Maurice and Joanna Sullivan Family
The Maurice and Joanna Sullivan Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Honolulu, Hawaii. Established in 2004, the foundation operates as a trust with a focus on philanthropic giving to carefully selected charitable organizations throughout Hawaii and California.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$36.3M
-0.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.0M
+1.5% YoY
Grant Count
27
+3.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$110K
-2.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Maurice and Joanna Sullivan Family reported a distributable amount of $3.3M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding areas include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Environmental Education
- Youth Development and Scholarships
The foundation concentrates its grantmaking in Hawaii, with a particular emphasis on supporting local institutions and community organizations.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 19 grants in 2024, including:
Average Grant
amount: $125,000
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated in Hawaii, with some giving to organizations in California. Primary focus is on Hawaii-based nonprofits and institutions.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Current Assets & Giving (2024):
- Total assets: $36,323,435
- Total revenues: $3,368,256
- Total expenses: $3,558,985
- Total giving: $2,975,000
- Investment income and dividends: $1,897,357
- Net rental income: $96,309
Historical Growth:
- Total assets have grown from $7.7 million in 2011 to $36.3 million in 2024
- Annual giving has grown from $2.4 million in 2020 to $2.9 million in 2023
Grant Distribution: According to available records, the foundation has made 64 grants totaling $8 million and has supported 39 unique organizations.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $36,323,435 | $36,514,164 | $26,735,351 |
| Revenue | $3,368,256 | $12,940,929 | $2,079,728 |
| Expenses | $3,558,985 | $3,162,116 | $2,906,368 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,989,641 | $3,054,151 | $2,865,976 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,083,379 | $12,868,106 | $2,055,078 |
| Distributable Amount | $3,262,909 | $3,138,875 | $3,079,197 |
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
110 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Blood Bank of Hawaii ($250,000), Ma'o Organic Farms ($250,000), Iolani School ($250,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii Literacy Honolulu, HI | Unrestricted Gift | $25,000 |
| Palama Settlement Honolulu, HI | Unrestricted Gift | $50,000 |
| Hawaii Youth Symphony Association Honolulu, HI | Unrestricted Gift | $50,000 |
| Hawaii Symphony Orchestra Honolulu, HI | Unrestricted Gift | $50,000 |
| University of Hawaii Foundation Honolulu, HI | Unrestricted Gift | $50,000 |
| Children's Discovery Center Honolulu, HI | Unrestricted Gift | $50,000 |
| The Salvation Army Honolulu, HI | Unrestricted Gift | $50,000 |
| Boys and Girls Club of Hawaii Honolulu, HI | Unrestricted Gift | $50,000 |
| Ma Ka Hana Ka Ike Hana, HI | Unrestricted Gift | $50,000 |
| Hawaii Nature Center Honolulu, HI | Unrestricted Gift | $75,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is governed by five officers and trustees. Principal officer: Loden & Conahan LLLC.
The foundation was established by Maurice J. "Sully" Sullivan, founder of Foodland Market City, and his wife Joanna Lau Sullivan. Joanna Sullivan continued the foundation's work following Maurice Sullivan's death and was named Philanthropist of the Year by the Association of Fundraising Professionals-Honolulu Chapter in 2008 and 2013. Joanna Sullivan passed away in September 2015 at age 94.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patrick Sullivan | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Elliot Loden | Trustee | 12 | — |
| Jenai Wall | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Kathleen Wo | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Colleen Sullivan | Trustee | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In October 2011, Joanna Sullivan pledged $3 million to the University of Hawaii Cancer Center to help build, furnish, and maintain its new research building. In recognition of her generosity, the center named its new conference center the Sullivan Conference Center. Earlier that year, Sullivan made a major gift to the Cancer Center that was combined with a gift from her late husband Maurice J. Sullivan to create the J and M Sullivan Cancer Fund.
System: Joanna Sullivan pledges $3 million to UH Cancer Center | UniversityThroughout her lifetime, Joanna Sullivan supported numerous local institutions including Chaminade University, St. Francis Healthcare System's Cardiac Care Center, Ronald McDonald House, Honolulu Museum of Art, and educational institutions such as Iolani School and Punahou School, where buildings and facilities bear the Sullivan name.
System: Joanna Sullivan pledges $3 million to UH Cancer Center | UniversitySubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Maurice and Joanna Sullivan Family fund?
The foundation's primary funding areas include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Environmental Education • Youth Development and Scholarships The foundation concentrates its grantmaking in Hawaii, with a particular emphasis on supporting local institutions and community organizations.
How do I apply for a grant from Maurice and Joanna Sullivan Family?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical grant awards range from $25,000 to $350,000 • Average grant amount: $125,000 • Median grant amount: $100,000 • Grant type: Primarily unrestricted gifts **Recent Grant Activity:** The foundation made 19 grants in 2024, including: • Blood Bank of Hawaii: $250,000 • Iolani School: $250,000 • Ma'o Organic Farms: $250,000 • Friends of the Library of Hawaii: $75,000 • Hawaii Nature Center: $75,000 • Hawaii Rotary Youth Foundation: $100,000 **Application Process:**…
Where does Maurice and Joanna Sullivan Family make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated in Hawaii, with some giving to organizations in California. Primary focus is on Hawaii-based nonprofits and institutions.
What size grants does Maurice and Joanna Sullivan Family award?
In 2024, Maurice and Joanna Sullivan Family awarded 27 grants totaling $3.0M — an average of about $110K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Maurice and Joanna Sullivan Family required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Maurice and Joanna Sullivan Family reported a distributable amount of $3.3M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Maurice and Joanna Sullivan Family's EIN?
Maurice and Joanna Sullivan Family's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 48-1259090. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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