The Makana Aloha Foundation
The Makana Aloha Foundation is a private foundation based in Kailua, Hawaii. Its stated mission is to support secular organizations that directly improve the Maui community through public education, the arts, healthcare, animal welfare, and environmental conservation.
The Makana Aloha Foundation at a glance
In short: The Makana Aloha Foundation gave $227K across 16 grants in 2025 (avg $14K), mostly in Hawaii. 33% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $227,288
- +1.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 16
- -20.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $14,206
- +26.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $5,133,781
- -5.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 33% first-time grantees (5 of 15, 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 Makana Aloha Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The 2023 filing directs applicants to contact Jami Lynn Burks and submit materials in accordance with the foundation’s grant application form. The MAF Grants program is listed as active, but the available program information does not specify application materials or eligibility requirements.
- Review Cycle
- The 2023 filing states that there are no deadlines.
- Deadline
- The 2023 filing states that there are no deadlines.
- Contact
Application contact: Jami Lynn Burks
Mailing address: PO Box 342190, Kailua, HI 96734
Phone: (808) 683-8363
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 Makana Aloha Foundation
Who The Makana Aloha Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Maui Academy of Performing Arts ($40K). Together the top 10 received $181K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($31,500), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
83 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 83 grants of 83 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation describes its mission as improving the Maui community. All 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in Hawaii.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Makana Aloha Foundation open to new grantees?
33%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 15 grantees (33%) were first-time recipients. With only 15 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $18K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $18K repeat.
- 53% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+8%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 87% 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 (2021–2025). 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $196K (2021) to $277K (2023). In 2025 it made 16 grants totaling $227K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Maui Academy of Performing Arts Wailuku, HI | Grant to fund as a season sponsor for the inaugural season of mapa's new black box theatre. | $40,000 |
| 1 individual scholarship Recipients not named | — | $31,500 |
| Whale Trust Makawao, HI | For costs associated with the 2025 whale tales research event. | $20,000 |
| When We Shine Foundation Kula, HI | Grant to help fund a'arts & aina' professional development for teachers | $20,000 |
| Common Ground Collective Haiku, HI | Costs to help support formation of the foster farm project. | $20,000 |
| University of Hawaii Foundation Kahului, HI | Grant to fund this year's recipients of makana aloha culinary academy scholarship. | $15,788 |
| Friends of Hawaii Tech Academy Waipahu, HI | For costs associated with friends of Hawaii technology academy, inc.s digital media lab at the west maui campus of Hawaii technology academy. | $15,000 |
| Imua Family Services Kahului, HI | Grant for Unrestricted General Operting Support. | $10,000 |
| Whale Trust Makawao, HI | For costs associated with the 2025 whale tales keiki program. | $10,000 |
| Maui Huliau Foundation Haiku, HI | Grant to help fund maui huliau foundation's huliau climate literacy project. | $10,000 |
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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 | $5,133,781 | $152,020 | $431,054 | $227,288 | 16 | $371,705 | $92,668 | $427,786 |
| 2024 | $5,414,815 | $475,847 | $422,357 | $224,391 | 20 | $375,341 | $428,831 | $370,017 |
| 2023 | $5,361,325 | $231,015 | $457,131 | $277,026 | 19 | $410,052 | $183,936 | $357,422 |
| 2022 | $5,587,441 | $313,066 | $395,081 | $209,778 | 13 | $339,440 | $258,946 | $425,849 |
| 2021 | $5,669,456 | $424,234 | $353,386 | $196,000 | 15 | — | $390,059 | $351,944 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Makana Aloha Foundation reported a distributable amount of $428K for 2025 — 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 stated focus areas are public education, the arts, healthcare, animal welfare, and environmental conservation. It describes its giving as supporting secular organizations that directly improve the Maui community, with an emphasis on unique opportunities to enhance education for Maui students in public schools.
