The Strong Foundation
The Strong Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) foundation based in Honolulu, Hawaii (EIN: 99-0090807). The foundation is administered through Bank of Hawaii and maintains assets of $24,110,409. Its grantmaking focuses primarily on youth-oriented programs and major capital projects, with a geographic emphasis on Hawaii and Colorado.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$24.1M
+3.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.5M
-6.0% YoY
Grant Count
16
-30.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$94K
+35.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Strong Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.6M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding priorities include:
- Youth Education and Programs – The foundation prioritizes grants for youth-oriented initiatives
- Arts & Culture – Including historic preservation projects
- Community Support and Disaster Relief – Including emergency response efforts
- Poverty Relief and Community Outreach
- Human Services
Grantmaking
1. **Maui Disaster Relief** – $50,000 average; 2 recipients; last awarded in 2023
Grant Range
$25,000 – $100,000
Average Grant
amount varies by program
Review Cycle
** March 1st annually
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation serves Hawaii statewide, with additional grantmaking activity in Colorado.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Assets | $24,110,409 |
| Total Giving | $1,517,643 |
| Total Revenue | $2,521,986 |
| Total Expenses | $1,739,955 |
| Giving Rate | 6.4% |
Most Recent Filing: 2024
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $24,110,409 | $23,328,378 | $24,032,830 |
| Revenue | $2,521,986 | $1,088,982 | $1,409,963 |
| Expenses | $1,739,955 | $1,793,434 | $1,760,593 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,517,643 | $1,603,620 | $1,506,030 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,254,034 | $896,038 | $1,195,400 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,608,393 | $1,496,767 | $1,668,697 |
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
89 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from The Strong Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Book Trust Hawaii Chapter ($100,000), Hawaii Theatre Center ($100,000), Historic Hawaii Foundation ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BOOK TRUST HAWAII CHAPTER DENVER, CO | PROMOTING LITERACY FOR HAWAI'I ELEMENTARY STUDENTS | $100,000 |
| HAWAII THEATRE CENTER HONOLULU, HI | ENRICHING, EDUCATING, ENGAGING OUR KEIKI THROUGH THE ARTS | $100,000 |
| HISTORIC HAWAII FOUNDATION HONOLULU, HI | HISTORIC PRESERVATION EDUCATION PROGRAM | $100,000 |
| HUI NO'EAU MAKAWAO, HI | VISITING ARTIST COTTAGE REPAIR & RESTORATION PROJECT | $100,000 |
| HUI O WA'A KAULUA LAHAINA, HI | RESTORING, REBUILDING, AND REPLACING WA'A FROM THE MAUI FIRE LOSSES | $50,000 |
| LIVING PONO PROJECT PAIA, HI | PU'U KUKUI WATERSHED ALAPI'I PROJECT | $100,000 |
| MA KA HANA KA IKE BUILDING PROGRAM HANA, HI | MA KA HANA KA 'IKE 2024 CONTRACTOR TRUCK AND TRAILER | $100,000 |
| MANOA HERITAGE CENTER HONOLULU, HI | KUALII-A CULTURAL TREASURE AND COMMUNITY RESOURCE | $100,000 |
| THE MAUI FARM MAKAWAO, HI | HO'OLANA KEIKI EDUCATION PROGRAM | $100,000 |
| MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION IN HAWAII DBA MENTAL HEALTH AMERICA OF HAWAII HONOLULU, HI | NO SHAME, GET HELP SUICIDE PREVENTION APP | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is governed by eight trustees, each serving approximately 1 hour per week:
- Anne Strong Carter – President, Trustee
- Charles M Holland Jr – Vice President, Trustee
- Edward C Baldwin – Treasurer, Trustee
- Kristina Lyons-Lambert – Secretary, Trustee
- Henry F Rice – Trustee
- Paul L Wysard – Trustee
- Peter S Ho – Trustee
- William G Philpotts – Trustee
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANNE STRONG CARTER | PRESIDENT, TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| CHARLES M HOLLAND JR | VICE PRESIDENT, TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| EDWARD C BALDWIN | TREASURER, TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| KRISTINA LYONS-LAMBERT | SECRETARY, TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| HENRY F RICE | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| PAUL L WYSARD | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| PETER S HO | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| WILLIAM G PHILPOTTS | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Mailing Address: c/o Bank of Hawaii P.O. Box 3170 Honolulu, HI 96802
Phone: (808) 538-4444
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Strong Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary funding priorities include: • **Youth Education and Programs** – The foundation prioritizes grants for youth-oriented initiatives • **Arts & Culture** – Including historic preservation projects • **Community Support and Disaster Relief** – Including emergency response efforts • **Poverty Relief and Community Outreach** • **Human Services**
How do I apply for a grant from The Strong Foundation?
**Grant Amounts:** • Grant range: $25,000 – $100,000 • Median grant amount: $100,000 • Average grant amount varies by program **Recent Grant Activity:** • Total giving (most recent year): $1,517,643 • Grants awarded: 39 • Giving rate: 6.4% **Active Grant Programs:** 1. **Maui Disaster Relief** – $50,000 average; 2 recipients; last awarded in 2023 2. **Visiting Artist Cottage Repair & Restoration** – $100,000 average; 1 recipient; last awarded in 2024 3. **Variety School Outdoor Playground** – $…
Where does The Strong Foundation make grants?
The foundation serves **Hawaii statewide**, with additional grantmaking activity in Colorado.
What size grants does The Strong Foundation award?
In 2024, The Strong Foundation awarded 16 grants totaling $1.5M — an average of about $94K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Strong Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Strong Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.6M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Strong Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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