Ro Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Honolulu, HI EIN: 84-2881695

Ro Foundation is a private foundation, based in Honolulu, HI. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $409K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 4 grants totaling $19K. Net investment income was $127K.

Key facts about Ro Foundation

In short: Ro Foundation gave $19K across 4 grants in 2024 (avg $5K), mostly in Hawaii. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
84-2881695
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$18,885
Grants made (2024)
4
Average grant
$4,721
Median grant
$5,000
Total assets
$409,461
Primary geography
Hawaii (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$409K

+39.7% YoY

Annual Giving

$19K

-43.6% YoY

Grant Count

4

+0.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$5K

-43.6% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ro Foundation reported a distributable amount of $15K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

How Ro Foundation gives

  • Giving grew 278% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 130% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

1state

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.

States

Cities

HonoluluWaipahuPearl City

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$10K$20K$30K$40K1 grant2020 1 grant2021 2 grants2022 4 grants2023 4 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $5K (2020) to $34K (2023). In 2024 it made 4 grants totaling $19K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 4 recipients in 2024

Leeward Community College: $7KLeeward Community College$7KWahea Foundation: $5KWahea Foundation$5KKe Alii Pauahi Foundation: $5KKe Alii Pauahi Foundation$5KOlelo Community Media: $2KOlelo Community Media$2K

The largest 2024 recipient was Leeward Community College ($7K). Together the top 4 received $19K.

Grant Size Distribution

12 grants across all recorded years

12<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 12 grants of 12 (100%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Leeward Community College Pearl City, HIPublic Institution$6,885
Wahea Foundation Honolulu, HIPreserve Aspects of Hawaiian Culture$5,000
Ke Alii Pauahi Foundation Honolulu, HISeek Community Partnerships$5,000
Olelo Community Media Honolulu, HIProvide Accesss to Education and Inform$2,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$50K$100K$150K$200K2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$409,461$293,071$318,062
Revenue$172,820$26,574$125,346
Expenses$56,430$51,565$20,449
Qualifying Distributions$18,885$33,508$10,000
Net Investment Income$127,349$21,574$94
Distributable Amount$14,579$14,572$11,666

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Ro Foundation's 2024 filing lists 4 officers; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Bryan Luke

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Michael China

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jan Ro

    Vpsecdirector

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kelvin Ro

    Prestreasdirector

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

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 Ro Foundation

How much does Ro Foundation give each year?

Ro Foundation gave $19K across 4 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $34K across 4 grants.

What is Ro Foundation's typical grant size?

Ro Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $4,721, across 4 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does Ro Foundation give grants?

Ro 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 (3 grants).

Does Ro Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 4 grants with a stated purpose on Ro Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.

How large is Ro Foundation?

Ro Foundation reported $409K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $19K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $15K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What is Ro Foundation's EIN?

Ro Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 84-2881695. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

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