Hung Wo and Elizabeth Lau
The Hung Wo and Elizabeth Lau Ching Foundation is a private charitable foundation established in 1963 and based in Honolulu, Hawaii. The foundation was established by donors Hung Wo Ching and Elizabeth Lau Ching. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit entity and focuses primarily on grantmaking to support educational institutions, human services, and child and family welfare initiatives.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.7M
-4.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$254K
-5.4% YoY
Grant Count
42
+2.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$6K
-7.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Hung Wo and Elizabeth Lau reported a distributable amount of $274K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary areas of interest include:
- Education (approximately 77% of giving)
- Philanthropy to Philanthropy (approximately 12% of giving)
- Social & Human Services (approximately 4% of giving)
- Christian churches and organizations
- Health and hospitals
- Museums
- Children and youth services
- Arts and culture
- Social services, including hunger relief
The foundation provides general operating support and project support to eligible organizations, and also grants achievement awards.
Grantmaking
Applicants must contact the foundation directly to inquire about application instructions. There are no set deadlines.
Review Cycle
.
Grant Types
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grants are principally distributed in Hawaii, with significant emphasis on Honolulu. While the foundation has a national scope in its charter, the vast majority of funding is directed to Hawaiian organizations.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $3,939,640
- Total Annual Giving: $254,500 (recent year data shows $244,880)
- EIN: 99-6008990
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,747,057 | $3,939,640 | $4,133,591 |
| Revenue | $158,094 | $154,482 | $248,011 |
| Expenses | $350,677 | $348,433 | $302,917 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $253,500 | $268,000 | $221,500 |
| Net Investment Income | $62,917 | $74,049 | $166,594 |
| Distributable Amount | $273,898 | $250,211 | $256,739 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
211 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Uh Foundation ($52,500), Iolani School ($40,000), Punahou School ($40,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION HONOLULU, HI | GENERAL PURPOSE | $3,500 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS HI STATE CHAPTER HONOLULU, HI | GENERAL PURPOSE | $3,500 |
| AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY HONOLULU, HI | GENERAL PURPOSE | $3,500 |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF HAWAII HONOLULU, HI | GENERAL PURPOSE | $3,500 |
| GONZAGA UNIVERSITY SPOKANE, WA | GENERAL PURPOSE | $250 |
| COMMUNITY CHURCH OF HONOLULU HONOLULU, HI | GENERAL PURPOSE | $3,500 |
| HAWAII FOODBANK HONOLULU, HI | GENERAL PURPOSE | $3,500 |
| HAWAII MEALS ON WHEELS HONOLULU, HI | GENERAL PURPOSE | $3,500 |
| HAWAII PUBLIC RADIO HONOLULU, HI | GENERAL PURPOSE | $1,000 |
| HAWAII SPECIAL OLYMPICS HONOLULU, HI | GENERAL PURPOSE | $3,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Director: Edric M. Ching
- Secretary: Han Hsin Ching
- Vice President: Marie Sakamoto
- Treasurer: Shelli Mei Li Ching
- Assistant Secretary: (Position listed in organizational structure)
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| HAN PING CHING | VICE PRESIDE | — | — |
| EDRIC M CHING | SECRETARY | — | — |
| SHELLI MEI LI CHING | ASST SECRETA | — | — |
| MARIE SAKAMOTO | TREASURER | — | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Hung Wo and Elizabeth Lau fund?
The foundation's primary areas of interest include: • **Education** (approximately 77% of giving) • **Philanthropy to Philanthropy** (approximately 12% of giving) • **Social & Human Services** (approximately 4% of giving) • Christian churches and organizations • Health and hospitals • Museums • Children and youth services • Arts and culture • Social services, including hunger relief The foundation provides general operating support and project support to eligible organizations, and also grants …
How do I apply for a grant from Hung Wo and Elizabeth Lau?
**Grant Types & Support:** • General operating support • Project support • Achievement awards **Recent Grant Examples:** • $85,000 to Iolani School • $60,000 to Punahou School • $25,000 to UH Foundation • $10,000 to McKinley High School • $3,500 to Helping Hands Hawaii **Application Process:** Applicants must contact the foundation directly to inquire about application instructions. There are no set deadlines. **Contact Information:** • Phone: 808-521-4961 • Mailing Address: Hung Wo & Elizabeth…
Where does Hung Wo and Elizabeth Lau make grants?
Grants are principally distributed in Hawaii, with significant emphasis on Honolulu. While the foundation has a national scope in its charter, the vast majority of funding is directed to Hawaiian organizations.
What size grants does Hung Wo and Elizabeth Lau award?
In 2025, Hung Wo and Elizabeth Lau awarded 42 grants totaling $254K — an average of about $6K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Hung Wo and Elizabeth Lau required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Hung Wo and Elizabeth Lau reported a distributable amount of $274K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Hung Wo and Elizabeth Lau's EIN?
Hung Wo and Elizabeth Lau's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 99-6008990. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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