Its 2025 grants illustrate support for a range of organizations and projects. Maui Academy of Performing Arts, whose mission is to enrich individuals, build community, and connect the world through performing arts, received support for the inaugural season of its new black box theatre. Lahainaluna High School Foundation, which raises support for the school and its students, received funding for an annual science scholarship and renewals. Common Ground Collective describes a mission involving community assistance, education, and transforming Maui into a productive island. Whale Trust says it supports and conducts marine-mammal research, education, and conservation.
Other 2025 recipients included University of Hawaii Foundation, which raises philanthropic support for the University of Hawaii; Friends of Hawaii Technology Academy, which supports the school; Maui Huliau Foundation, which promotes environmental literacy and leadership among Maui youth; and Imua Family Services, which provides programs to empower children and families.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation gave $227,288 through 16 grants. Grants ranged from $2,000 to $40,000, with a median grant of $10,000. The largest awards included $40,000 to Maui Academy of Performing Arts for its new theatre’s inaugural season, $31,500 to Lahainaluna High School Foundation for its science scholarship and renewals, and $20,000 each to Whale Trust, When We Shine Foundation, and Common Ground Collective.
Other listed awards included $15,788 to University of Hawaii Foundation for culinary academy scholarships; $15,000 to Friends of Hawaii Technology Academy for a digital media lab at its West Maui campus; and $10,000 each to Imua Family Services, Whale Trust, Maui Huliau Foundation, East Maui Animal Center, and Maui Humane Society.
The foundation’s 2023 filing states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It says applicants should use the grant application form provided by the foundation. The filing states that grants support educational, medical, health, and other charitable organizations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Jami Lynn Burks as president, secretary, treasurer, and executive director; Gunars E Valkirs as vice president; and Jorene Valkirs as director.
The Makana Aloha Foundation is led by Jami Lynn Burks, President, Secretary, Treasurer & Executive Director on every filing since 2021; 1 of 3 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jami Lynn Burks
President, Secretary, Treasurer & Executive Director
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$110K (2021) → $131K (2025)
Jorene Valkirs
Director
On filings since 2021
2.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gunars E. Valkirs
Vice President
On filings since 2021
2.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $131K, to Jami Lynn Burks (Pres, Sec, Treas, Exec DIR).
Frequently asked questions about The Makana Aloha Foundation
How much does The Makana Aloha Foundation give each year?
The Makana Aloha Foundation gave $227K across 16 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $224K across 20 grants.
What is The Makana Aloha Foundation's typical grant size?
The Makana Aloha Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $14,206, across 16 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Makana Aloha Foundation that year got $10K on average.
Where does The Makana Aloha Foundation give grants?
The Makana Aloha 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 Haiku, HI (3 grants), Makawao, HI (3 grants) and Kahului, HI (2 grants).
Does The Makana Aloha Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 25% of The Makana Aloha Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (4 of 16) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Makana Aloha Foundation's largest grantees?
The Makana Aloha Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Maui Academy of Performing Arts ($40,000), Whale Trust ($30,000 across 2 grants) and When We Shine Foundation ($20,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 individual scholarship ($31,500), which are not listed by name. Together they received 40% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Makana Aloha Foundation?
The Makana Aloha Foundation reported $5.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $372K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $428K (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 Makana Aloha Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated focus areas are public education, the arts, healthcare, animal welfare, and environmental conservation. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Makana Aloha Foundation?
The 2023 filing directs applicants to contact Jami Lynn Burks and submit materials in accordance with the foundation’s grant application form. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Makana Aloha Foundation's EIN?
The Makana Aloha Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-8877756. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS September 28, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS January 24, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 21, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS December 10, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 17, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Live grants for the work The Makana Aloha Foundation funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Makana Aloha Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-makana-aloha-foundation-morg_0998419abe194f1e869da876cdbe35c1
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_208877756_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Makana Aloha Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-makana-aloha-foundation-morg_0998419abe194f1e869da876cdbe35c1},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-20. 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 Makana Aloha 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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