Waimakua Foundation
Waimakua Foundation is a private foundation based in Lihue, Hawaii. Its 2024 filings show grants to organizations in Hawaii, supporting work that includes conservation and education, cultural preservation, schooling, and community services.
Key facts about Waimakua Foundation
In short: Waimakua Foundation gave $135K across 22 grants in 2024 (avg $6K), mostly in Hawaii. 20% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 99-0195093
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $135,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 22
- Average grant
- $6,136
- Median grant
- $2,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 20% first-time grantees (4 of 20, 2024)
- Total assets
- $2,158,448
- Primary geography
- Hawaii (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- None listed.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; 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 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.2M
+6.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$135K
+0.0% YoY
Grant Count
22
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$6K
+0.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Waimakua Foundation reported a distributable amount of $142K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Waimakua Foundation open to new grantees?
20%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 4 of 20 grantees (20%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $1K; repeat grants $8K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 80% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−13%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 95% 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 (2020–2024). 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
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants include support for organizations whose work spans several areas. The National Tropical Botanical Garden describes its mission as perpetuating tropical plants, ecosystems, and cultural heritage through discovery, research, conservation, and education. The Kauai Museum Association says it preserves local artifacts and antiquities and perpetuates Kauai’s history and culture. Hui O Laka describes its work as preserving Hawaiian history and nature and nurturing connections between people and Kokee. Malama Huleia says it works to restore native wetland ecosystems, manage Alakoko Fishpond, and create stewardship programs honoring Hawaiian values.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 22 grants totaling $135,000. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $30,000, with a median of $2,000. Notable awards included $30,000 to the National Tropical Botanical Garden for a Limahuli multi-purpose cultural and maintenance facility; $22,000 to the Kauai Museum Association for its capital campaign; and $20,000 to Island School for a board matching challenge fund. The foundation also gave the National Tropical Botanical Garden $20,000 for an education director.
Review Cycle
None listed.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars reported for 2024 went to recipients in Hawaii.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 22 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $133K (2020) to $156K (2021). In 2024 it made 22 grants totaling $135K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was National Tropical Botanical Garden ($50K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $125K.
Grant Size Distribution
106 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 105 grants of 106 (99%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| National Tropical Botanical Garden Kalaheo, HI | Limahuli Multi-Purpose Cultural and Maintenance Facility | $30,000 |
| Kauai Museum Association Ltd Lihue, HI | Capital Campaign | $22,000 |
| Island School Lihue, HI | Board Matching Challenge Fund | $20,000 |
| National Tropical Botanical Garden Kalaheo, HI | Education Director | $20,000 |
| Kauai Museum Association Ltd Lihue, HI | Capital Campaign, Reroof Wilcox Buidling | $10,000 |
| Hui O Laka Kekaha, HI | Unrestricted | $5,000 |
| Kauai Community College Lihue, HI | Restricted - Hale Malama/Kipapai | $5,000 |
| YWCA Lihue, HI | Camp Slogget Repairs and Maintenance | $5,000 |
| Garden Island Resource Conservation & Development Lihue, HI | Kauai Forest Bird Recovery | $2,000 |
| Kauai Independant Food Bank Lihue, HI | Backpack Program | $2,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $2,158,448 | $303,998 | $166,462 | $135,000 |
| 2023 | $2,020,912 | $170,210 | $161,398 | $135,000 |
| 2022 | $2,012,100 | $290,340 | $160,658 | $134,000 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,158,448 | $2,020,912 | $2,012,100 |
| Revenue | $303,998 | $170,210 | $290,340 |
| Expenses | $166,462 | $161,398 | $160,658 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $135,000 | $135,000 | $134,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $273,536 | $148,512 | $267,527 |
| Distributable Amount | $142,134 | $125,946 | $127,203 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Katherine Richardson as president, Wendy Wichman as secretary, Richard Goodale as treasurer, and Jonathan Wichman as assistant treasurer.
Waimakua Foundation is led by Katherine Richardson, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Katherine Richardson
President
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Jonathan Wichman
Assistant Treasurer
Trustee → Assistant Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Richard Goodale
Treasurer
Trustee → Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Wendy Wichman
Secretary
On filings since 2022
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Charles R. Wichman (2020–2021) — Secretary-Treasurer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Contact
Application contact: Richard Goodale
Mailing address: 2970 Haleko Road, Lihue, HI 96766-1380
Phone: (808) 639-6170
Frequently asked questions about Waimakua Foundation
How much does Waimakua Foundation give each year?
Waimakua Foundation gave $135K across 22 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $135K across 22 grants.
What is Waimakua Foundation's typical grant size?
Waimakua Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $2,000, and its average grant was $6,136, across 22 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Waimakua Foundation that year got $1K on average.
Where does Waimakua Foundation give grants?
Waimakua Foundation gives mostly in Hawaii: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Lihue, HI (9 grants), Hanalei, HI (4 grants), Kalaheo, HI (2 grants) and Kapaa, HI (2 grants).
Does Waimakua Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 50% of Waimakua Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (11 of 22) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Waimakua Foundation's largest grantees?
Waimakua Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include National Tropical Botanical Garden ($50,000 across 2 grants), Kauai Museum Association Ltd ($32,000 across 2 grants) and Island School ($20,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 76% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Waimakua Foundation?
Waimakua Foundation reported $2.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $135K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $142K (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 Waimakua Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants include support for organizations whose work spans several areas. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Waimakua Foundation?
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 Waimakua Foundation's EIN?
Waimakua Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 99-0195093. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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