The James and Juanita Wo Foundation
The James and Juanita Wo Foundation is a private foundation based in Mililani, Hawaii. Its 2025 filing reports grants to organizations in Hawaii, including nonprofits working in community services, education, food assistance, and health care.
The James and Juanita Wo Foundation at a glance
In short: The James and Juanita Wo Foundation gave $270K across 14 grants in 2025 (avg $19K), mostly in Hawaii. 42% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $269,500
- +27.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 14
- -22.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $19,250
- +63.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $3,090,145
- -2.8% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 42% first-time grantees (5 of 12, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Hawaii (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The James and Juanita Wo Foundation
- Contact
Application contact: Craig S Wo
Mailing address: PO Box 893134, Mililani, HI 96789
Phone: (808) 306-7793
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The James and Juanita Wo Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Uh Foundation ($80K across 3 grants). Together the top 10 received $262K.
Grant Size Distribution
64 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 61 grants of 64 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars reported for 2025 went to recipients in Hawaii.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The James and Juanita Wo Foundation open to new grantees?
42%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 12 grantees (42%) were first-time recipients. With only 12 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $13K; repeat grants $29K. How we count
Medians: $7K first-time, $20K repeat.
- 50% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 36% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 103% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF 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 $60K (2020) to $270K (2025). In 2025 it made 14 grants totaling $270K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Volunteer Ally Honolulu, HI | General | $50,000 |
| Uh Foundation Honolulu, HI | Wo Champions | $40,000 |
| Uh Foundation Honolulu, HI | Wo Champions | $25,000 |
| St Clement's School Honolulu, HI | General | $25,000 |
| Hawaii Foodbank Honolulu, HI | General | $25,000 |
| Kunia Country Farms Educational Outreach Honolulu, HI | General | $25,000 |
| Hawaii Pacific Health Honolulu, HI | SSRP Program | $20,000 |
| Aloha United Way Honolulu, HI | General | $20,000 |
| Uh Foundation Honolulu, HI | General | $15,000 |
| The Pantry by Feeding Hawaii Together Honolulu, HI | General | $6,500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $3,090,145 | $219,771 | $308,222 | $269,500 | 14 | $269,500 | $213,234 | $262,213 |
| 2024 | $3,178,596 | $106,374 | $274,943 | $211,750 | 18 | $211,750 | $72,848 | $267,919 |
| 2023 | $3,347,165 | $2,305,319 | $242,885 | $207,200 | 14 | $207,200 | $69,663 | $273,885 |
| 2022 | $1,284,731 | $119,266 | $224,863 | $198,750 | 12 | $198,750 | $32,780 | $145,305 |
| 2021 | $1,390,328 | $37,804 | $86,401 | $62,000 | 6 | — | $31,186 | $121,880 |
| 2020 | $1,438,925 | $63,856 | $81,962 | $60,000 | 5 | — | $59,933 | $95,366 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The James and Juanita Wo Foundation reported a distributable amount of $262K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The available filing does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2025 grants included support for Volunteer Ally, whose stated purpose is to help people find volunteer opportunities and build meaningful relationships in their communities. Aloha United Way says it advances community health, education, and financial stability by bringing together resources, organizations, and people. Hawai‘i Pacific Health describes itself as a nonprofit health care system whose mission is to create a healthier Hawai‘i.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 14 grants totaling $269,500. Grants ranged from $3,000 to $50,000, with a median of $20,000. The largest listed grants were $50,000 to Volunteer Ally; $40,000 and $25,000 to the UH Foundation; and $25,000 each to St. Clement’s School, Hawaii Foodbank, and Kunia Country Farms Educational Outreach. Other listed awards included $20,000 to Hawai‘i Pacific Health and $20,000 to Aloha United Way.
The foundation’s 2023 filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. How to apply: The filing instructs applicants to contact Craig S. Wo and submit a letter narrating the proposal for the specific use of the requested grant. Grants are awarded only to public charities. Deadline: None stated.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Richard C. Wo as president/secretary, Edmund Nakano as vice president/treasurer, Julia C. Wo as director, and Craig Scott Wo as chairman.
The James and Juanita Wo Foundation is led by Richard C. Wo, President & Secretary on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Richard C. Wo
President & Secretary
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Craig Scott Wo
Chairman
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Julia C. Wo
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Edmund Nakano
Vice President & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: James C. Wo (2020–2021) — Director
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.
Frequently asked questions about The James and Juanita Wo Foundation
How much does The James and Juanita Wo Foundation give each year?
The James and Juanita Wo Foundation gave $270K across 14 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $212K across 18 grants.
What is The James and Juanita Wo Foundation's typical grant size?
The James and Juanita Wo Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $20,000, and its average grant was $19,250, across 14 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The James and Juanita Wo Foundation that year got $13K on average.
Where does The James and Juanita Wo Foundation give grants?
The James and Juanita Wo Foundation gives mostly in Hawaii: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Honolulu, HI (14 grants).
Does The James and Juanita Wo Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 79% of The James and Juanita Wo Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (11 of 14) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The James and Juanita Wo Foundation's largest grantees?
The James and Juanita Wo Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Uh Foundation ($80,000 across 3 grants), Volunteer Ally ($50,000) and St Clement's School ($25,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 58% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The James and Juanita Wo Foundation?
The James and Juanita Wo Foundation reported $3.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $270K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $262K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The James and Juanita Wo Foundation fund?
The available filing does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2025 grants included support for Volunteer Ally, whose stated purpose is to help people find volunteer opportunities and build meaningful relationships in their communities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The James and Juanita Wo Foundation?
The James and Juanita Wo Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is The James and Juanita Wo Foundation's EIN?
The James and Juanita Wo Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 99-6009140. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 20, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 7, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 6, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 15, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The James and Juanita Wo Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 5, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-james-and-juanita-wo-foundation-morg_70efdbac1dea466e906a0fc9c2ecb922
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_996009140_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The James and Juanita Wo Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-james-and-juanita-wo-foundation-morg_70efdbac1dea466e906a0fc9c2ecb922},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-05. 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 James and Juanita Wo 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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