Kauai United Way
Kauai United Way is a public charity based in Lihue, Hawaii, that supports social-service needs on Kauai by directing funds to local organizations. The organization says it has served the island since 1943 and that money raised on Kauai stays on Kauai.
Kauai United Way at a glance
In short: Kauai United Way gave $265K across 17 grants in 2025 (avg $16K), mostly in Hawaii. 0% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $265,459
- -14.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 17
- -19.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $15,615
- +6.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $14,650
- Total assets
- $1,584,473
- +2.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 0% first-time grantees (0 of 17, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Hawaii (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Kauai United Way
- Contact
Mailing address: 4374 Kukui Grove Street No 201, Lihue, HI 96766
Phone: (808) 245-2043
Website: https://kauaiunitedway.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Kauai United Way
Who Kauai United Way funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Hawaii Food Bank ($30K). Together the top 10 received $194K.
Grant Size Distribution
99 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 99 grants of 99 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Kauai United Way says its supported programs are on Kauai. Its 2025 filing reports that 100% of grant dollars went to recipients in Hawaii.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Kauai United Way open to new grantees?
0%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 0 of 17 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. With only 17 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. How we count
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 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 $184K (2022) to $309K (2024). In 2025 it made 17 grants totaling $265K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii Food Bank Lihue, HI | General Support | $30,000 |
| Catholic Charities Lihue, HI | General Support | $24,120 |
| Kauai Economic Opportunity Inc Lihue, HI | General Support | $21,000 |
| Mental Health Kokua Honolulu, HI | General Support | $20,000 |
| YMCA Lihue, HI | General Support | $18,924 |
| Kauai Economic Opportunity Homeless Lihue, HI | General Support | $18,463 |
| Easter Seals Hawaii Lihue, HI | General Support | $17,630 |
| Kumu's Cupboard Lihue, HI | General Support | $16,000 |
| Child and Family Services Lihue, HI | General Support | $14,650 |
| Salvation Army-Lihue Lihue, HI | General Support | $13,260 |
Ready to take the next step with Kauai United Way?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,584,473 | $568,497 | $571,391 | $265,459 | 17 | $31,917 |
| 2024 | $1,539,859 | $569,190 | $650,058 | $308,927 | 21 | $11,997 |
| 2023 | $1,569,465 | $654,428 | $536,224 | $259,698 | 19 | $8,740 |
| 2022 | $1,451,849 | $591,575 | $441,932 | $183,897 | 17 | $16,838 |
| 2021 | $1,499,242 | $659,737 | $562,532 | $263,142 | 25 | $56,220 |
| 2020 | $1,363,591 | $753,362 | $622,322 | $256,511 | 23 | $12,061 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Kauai United Way’s mission is “providing leadership to unite the people of Kauai by sharing resources to better care for one another.” Its stated program activities include contributions to other exempt organizations, community education outreach, and client referrals to other exempt organizations. Its participating-agency funding focuses on human services for the people of Kauai.
Among the organizations it supported in 2025, Kauai Economic Opportunity Incorporated describes its purpose as serving as Kauai County’s community action agency, with food, nutrition, human, and other services. Mental Health Kokua says it assists people with mental-health and related challenges to achieve recovery and functioning in the community. Easterseals Hawaii says it works to create a more equitable world in which people with developmental disabilities can choose their path.
Grantmaking
In 2025, Kauai United Way gave 17 grants totaling $265,459. Grants ranged from $8,100 to $30,000, with a median of $14,650. The 2025 filing identifies the grants as general support. Largest awards included Hawaii Food Bank ($30,000), Catholic Charities ($24,120), Kauai Economic Opportunity Inc. ($21,000), Mental Health Kokua ($20,000), YMCA ($18,924), and Kauai Economic Opportunity Homeless ($18,463).
