The Robert & Betty Wo Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Honolulu, HI EIN: 99-0281956
EducationHealthDiseases and conditionsHuman services

The Robert & Betty Wo Foundation is a private foundation based in Honolulu, Hawaii. In its 2025 filing, it reported 12 grants totaling $225,000, with recipients including organizations in Hawaii, North Carolina, and Colorado.

The Robert & Betty Wo Foundation at a glance

In short: The Robert & Betty Wo Foundation gave $225K across 12 grants in 2025 (avg $19K), mostly in Hawaii. 25% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2025)
$225,000
-2.8% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
12
-14.3% vs 2024
Average grant
$18,750
+13.4% vs 2024
Median grant
$5,000
Total assets
$1,719,898
+1682.3% vs 2024
New grantees (estimate)
25% first-time grantees (3 of 12, 2025; small sample)
Primary geography
Hawaii (80% 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 Robert & Betty Wo Foundation

How to Apply

The foundation’s 2023 filing states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It lists the contact as the foundation board of directors, says no application form or materials are specified at present, and limits awards to educational, literary, religious, or scientific programs, or charitable work qualifying under IRC 501(c)(3). The filing states that there were no deadlines at that time.

Contact

Application contact: Co Foundation Board Of Directors
Mailing address: 702 S Beretania Street, Honolulu, HI 96813
Phone: (808) 545-5966

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who The Robert & Betty Wo Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

University of Hawaii Foundation: $75KUniversity of HawaiiFoundation$75KThe Queen's Health Systems: $50KThe Queen's Health Systems$50KAmerican Home Furnishings Hall of Fame Foundation Inc: $40KAmerican Home Furnishings Hallof Fame Foundation Inc$40KVolunteer Ally: $25KVolunteer Ally$25KCommunity Church of Honolulu: $11KCommunity Church of Honolulu$11KRehab Foundation: $5KRehab Foundation$5KAmerican Red Cross: $5KAmerican Red Cross$5KAlliance for Choice in Education: $5KAlliance for Choice inEducation$5KAssets School: $4KAssets School$4KCentral Union Church: $3KCentral Union Church$3K

The largest 2025 recipient was University of Hawaii Foundation ($75K). Together the top 10 received $223K.

Grant Size Distribution

60 grants across all recorded years

55<$50K5$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 55 grants of 60 (92%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2025, 80% of grant dollars went to recipients in Hawaii, 18% to recipients in North Carolina, and 2% to recipients in Colorado.

Grant Distribution by State

7states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.

Cities

HonoluluHigh PointOaklandNew YorkGreenwood VillageIowa CityKeaauSchaumburgStanford

Is The Robert & Betty Wo Foundation open to new grantees?

25%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 3 of 12 grantees (25%) 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 $4K; repeat grants $24K. How we count

Medians: $5K first-time, $11K repeat.

  • 58% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving grew 307% from 2022 to 2025. Method
  • In 2025 it paid out 366% 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

$0$100K$200K$300K18 grants2020 8 grants2021 11 grants2022 15 grants2023 14 grants2024 12 grants2025

From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $55K (2022) to $236K (2020). In 2025 it made 12 grants totaling $225K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
University of Hawaii Foundation Honolulu, HIGeneral Fund$75,000
The Queen's Health Systems Honolulu, HIGeneral Fund$50,000
American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame Foundation Inc High Point, NCGeneral Fund$40,000
Volunteer Ally Honolulu, HIGeneral Fund$25,000
Community Church of Honolulu Honolulu, HIGeneral Fund$11,000
Rehab Foundation Honolulu, HIGeneral Fund$5,000
American Red Cross Honolulu, HIGeneral Fund$5,000
Alliance for Choice in Education Greenwood Village, COGeneral Fund$5,000
Assets School Honolulu, HIGeneral Fund$3,500
Central Union Church Honolulu, HIGeneral Fund$3,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2025$1,719,898$3,350,360$228,954$225,00012$225,000$1,563,445$61,486
2024$96,498$4,055$241,045$231,50014$231,500$37,994$7,919
2023$342,999$424,970$238,271$235,50015$235,500$405,759$16,373
2022$197,396$198,247$55,275$55,25011$55,250$67,408$2,642
2021$59,073—$78,021$78,0008——$5,247
2020$137,094$102,936$239,692$236,24218—$70,166$10,231

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Robert & Betty Wo Foundation reported a distributable amount of $61K 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 information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2025 grants went to organizations whose work included higher education, healthcare, volunteering, K–12 education, religious organizations, and charitable services.

