The Laurence H Dorcy Hawaiian Foundation
The Laurence H Dorcy Hawaiian Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 2013 from the estate of Laurence H. Dorcy. Based in St. Paul, Minnesota, the foundation focuses exclusively on funding charitable organizations and initiatives throughout the state of Hawaii. The foundation was created to support nonprofit organizations whose charitable purposes align with priorities established by its Board of Directors.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$1.2M
Grant Count
37
Avg Grant Size
$32K
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports nonprofit organizations in Hawaii with particular interest in the following areas:
- U.S. military and railroad history
- Animal protection
- Cancer treatment
- Employment education and training
- Equitable access to health and hospice care
- Affordable housing and support services for income-constrained workers and their families
- Hawaiian Island culture and community
- Native Hawaiian environmental initiatives
As of 2026, the foundation has prioritized general operating support to organizations focused on helping vulnerable populations around critical needs in health care, food, and holistic supports.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 20 grants in the most recent reporting period, with total annual grants of approximately $970,000. Recent grants include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds projects exclusively throughout the state of Hawaii, including cities such as Honolulu, Hilo, and Kahului.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $17,023,149 (as of 2025)
Annual Revenue: $1,490,971 (2025)
Annual Expenses: $1,451,344 (2025)
Total Liabilities: $0
The foundation has maintained stable financial growth, with assets increasing 2.6% from the previous year.
| Metric | 2025 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
134 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Hawaii Food Bank ($325,000), Kupu ($100,000), Kealakai Center for Pacific Strings ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| MANA'OLANA PINK PADDLERS KIHEI, HI | GENERAL OPERATING | $20,000 |
| CONSERVATION COUNCIL FOR HAWAI'I HONOLULU, HI | GENERAL OPERATING | $5,000 |
| HAWAII INSITUTE FOR MUSIC ENRICHMENT KAILUA, HI | GENERAL OPERATING | $25,000 |
| KIMOKEO FOUNDATION WAILUKU, HI | GENERAL OPERATING | $15,000 |
| PACIFIC CANCER FOUNDATION WAILUKU, HI | GENERAL OPERATING | $25,000 |
| WOMEN HELPING WOMEN WAILUKU, HI | GENERAL OPERATING | $25,000 |
| HAWAII FOOD BANK HONOLULU, HI | NEW FOOD BANK | $325,000 |
| KEALAKAI CENTER FOR PACIFIC STRINGS KAILUA, HI | GENERAL OPERATING | $50,000 |
| FRIENDS OF THE D T FLEMING ARBORETUM MAKAWAO, HI | GENERAL OPERATING | $15,000 |
| GOOD SHEPARD EPISCOPAL CHURCH WAILUKU, HI | KA 'OHANA KITCHEN GEN OPS | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board of Directors:
- William Ferguson – Board Chairman & President
- Kelvin Taketa – Director
- Isaac Hall – Director
- David Barrett – Director
Administrator:
- Tammy Davis Cownie, JD, MACL – Foundation Administrator
All board members serve without compensation. Applicants are encouraged to contact the administrator as a first step in the grant application process.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JEFFREY T PETERSON | TREASURER | 2 | — |
| DAVID G BARRETT | SECRETARY/DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ISAAC D HALL ESQ | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| WILLIAM F FERGUSON JR | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| KELVIN TAKETA | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Mailing Address: Dorcy Hawaiian Foundation 81 East Seventh Street, Suite 125 St. Paul, MN 55101
Administrator Contact: Tammy Davis Cownie, JD, MACL Tel: 651-440-5068 Email: tammy@dorcyfdn.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Laurence H Dorcy Hawaiian Foundation fund?
The foundation supports nonprofit organizations in Hawaii with particular interest in the following areas: • U.S. military and railroad history • Animal protection • Cancer treatment • Employment education and training • Equitable access to health and hospice care • Affordable housing and support services for income-constrained workers and their families • Hawaiian Island culture and community • Native Hawaiian environmental initiatives As of 2026, the foundation has prioritized general operati…
How do I apply for a grant from The Laurence H Dorcy Hawaiian Foundation?
The foundation made 20 grants in the most recent reporting period, with total annual grants of approximately $970,000. Recent grants include: • The Food Basket: $325,000 (New Food Bank) • Kupu: $100,000 (Hookupu Center) • Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement: $50,000 (General Operating) Grant applications must be received no later than February 16th of each year. As of 2026, the foundation conducts two rounds of grantmaking in the spring and fall. The foundation evaluates applicants' abiliti…
Where does The Laurence H Dorcy Hawaiian Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds projects exclusively throughout the state of Hawaii, including cities such as Honolulu, Hilo, and Kahului.
What size grants does The Laurence H Dorcy Hawaiian Foundation award?
In 2025, The Laurence H Dorcy Hawaiian Foundation awarded 37 grants totaling $1.2M — an average of about $32K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Laurence H Dorcy Hawaiian Foundation's EIN?
The Laurence H Dorcy Hawaiian Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-2117762. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
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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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