For participating-agency funding, the organization says social-service groups are invited to apply annually; existing agencies submit extensive applications each year and attend personal interviews. Its website lists the participating-agency funding as currently open. Applicants must, among other requirements, have provided services important to Kauai for at least two years, held 501(c)(3) status for at least two years, maintain an uncompensated active board and proper records, make annual program and financial reports public, support the annual campaign, and cooperate with other participating agencies. Accepted agencies must provide periodic financial reports and allow representatives to examine financial records as needed. The organization also says agencies attend a hearing to review grant use and submit financial statements. Participating agencies must refrain from fundraising during the shared annual campaign period of September through October.
The Pu'uhonua O Kauai Social Safety Net Fund is described as supporting rapid response after island-wide emergencies and helping social-service organizations remain operational during crises.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Michael Contrades as president, Clifton Arruda as treasurer, and Maureen Tabura as secretary. It also lists Nicholas Courson, Beth Amaro, S Lani Aranio, Stacie Chiba-Miguel, Lili Bryan-Conant, Matthew Duncan, and Shelly Gerardo as directors.
Kauai United Way is led by Michael Contrades, President since 2024 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 23 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Michael Contrades
President
Director → Vice President, 2022
Vice President → President, 2024
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jimmy Sone
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lili Bryan-Conant
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nicholas Courson
Director
Vice President → President, 2022
President → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ron Wiley
Director
Vice President → Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shelly Gerardo
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stacie Chiba-Miguel
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
S. Lani Aranio
Director
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jamie Kimura
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Beth Amaro
Director
Ex-Officio → Director, 2024
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Matthew Duncan
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Pamela Yasay
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Terri Kaniho
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tim Takeshita
Director
Campaign Cha → Director, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Fran Basuel
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jodi Higuchi-Sayegusa
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lesah Merritt
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Murphy
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lori Almarza
Executive Di
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$65K (2021) → $75K (2025)
Clifton Arruda
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Maureen Tabura
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christopher Nii
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tiffani Hull
Campaign Cha
Director → Campaign Cha, 2024
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (15)
- Former: Carol Furtado (2020–2024) — Secretary
- Former: Taylor Shigemoto (2022–2024) — Director
- Former: Kai-Yun Kao (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Sarah Blane (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Beth Tokioka (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Coty Buffy Trujillo (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Dan King (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Jorae Baptiste (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Timothy Takeshita (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Tyler Navarro (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Chris Nii (2022) — Director
- Former: Chris Machorek (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Gerald Ako (2020) — Director
- Former: S. Lani Arao (2020) — Director
- Former: Scott Giarman (2020) — Executive Di
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 $75K, to Lori Almarza (Executive Di).
Frequently asked questions about Kauai United Way
How much does Kauai United Way give each year?
Kauai United Way gave $265K across 17 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $309K across 21 grants.
What is Kauai United Way's typical grant size?
Kauai United Way's median grant in 2025 was $14,650, and its average grant was $15,615, across 17 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Kauai United Way give grants?
Kauai United Way gives mostly in Hawaii: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Lihue, HI (14 grants) and Kapaa, HI (2 grants).
Does Kauai United Way give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Kauai United Way's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (17 of 17) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Who are Kauai United Way's largest grantees?
Kauai United Way's largest 2025 grantees include Hawaii Food Bank ($30,000), Catholic Charities ($24,120) and Kauai Economic Opportunity Inc ($21,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 28% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Kauai United Way?
Kauai United Way reported $1.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $568K.
What does Kauai United Way fund?
Kauai United Way’s mission is “providing leadership to unite the people of Kauai by sharing resources to better care for one another.” Its stated program activities include contributions to other exempt organizations, community education outreach, and client referrals to other exempt organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Kauai United Way?
Kauai United Way has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check kauaiunitedway.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Kauai United Way's EIN?
Kauai United Way's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 99-0146288. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 7, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 7, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS December 28, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS December 29, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS January 4, 2023)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 8, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Kauai United Way's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Kauai United Way funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 8, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/kauai-united-way-morg_b6c783f2e8c24b719b2c28a3f74b6246
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_990146288_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Kauai United Way funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/kauai-united-way-morg_b6c783f2e8c24b719b2c28a3f74b6246},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-08. 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 Kauai United Way'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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