The Strong Foundation
The Strong Foundation is a private foundation based in Honolulu, Hawaii. Its filing states that grants are made only to Hawaii 501(c)(3) charities, are predominantly for major capital needs, and are primarily youth-oriented.
The Strong Foundation at a glance
In short: The Strong Foundation gave $1.6M across 16 grants in 2025 (avg $103K), mostly in Hawaii. 87% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,650,000
- +10.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 16
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $103,125
- +10.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $100,000
- Total assets
- $25,354,169
- +5.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 87% first-time grantees (13 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 Strong Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The filing says the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Applicants must obtain a Strong Foundation trustee sponsor before submitting a request; proposals without a sponsor will be declined. The trustee should be knowledgeable about the charity and its request and able to champion it at the foundation’s annual meeting. Grants are limited to Hawaii 501(c)(3) charities and are predominantly for major capital needs, with grants primarily youth-oriented.
- Review Cycle
- The filing lists March 1. That date has passed for 2026.
- Deadline
- The filing lists March 1.
- Contact
Application contact: Carol Tom
Mailing address: P O Box 3170, Honolulu, HI 96802
Phone: (808) 694-4525
Email: carol.tom@boh.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from The Strong Foundation
Who The Strong Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Dynamic Community Solutions ($200K). Together the top 10 received $1.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
84 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 62 grants of 84 (74%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s filing limits grants to Hawaii 501(c)(3) charities. All 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in Hawaii.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Strong Foundation open to new grantees?
87%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 13 of 15 grantees (87%) 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 $112K; repeat grants $100K. How we count
Medians: $100K first-time, $100K repeat.
- 0% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+11%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 94% 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 (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 $1.3M (2021) to $1.6M (2025). In 2025 it made 16 grants totaling $1.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Dynamic Community Solutions Waianae, HI | Puuhonua O Waianae Farming Village | $200,000 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawaii Honolulu, HI | Hawai'i Mentoring Center | $100,000 |
| Haku Baldwin Center Makawao, HI | Capital improvements to enhance equine-assisted programs for maui's youth | $100,000 |
| Hawaiian Mission Children's Society Honolulu, HI | Ho'opa'a: ensuring the safety and security of the hawaiian mission houses historic site and archives | $100,000 |
| Imua Family Services Kahului, HI | Phase 1 construction of the imua discovery garden: imua outdoor inclusion preschool & parking lot | $100,000 |
| Kapiolani Health Foundation Honolulu, HI | Martha B Smith Cancer & Infusion Center | $100,000 |
| Kimokeo Foundation Wailuku, HI | Hawaiian Cultural Education Site Land Acquisition Capital Project | $100,000 |
| Kona Historical Society Captain Cook, HI | Capital Grant | $100,000 |
| Lana'i Culture & Heritage Center Lanai City, HI | Aina-Based Education Initiatives | $100,000 |
| Maui Health Foundation Wailuku, HI | Housing for Healthcare | $100,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Strong Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The filing type is Form 990-PF (a private foundation).
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $25,354,169 | $3,157,823 | $1,914,063 | $1,650,000 | 16 | $1,672,741 | $2,932,761 | $1,775,418 |
| 2024 | $24,110,409 | $2,521,986 | $1,739,955 | $1,500,000 | 16 | $1,517,643 | $2,254,034 | $1,608,393 |
| 2023 | $23,328,378 | $1,088,982 | $1,793,434 | $1,595,000 | 23 | $1,603,620 | $896,038 | $1,496,767 |
| 2022 | $24,032,830 | $1,409,963 | $1,760,593 | $1,492,290 | 16 | $1,506,030 | $1,195,400 | $1,668,697 |
| 2021 | $24,383,460 | $3,150,314 | $1,558,993 | $1,265,381 | 13 | — | $2,936,312 | $1,668,554 |
| 2020 | $22,792,139 | $824,506 | $1,628,997 | $1,424,165 | 21 | — | $635,175 | $1,461,618 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Strong Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.8M 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
No foundation mission statement is provided. The foundation’s stated grantmaking priorities are youth-oriented programs and organizations, with an emphasis on major capital needs.
Grantees’ own descriptions show the range of work represented among its 2025 recipients. Dynamic Community Solutions describes its mission as providing communal living solutions that address homelessness. Na Koa Manu Conservation says it works to protect and recover native Hawaiian birds and plants through management, restoration, research, outreach, and education. Sustainable Molokai describes work to strengthen food security and sovereignty, energy resilience, and environmental conservation. Other recipients describe work in youth mentoring, health, Hawaiian culture and education, equine-assisted programs, and historical preservation.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation gave $1,650,000 through 16 grants. Grants ranged from $50,000 to $200,000, with a median of $100,000. The largest listed grant was $200,000 to Dynamic Community Solutions for Puuhonua O Waianae Farming Village.
Other notable 2025 grants included $100,000 each to Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawaii for the Hawai‘i Mentoring Center; Haku Baldwin Center for capital improvements to enhance equine-assisted programs for Maui’s youth; Hawaiian Mission Children’s Society for the safety and security of the Hawaiian Mission Houses historic site and archives; Imua Family Services for phase 1 construction of the Imua Discovery Garden; and Kapiolani Health Foundation for the Martha B. Smith Cancer & Infusion Center. Kona Historical Society received $100,000 for a capital grant, and Kimokeo Foundation received $100,000 for a Hawaiian cultural education site land acquisition capital project.
