The Clarence TC Ching Foundation
The Clarence T.C. Ching Foundation is a private foundation based in Honolulu, Hawaii. Founded in 1967 by businessman, developer, and philanthropist Clarence T.C. Ching, it makes grants to charities serving people in Hawaii, with support spanning education, healthcare, housing, children and families, arts and culture, and sustainability.
The Clarence TC Ching Foundation at a glance
In short: The Clarence TC Ching Foundation gave $5.4M across 63 grants in 2024 (avg $86K), mostly in Hawaii. 65% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $5,387,700
- -7.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 63
- +70.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $85,519
- -45.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $131,802,399
- +6.8% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 65% first-time grantees (40 of 62, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Hawaii (99% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Clarence TC Ching Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The website directs eligible organizations to submit an online application. The filing says applications should include proof of tax-exempt status, documentation of public support, and a description of the planned use of funds.
- Review Cycle
- The website lists January 31 at 4 p.m. for applications in Education & Work Force Development, Children, Youth, Kupuna & Families, and Arts & Culture, and July 31 at 4 p.m. for Healthcare, Housing, and Sustainability. Its grant committee meets in March and September. The listed January and July 2026 deadlines have passed.
- Deadline
- The website lists January 31 at 4 p.m.
- Contact
Application contact: Ms Tertia Freas
Mailing address: 1001 Bishop Street Suite 770, Honolulu, HI 96813
Phone: (808) 521-0344
Website: https://clarencetcchingfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Clarence TC Ching Foundation
Who The Clarence TC Ching Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Punahou School ($600K). Together the top 10 received $3.6M.
Grant Size Distribution
195 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 101 grants of 195 (52%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation’s website says it funds organizations that serve the people of Hawaii. Its 2024 filing data shows that 99% of grant dollars went to recipients in Hawaii, with the remaining reported shares in New York and Virginia each listed as 0%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 63 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Clarence TC Ching Foundation open to new grantees?
65%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 40 of 62 grantees (65%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $41K; repeat grants $171K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $75K repeat.
- 21% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−7%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 95% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $5.3M (2020) to $5.8M (2023). In 2024 it made 63 grants totaling $5.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Punahou School Honolulu, HI | General Program Support | $600,000 |
| Rehab Hospital of the Pacific Found Honolulu, HI | Capital Improvement | $500,000 |
| Straub Foundation Honolulu, HI | Capital Improvement | $500,000 |
| St Francis Healthcare Honolulu, HI | Capital Improvement | $400,000 |
| The Queen's Medical Center Honolulu, HI | General Program Support | $400,000 |
| American Cancer Society Honolulu, HI | Capital Improvement | $350,000 |
| Adventist Health Kailua, HI | Capital Improvement | $250,000 |
| Uh Foundation Athletic Center Honolulu, HI | Capital Improvement | $250,000 |
| Blood Bank of Hawaii Honolulu, HI | Capital Improvement | $200,000 |
| Parker School Kamuela, HI | Capital Improvement | $200,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Clarence TC Ching Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $131,802,399 | $6,255,920 | $7,079,325 | $5,387,700 | 63 | $5,936,733 | $7,712,532 | $6,216,828 |
| 2023 | $123,361,494 | $3,441,453 | $5,058,648 | $5,793,700 | 37 | $6,346,586 | $3,142,979 | $5,741,408 |
| 2022 | $115,004,926 | $3,151,195 | $4,104,923 | $5,770,034 | 28 | $6,307,657 | $2,884,349 | $5,977,353 |
| 2021 | $137,461,571 | $6,205,752 | $4,365,023 | $5,778,333 | 31 | $6,297,281 | $8,429,694 | $6,237,664 |
| 2020 | $121,709,320 | $103,174 | $9,833,163 | $5,283,835 | 36 | — | $2,700,573 | $5,339,812 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Clarence TC Ching Foundation reported a distributable amount of $6.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s six focus areas are Education & Work Force Development; Healthcare; Housing; Children, Youth, Kupuna & Families; Arts & Culture; and Sustainability. It considers applications from tax-exempt 501(c)(3) public charities operating in Hawaii and does not make grants to individuals. Its 2024 filing says it entertains requests only from charities described in IRC Sections 509(a)(1) and 170(b)(1)(A).
