J Watumull Fund
The J Watumull Fund is a private foundation based in Honolulu, Hawaii, established in 1976. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entity and functions as a grantmaking foundation that distributes funds to nonprofit organizations and educational institutions.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$12.1M
+8.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$684K
-2.1% YoY
Grant Count
275
+12.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$2K
-13.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, J Watumull Fund reported a distributable amount of $705K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding areas include:
- Education (including higher education and K-12 education)
- Social services
- Health
- Arts and culture
- Community development
- Hunger relief
Most grants awarded by the foundation are designated for educational purposes. The foundation makes contributions exclusively to other exempt organizations classified as public charities or schools.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 220 grants in 2024, with a total giving amount of $683,500. Recent grants include:
Ready to take the next step with J Watumull Fund?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The J Watumull Fund primarily supports nonprofit organizations in Hawaii, with emphasis on Honolulu. The fund occasionally supports organizations in other states, including Missouri and Pennsylvania.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total assets: $12,089,863
- Total giving: $683,500
- Total revenues: $1,697,663
- Total expenses: $771,446
- Investment income and dividends: $343,410
- Total liabilities: $0
As of December 2023:
- Total assets: $11.2 million
- Total revenues: $1.21 million
- Total expenses: $771,000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $12,089,863 | $11,163,329 | $10,719,502 |
| Revenue | $1,697,663 | $1,214,961 | $502,941 |
| Expenses | $771,446 | $771,134 | $774,876 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $683,500 | $698,000 | $691,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,623,365 | $1,018,621 | $249,186 |
| Distributable Amount | $705,350 | $625,910 | $644,936 |
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Honolulu Museum of Art ($25,000), Aloha United Way ($10,000), Hawaii Foodbank ($5,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AFTER SCHOOL ALL STARS HONOLULU, HI | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $2,000 |
| ALOHA COUNCIL HONOLULU, HI | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $2,000 |
| ALOHA MEDICAL MISSION HONOLULU, HI | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $1,000 |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS HONOLULU, HI | HAWAII CHAPTER | $2,000 |
| ASSETS SCHOOL HONOLULU, HI | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $1,000 |
| ALOHA UNITED WAY HONOLULU, HI | ALICE PROGRAM | $10,000 |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS HONOLULU, HI | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $2,000 |
| BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA ALOHA COUNCIL HONOLULU, HI | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $1,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF HAWAII HONOLULU, HI | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $2,000 |
| CENTER FOR TOMORROW'S LEADERS HONOLULU, HI | GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSE | $1,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAIDEV WATUMULL | SECT/TREAS | — | — |
| VIKRAM WATUMULL | VICE PRESIDE | — | — |
| JYOTI WATUMULL | PRESIDENT | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The J Watumull Scholarship continues to be actively awarded through the University of Hawaii at Manoa's Center for South Asian Studies, with scholarship opportunities announced annually. The foundation has also supported educational infrastructure projects, including the Gulab and Indru Watumull Learning Commons at Hawaii Pacific University and emergency student endowment initiatives at Chaminade University of Honolulu.
2025 J Watumull Scholarship Now Open! | Center for South Asian StudiesFrequently Asked Questions
What does J Watumull Fund fund?
The foundation's primary funding areas include: • Education (including higher education and K-12 education) • Social services • Health • Arts and culture • Community development • Hunger relief Most grants awarded by the foundation are designated for educational purposes. The foundation makes contributions exclusively to other exempt organizations classified as public charities or schools.
How do I apply for a grant from J Watumull Fund?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical award range: $500–$50,000 • Types of support include general support, project support, and scholarships **Recent Grant Activity:** The foundation made 220 grants in 2024, with a total giving amount of $683,500. Recent grants include: • Honolulu Museum of Art: $25,000 (Fashioning Aloha Program) • Watumull Family Childrens Fund: $20,000 (Mumbai Programs) • Straub Foundation: $10,000 (General Charitable Purpose) The foundation also administers the J Watumull Sc…
Where does J Watumull Fund make grants?
The J Watumull Fund primarily supports nonprofit organizations in Hawaii, with emphasis on Honolulu. The fund occasionally supports organizations in other states, including Missouri and Pennsylvania.
What size grants does J Watumull Fund award?
In 2024, J Watumull Fund awarded 275 grants totaling $684K — an average of about $2K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is J Watumull Fund required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, J Watumull Fund reported a distributable amount of $705K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is J Watumull Fund's EIN?
J Watumull Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 51-0205431. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in J Watumull Fund's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Hamakua Institute
NINOLE, HI
Assets
—
Grants
0
Total Given
—
Frost Family Foundation
HONOLULU, HI
Assets
$8.1M
Grants
10
Total Given
$345K
Harry Chow and Nee Chang Chock Wong
HONOLULU, HI
Assets
$13.6M
Grants
25
Total Given
$715K
Kanaka Aupuni a Niihau Aloha
KEKAHA, HI
Assets
$1.9M
Grants
1
Total Given
$150K
Wailea Community Association
WAILEA, HI
Assets
$4.1M
Grants
3
Total Given
$138K
Altres Foundation
HONOLULU, HI
Assets
—
Grants
78
Total Given
$514K
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with J Watumull Fund on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching J Watumull Fund to a real strategy.