The foundation’s program information describes program grants and major capital grants. It states that there are no multi-year grants or grants to endowments and that an organization is limited to one grant every three years.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Anne Strong Carter as president and trustee; Charles M Holland Jr as vice president and trustee; Edward C Baldwin as treasurer and trustee; and Kristina Lyons-Lambert as secretary and trustee. It also lists Henry F Rice, Paul L Wysard, Peter S Ho, and William G Philpotts as trustees.
The Strong Foundation is led by Anne Strong Carter, President & Trustee on every filing since 2020; none of the 8 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Anne Strong Carter
President & Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Charles M. Holland Jr.
Vice President & Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Edward C. Baldwin
Treasurer & Trustee
Trustee → Treasurer & Trustee, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Henry F. Rice
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kristina Lyons-Lambert
Secretary & Trustee
Trustee → Secretary & Trustee, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paul L. Wysard
Trustee
Treasurer & Trustee → Trustee, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Peter S. Ho
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
William G. Philpotts
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Carol L. Tom (2020) — Secretary
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 Strong Foundation
How much does The Strong Foundation give each year?
The Strong Foundation gave $1.6M across 16 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.5M across 16 grants.
What is The Strong Foundation's typical grant size?
The Strong Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $100,000, and its average grant was $103,125, across 16 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Strong Foundation that year got $112K on average.
Where does The Strong Foundation give grants?
The Strong 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 (4 grants), Wailuku, HI (2 grants) and Kula, HI (2 grants).
Does The Strong Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 16 grants with a stated purpose on The Strong Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are The Strong Foundation's largest grantees?
The Strong Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Dynamic Community Solutions ($200,000), Maui Youth Rodeo Organization ($200,000 across 2 grants) and Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawaii ($100,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 30% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Strong Foundation?
The Strong Foundation reported $25.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.7M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.8M (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 Strong Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. The foundation’s stated grantmaking priorities are youth-oriented programs and organizations, with an emphasis on major capital needs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Strong Foundation?
The filing says the foundation 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 Strong Foundation's EIN?
The Strong Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 99-0090807. 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 6, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Strong Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Atherton Family Foundation
Honolulu, HI
The Atherton Family Foundation funds Hawai‘i-serving nonprofits in arts and culture, community development, education, environment, health, human services, spiritual development, and youth development, with an emphasis on collaborative systems change. Its stated average awards for 2026 are about $13,500 for program grants and $41,500 for capital grants. It accepts applications through its online process at scheduled deadlines.
Assets
$82.9M
Grants
1
Total Given
$5.6M
Cooke Foundation Limited
Honolulu, HI
The Cooke Foundation supports Hawaiʻi community organizations in arts, culture and humanities, education, the environment, and human services; its FY2027 application round focuses on arts and arts education. Recent grants ranged from $3,150 to $200,000, with a median of $20,000, and all 2025 funding went to Hawaiʻi recipients. It accepts applications for the FY2027 arts and arts education round; its annual grants to five selected institutions are not open for application.
Assets
$16.0M
Grants
56
Total Given
$1.4M
J Watumull Fund
Honolulu, HI
J Watumull Fund supports public charities and schools across areas including arts, education, health, community services, and child welfare; most of its 2024 grant dollars went to Hawaii. Its grants ranged from $500 to $50,000, with a median of $2,000. It accepts applications anytime.
Assets
$12.1M
Grants
275
Total Given
$684K
Bank of Hawaii Charitable Fdn
Honolulu, HI
The foundation supports community development, education, human services, and arts integration, with an emphasis on strengthening low- and moderate-income communities. Its 2024 grants ranged from $1,000 to $297,500, with a median of $25,000; 95% of funding went to organizations in Hawaii. Grant requests may be submitted at any time.
Assets
$1.7M
Grants
40
Total Given
$1.4M
Kosasa Foundation
Honolulu, HI
The Kosasa Foundation funds Hawaiʻi nonprofits working in community-based environmental stewardship, youth development, and culture and arts, with support for general operations, projects, and capital campaigns. Its 2024 grants ranged from $3,000 to $500,000, with a median of $45,000. It does not accept unsolicited proposals; interested organizations may submit a prospective grantee questionnaire and could be invited to apply.
Assets
$159.4M
Grants
84
Total Given
$5.2M
Aloha United Way Inc
Honolulu, HI
Aloha United Way supports Hawaiʻi nonprofits and community partners addressing health, education, financial stability, housing, and other human-service needs. Its 2024 grants had a median of $24,421, though awards varied widely; a published Safety Net funding cycle offered $20,000–$75,000 per year, and 99% of 2024 grant dollars went to Hawaiʻi. Funding is generally through partner-agency programs, and the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$23.5M
Grants
175
Total Given
$14.0M
More similar funders
More Funders in Hawaii
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Strong Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-strong-foundation-morg_c16315ccb2e441ceb91a090f2a55cf0e
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_990090807_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Strong Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-strong-foundation-morg_c16315ccb2e441ceb91a090f2a55cf0e},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 Strong 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.
The Strong Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?