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.
Key facts about The Robert & Betty Wo Foundation
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.
- EIN
- 99-0281956
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $225,000
- Grants made (2025)
- 12
- Average grant
- $18,750
- Median grant
- $5,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 25% first-time grantees (3 of 12, 2025)
- Total assets
- $1,719,898
- Primary geography
- Hawaii (80% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The foundation’s 2023 filing states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.7M
+1682.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$225K
-2.8% YoY
Grant Count
12
-14.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$19K
+13.4% YoY
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.
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. 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.
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.”
Review Cycle
at that time.
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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
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $55K (2022) to $236K (2020). In 2025 it made 12 grants totaling $225K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
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
The most common grant size was under $50K: 55 grants of 60 (92%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Hawaii Foundation Honolulu, HI | General Fund | $75,000 |
| The Queen's Health Systems Honolulu, HI | General Fund | $50,000 |
| American Home Furnishings Hall of Fame Foundation Inc High Point, NC | General Fund | $40,000 |
| Volunteer Ally Honolulu, HI | General Fund | $25,000 |
| Community Church of Honolulu Honolulu, HI | General Fund | $11,000 |
| Rehab Foundation Honolulu, HI | General Fund | $5,000 |
| American Red Cross Honolulu, HI | General Fund | $5,000 |
| Alliance for Choice in Education Greenwood Village, CO | General Fund | $5,000 |
| Assets School Honolulu, HI | General Fund | $3,500 |
| Central Union Church Honolulu, HI | General Fund | $3,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grant sum | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,719,898 | $3,350,360 | $228,954 | $225,000 | 12 |
| 2024 | $96,498 | $4,055 | $241,045 | $231,500 | 14 |
| 2023 | $342,999 | $424,970 | $238,271 | $235,500 | 15 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,719,898 | $96,498 | $342,999 |
| Revenue | $3,350,360 | $4,055 | $424,970 |
| Expenses | $228,954 | $241,045 | $238,271 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $225,000 | $231,500 | $235,500 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,563,445 | $37,994 | $405,759 |
| Distributable Amount | $61,486 | $7,919 | $16,373 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 28, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 4, 2021)
- 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 February 6, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 25, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 16, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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.
Contact
Application contact: Co Foundation Board Of Directors
Mailing address: 702 S Beretania Street, Honolulu, HI 96813
Phone: (808) 545-5966
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 September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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