2024 — 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 foundation’s mission is “Uplifting community practices that build health and connection among people and place.” Its website identifies funding priorities that include opportunities for everyone to live a healthy life, strengthening the culture, policies, and practices that support a healthier Hawaiʻi, and building community health ecosystems.
The 2024 grants included support for health sciences education and for organizations serving communities across Hawaiʻi. For example, the University of Hawaiʻi Foundation received funding for a program to build learning innovations for future doctors and interprofessional health sciences education and simulation. Several Hui partners received grants for operational expenses. The grantees’ own descriptions illustrate their work: Five Mountains Hawaii says it provides biopsychosocial services in North Hawaiʻi, with special emphasis on Native Hawaiian health disparities; Waimānalo Health Center describes its work as providing primary and preventive health services, particularly for Native Hawaiians and medically underserved people; and Kōkua Kalihi Valley describes its mission as advancing health, inspiring healing, and fostering reconciliation through relationships that honor culture and place.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 19 grants totaling $2,068,000. Grant amounts ranged from $2,000 to $1,200,000, with a median of $50,000. The largest grant was $1,200,000 to the University of Hawaiʻi Foundation for building learning innovations for future doctors and interprofessional health sciences education and simulation. Other notable grants included $100,000 each to Five Mountains Hawaii, Kōkua Kalihi Valley Comprehensive Family Services, and Waimānalo Health Center, all for operational expenses as Hui partners. Kualoa Heʻeia Ecumenical Youth Project, Ma Ka Hana Ka ʻIke Building Program, and The Food Basket each received $75,000 for operational expenses as Hui partners.
The foundation’s website says it moved away from an open grants process in 2019 and would no longer accept grant applications, instead using a cohort model with a small group of nonprofit partners. Its website describes a 2019 Hui of 10 organizations and a second Hui announced in 2025, comprising eight organizations. The 2024 filing lists no application deadline and refers applicants to Statement 10 for forms and materials and Statement 11 for award restrictions; it lists HMSA Foundation as the contact.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Jennifer Diesman as president; Gina L. Marting as treasurer/secretary through May 2024; and Jason Chang, Linda Ezuka, Brandee Menino, Mark Mugiishi, Kenneth Nakamura, Matthew Sasaki, Richard Taaffe, and Leslie Wilkins as directors.
HMSA Foundation is led by Jennifer Diesman, President since 2023 (on filings since 2022); none of the 10 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Jennifer Diesman
President
Director → President, 2023
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brandee Menino
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kenneth Nakamura
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Linda Ezuka
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark Mugiishi
Director
President → Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Richard Taaffe
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Matthew Sasaki
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jason Chang
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Leslie Wilkins
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gina L. Marting
Treasurer & Secretary
Treasurer → Treasurer & Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (8)
- Former: Helen Cox (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Michael Broderick (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Leslie Wiklins (2022) — Director
- Former: Kathryn Matayoshi (2020–2021) — Vice President
- Former: Lesile Wiklins (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Gavin Thornton (2020) — Director
- Former: Kasha Ho (2020) — Director
- Former: Keawe Aimoku Kaholokula (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about HMSA Foundation
How much does HMSA Foundation give each year?
HMSA Foundation gave $2.1M across 19 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.3M across 22 grants.
What is HMSA Foundation's typical grant size?
HMSA Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $50,000, and its average grant was $108,842, across 19 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from HMSA Foundation that year got $19K on average.
Where does HMSA Foundation give grants?
HMSA Foundation gives mostly in Hawaii: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Honolulu, HI (9 grants) and Hilo, HI (4 grants).
Does HMSA Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 53% of HMSA Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (10 of 19) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are HMSA Foundation's largest grantees?
HMSA Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include University of Hawaii Foundation ($1,200,000), Five Mountains Hawaii ($100,000) and Kokua Kalihi Valley Comprehensive Family Services ($100,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 68% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is HMSA Foundation?
HMSA Foundation reported $16.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.0M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does HMSA Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is “Uplifting community practices that build health and connection among people and place.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from HMSA Foundation?
The foundation’s website says it does not accept unsolicited requests through an open grants process. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is HMSA Foundation's EIN?
HMSA Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 99-0250429. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does HMSA 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). HMSA Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/hmsa-foundation-morg_b779e8dc1bbe458ea0615f2af1db34b0
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_990250429_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{HMSA Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/hmsa-foundation-morg_b779e8dc1bbe458ea0615f2af1db34b0},
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 HMSA 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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