The Honda Foundation
The Honda Foundation is a private foundation established in 1989 and based in Honolulu, Hawaii. As a 501(c)(3) organization, it operates as a non-operating private foundation with tax-exempt status since March 1990. The foundation's primary purpose is to use income generated from investments to fund charitable contributions and cover foundation expenses.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$4.6M
+4.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$222K
-6.3% YoY
Grant Count
23
+9.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$10K
-14.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Honda Foundation reported a distributable amount of $229K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation gives primarily for education and supports general, cultural, and educational causes. Its grantmaking focuses on education, philanthropy, voluntarism, and human services.
Grantmaking
Applicants should submit a letter and brief description of charitable purpose.
Grant Range
range: $100 to $160,410
Average Grant
$13,000–$14,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports organizations across multiple states, with primary funding regions including:
- Hawaii (primary focus)
- California
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- New Jersey
- Virginia
- Washington, D.C.
The foundation supports various U.S. cities including Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, and Washington, D.C.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $4.57 million
- Total Revenue: $442,921–$507,581
- Total Expenses: $267,773–$267,996
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Net Income: $175,148
The foundation operates with zero employees and maintains no outstanding liabilities.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,572,284 | $4,397,136 | $4,157,551 |
| Revenue | $442,921 | $507,581 | $258,709 |
| Expenses | $267,773 | $267,996 | $297,720 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $222,212 | $237,162 | $260,862 |
| Net Investment Income | $431,002 | $496,849 | $246,344 |
| Distributable Amount | $228,580 | $206,622 | $232,522 |
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
107 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Honda Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include University of Hawaii Foundation ($76,410), Hawaii Pacific University ($20,000), Kitten Rescue Via Network for Good ($15,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACADEMY MUSEUM FOUNDATION LOS ANGELES, CA | GENERAL | $500 |
| AQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC LONG BEACH, CA | GENERAL | $1,000 |
| ASSOCIATION FOR ASIAN STUDIES ANN ARBOR, MI | GENERAL | $5,000 |
| CENTER THEATRE GROUP LOS ANGELES, CA | GENERAL | $5,000 |
| DONKEY MILL ART CENTER HOLUALA, HI | GENERAL | $2,500 |
| EAST HAWAII CULTURAL CENTER HILO, HI | GENERAL | $3,500 |
| ENTERTAINMENT COMMUNITY FUND NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL | $5,000 |
| FIX NATION LOS ANGELES, CA | GENERAL | $10,000 |
| HAMMER MUSEUM LOS ANGELES, CA | GENERAL | $1,250 |
| HAWAII PACIFIC UNIVERSITY HONOLULU, HI | EDUCATIONAL | $20,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- James A. Honda – President and Secretary
- Erika Honda – Vice President and Treasurer
- Alex Shimizu – Assistant Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer
None of the key personnel receive compensation for their roles.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ERIKA HONDA | VICE PRES & TREASURER | — | — |
| JAMES A HONDA | PRESIDENT & SECRETARY | 2 | — |
| ALEX SHIMIZU | ASST VP, SECRETARY & TREASURER | — | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Honda Foundation fund?
The foundation gives primarily for education and supports general, cultural, and educational causes. Its grantmaking focuses on education, philanthropy, voluntarism, and human services.
How do I apply for a grant from The Honda Foundation?
**Grant Activity & Amounts:** • Made 23 grants in 2024 • Total giving in 2024: $217,916–$237,000 • Grant size range: $100 to $160,410 • Median grant: $6,000 • Average grant: $13,000–$14,000 **Recent Grantees (2024):** • University of Hawaii Foundation: $76,410 (Educational) • Hawaii Pacific University: $20,000 (Educational) • 1979 Legacy Corporation: $15,000 (General) **Application Process:** Applicants should submit a letter and brief description of charitable purpose.
Where does The Honda Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports organizations across multiple states, with primary funding regions including: • Hawaii (primary focus) • California • New York • Pennsylvania • New Jersey • Virginia • Washington, D.C. The foundation supports various U.S. cities including Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, and Washington, D.C.
What size grants does The Honda Foundation award?
In 2024, The Honda Foundation awarded 23 grants totaling $222K — an average of about $10K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Honda Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Honda Foundation reported a distributable amount of $229K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Honda Foundation's EIN?
The Honda Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 99-0272268. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Honda Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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