Among the grantees, the University of Hawaii Foundation describes its mission as raising philanthropic support and managing investments to benefit the University of Hawai‘i, the people of Hawai‘i, and future generations. The Queen’s Health Systems says it supports and maintains its affiliated organizations and contributes to healthcare-related activities. Volunteer Ally describes its purpose as helping people find volunteer opportunities and build relationships in their communities. Alliance for Choice in Education says it advances K–12 educational freedom by helping families access the education of their choice. Assets School describes itself as providing learning programs and outreach for K–12 students who are gifted, dyslexic, or have learning disabilities.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 12 grants totaling $225,000. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $75,000, with a median of $5,000. The largest awards were $75,000 to the University of Hawaii Foundation, $50,000 to The Queen’s Health Systems, $40,000 to American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame Foundation Inc., and $25,000 to Volunteer Ally. The filing listed the purpose of each of these grants, and the other 2025 grants, as “general fund.”

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Craig Scott Wo as president and director; Robert W Wo as vice president and director; Wendell Wo as secretary and director; Michael Wo as treasurer and director; and Bennett Wo as assistant treasurer and director.

The Robert & Betty Wo Foundation is led by Craig Scott Wo, President & Director since 2021 (on filings since 2020); none of the 5 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Craig Scott Wo

    President & Director

    Assistant Treasurer & Director → President & Director, 2021

    On filings since 2020

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Michael Wo

    Treasurer & Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Robert W. Wo

    Vice President & Director

    Vice President, Director & President → Vice President & Director, 2021

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Wendell Wo

    Secretary & Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Bennett Wo

    Assistant Treasurer & Director

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

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 Robert & Betty Wo Foundation

How much does The Robert & Betty Wo Foundation give each year?

The Robert & Betty Wo Foundation gave $225K across 12 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $232K across 14 grants.

What is The Robert & Betty Wo Foundation's typical grant size?

The Robert & Betty Wo Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $18,750, across 12 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Robert & Betty Wo Foundation that year got $4K on average.

Where does The Robert & Betty Wo Foundation give grants?

The Robert & Betty Wo Foundation gives mostly in Hawaii: 80% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was North Carolina (18%). The most frequent recipient cities were Honolulu, HI (10 grants).

Does The Robert & Betty Wo Foundation give general operating support?

Yes: 100% of The Robert & Betty Wo Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (12 of 12) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are The Robert & Betty Wo Foundation's largest grantees?

The Robert & Betty Wo Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include University of Hawaii Foundation ($75,000), The Queen's Health Systems ($50,000) and American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame Foundation Inc ($40,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 73% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is The Robert & Betty Wo Foundation?

The Robert & Betty Wo Foundation reported $1.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $225K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $61K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does The Robert & Betty Wo Foundation fund?

The available filing information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2025 grants went to organizations whose work included higher education, healthcare, volunteering, K–12 education, religious organizations, and charitable services. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from The Robert & Betty Wo Foundation?

The foundation’s 2023 filing states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is The Robert & Betty Wo Foundation's EIN?

The Robert & Betty Wo Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 99-0281956. 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

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 28, 2020)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 4, 2021)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 10, 2023)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 6, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 25, 2024)
  6. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 16, 2026)
  7. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). The Robert & Betty Wo Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-robert-and-betty-wo-foundation-morg_37f30ec45b6e4c85b1044e9a026730f0

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_990281956_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{The Robert \& Betty Wo Foundation funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-robert-and-betty-wo-foundation-morg_37f30ec45b6e4c85b1044e9a026730f0},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-22. 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 Robert & Betty 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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