Waimakua Foundation
The Waimakua Foundation is a private foundation established in 1980 and based in Lihue, Hawaii. The foundation operates with a volunteer leadership team and focuses on philanthropic giving primarily within the state of Hawaii.
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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grantmaking priorities include support for general operations, the Waialeale project, children's education, and capital campaigns. Primary funding areas encompass Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, Human Services, and Arts, Culture & Humanities.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 22 grants in 2024 totaling $135,000. Grant sizes typically range from $500 to $31,000, with a median grant of approximately $2,000.
Grant Range
s typically range from $500 to $31,000, with a median grant of approximately $2,000.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds organizations across multiple Hawaiian cities and counties, including Anahola, Eleele, Hanalei, Honolulu, Kalaheo, Kapaa, Kekaha, Lihue, and Waimea, with a primary focus on Hawaii-based organizations.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024)
- Total Assets: $2,158,448
- Total Revenues: $303,998
- Total Expenses: $166,462
- Investment Income and Dividends: $67,651
Expense Ratio
The foundation maintains a 94.8% expense ratio, indicating that the majority of revenue is directed toward programs and grants.
| 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 |
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
106 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include National Tropical Botanical Garden ($30,000), Kauai Museum Association Ltd ($22,000), Island School ($20,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| GARDEN ISLAND RESOURCE CONSERVATION & DEVELOPMENT LIHUE, HI | KAUAI FOREST BIRD RECOVERY | $2,000 |
| HANAPEPE UNITED CHURCH ELEELE, HI | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $1,000 |
| HUI O LAKA KEKAHA, HI | UNRESTRICTED | $5,000 |
| ISLAND SCHOOL LIHUE, HI | BOARD MATCHING CHALLENGE FUND | $20,000 |
| KAPAA FIRST HAWAIIAN CHURCH KAPAA, HI | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $1,000 |
| KAUAI COMMUNITY COLLEGE LIHUE, HI | RESTRICTED - HALE MALAMA/KIPAPAI | $5,000 |
| KAUAI INDEPENDANT FOOD BANK LIHUE, HI | BACKPACK PROGRAM | $2,000 |
| KAUAI MUSEUM ASSOCIATION LTD LIHUE, HI | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN | $22,000 |
| KAUAI MUSEUM ASSOCIATION LTD LIHUE, HI | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN, REROOF WILCOX BUIDLING | $10,000 |
| KOOLAU HUI IA CHURCH ANAHOLA, HI | GENERAL OPERATIONS | $1,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation's volunteer leadership team includes:
- Katherine Richardson – President
- Wendy Wichman – Secretary
- Richard Goodale – Treasurer
- Jonathan Wichman – Assistant Treasurer
All leadership members serve on a voluntary basis without compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KATHERINE RICHARDSON | PRESIDENT | — | — |
| WENDY WICHMAN | SECRETARY | — | — |
| RICHARD GOODALE | TREASURER | — | — |
| JONATHAN WICHMAN | ASST TREASURER | — | — |
Contact Information
Address: 2970 Haleko Rd Ste 201, Lihue, HI 96766-1380
Telephone: 808-955-4279
EIN: 99-0195093
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Waimakua Foundation fund?
The foundation's grantmaking priorities include support for general operations, the Waialeale project, children's education, and capital campaigns. Primary funding areas encompass Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, Human Services, and Arts, Culture & Humanities.
How do I apply for a grant from Waimakua Foundation?
**Grant Activity & Amounts** The foundation made 22 grants in 2024 totaling $135,000. Grant sizes typically range from $500 to $31,000, with a median grant of approximately $2,000. **Recent Grant Recipients (2024)** • National Tropical Botanical Garden: $30,000 (Limahuli Multi-Purpose Cultural and Maintenance Facility) • Kauai Museum Association: $22,000 (Capital Campaign) • National Tropical Botanical Garden: $20,000 (Education Director) **Historical Giving Trends** | Year | Total Giving | Num…
Where does Waimakua Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds organizations across multiple Hawaiian cities and counties, including Anahola, Eleele, Hanalei, Honolulu, Kalaheo, Kapaa, Kekaha, Lihue, and Waimea, with a primary focus on Hawaii-based organizations.
What size grants does Waimakua Foundation award?
In 2024, Waimakua Foundation awarded 22 grants totaling $135K — an average of about $6K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Waimakua Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Waimakua Foundation reported a distributable amount of $142K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Waimakua 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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