Grantees’ own missions illustrate the range of organizations supported. Straub Foundation says its mission is to create a healthier Hawaii, while Parker School describes its aim as nurturing students and preparing them to contribute to a changing global community. Diamond Head Theatre says it produces live community theatre and advances theatre arts through education in Hawaii. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not the Foundation’s.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the Foundation reported 63 grants totaling $5,387,700. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $600,000, with a median of $25,000. The largest grant was $600,000 to Punahou School for general program support. Other large awards included $500,000 each to Rehab Hospital of the Pacific Foundation and Straub Foundation for capital improvement; $400,000 to St. Francis Healthcare for capital improvement; and $400,000 to The Queen’s Medical Center for general program support. Other reported awards included $350,000 to the American Cancer Society for capital improvement and $250,000 to Adventist Health for capital improvement.
The Foundation’s website says it considers applications for programs and capital projects, though capital-needs grants are limited. It does not make general operating support grants, but does make specific program grants. Its website lists exclusions including endowments, annual fund drives, benefit events, conferences and seminars, publications, films and videos, and projects outside Hawaii. It also says it will not consider applications from organizations that were recently granted funds.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Raymond J. Tam, John K. Tsui, Catherine H.Q. Ching, Kenneth T. Okamoto, Robert T. Fujioka, and Elizabeth S. Hokada as trustees. It lists Tertia Freas as Executive Director.
The Clarence TC Ching Foundation's 2024 filing lists 7 officers; all 7 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Catherine Hq Ching
Trustee
On filings since 2020
8 hrs/week
$36K (2020) → $36K (2024)
John K. Tsui
Trustee
On filings since 2020
8 hrs/week
$106K (2020) → $86K (2024)
Kenneth T. Okamoto
Trustee
On filings since 2020
8 hrs/week
$96K (2020) → $77K (2024)
Raymond J. Tam
Trustee
On filings since 2020
8 hrs/week
$96K (2020) → $77K (2024)
Robert T. Fujioka
Trustee
On filings since 2020
8 hrs/week
$96K (2020) → $77K (2024)
Elizabeth S. Hokada
Trustee
On filings since 2021
8 hrs/week
$77K (2021) → $77K (2024)
Tertia Freas
Executive Di
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$130K (2020) → $155K (2024)
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $155K, to Tertia Freas (Executive Di). 7 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Clarence TC Ching Foundation
How much does The Clarence TC Ching Foundation give each year?
The Clarence TC Ching Foundation gave $5.4M across 63 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $5.8M across 37 grants.
What is The Clarence TC Ching Foundation's typical grant size?
The Clarence TC Ching Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $85,519, across 63 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Clarence TC Ching Foundation that year got $41K on average.
Where does The Clarence TC Ching Foundation give grants?
The Clarence TC Ching Foundation gives mostly in Hawaii: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Honolulu, HI (40 grants), Kamuela, HI (3 grants), Waianae, HI (2 grants) and Hilo, HI (2 grants).
Does The Clarence TC Ching Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 75% of The Clarence TC Ching Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (47 of 63) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Capital Improvement" (16 grants).
Who are The Clarence TC Ching Foundation's largest grantees?
The Clarence TC Ching Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Punahou School ($600,000), Rehab Hospital of the Pacific Found ($500,000) and Straub Foundation ($500,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 30% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Clarence TC Ching Foundation?
The Clarence TC Ching Foundation reported $131.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $5.9M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $6.2M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does The Clarence TC Ching Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s six focus areas are Education & Work Force Development; Healthcare; Housing; Children, Youth, Kupuna & Families; Arts & Culture; and Sustainability. It considers applications from tax-exempt 501(c)(3) public charities operating in Hawaii and does not make grants to individuals. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Clarence TC Ching Foundation?
The website directs eligible organizations to submit an online application. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Clarence TC Ching Foundation's EIN?
The Clarence TC Ching Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 99-6014634. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Clarence TC Ching Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Clarence TC Ching Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-clarence-tc-ching-foundation-morg_2d08453ae4fc448d9be06cc02bd10675
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_996014634_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Clarence TC Ching Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-clarence-tc-ching-foundation-morg_2d08453ae4fc448d9be06cc02bd10675},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 The Clarence TC Ching Foundation'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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