General Capital Support Grant

The McInerny Foundation offers General Capital Support grants to organizations in Hawaii for small capital projects, equipment, or renovations with costs under $500,000. While there are no formal deadlines for applications, the foundation encourages projects with multiple funding sources. A critical eligibility requirement is that 100% of the board must contribute financially to the organization. The foundation excludes support for churches, individuals, and certain financial purposes, ensuring grants benefit the community effectively.

NOTE: Although not ordinarily required, an audited financial statement may be requested if circumstances warrant
McInerny Foundation
The McInerny Foundation is one of the largest charitable foundations in the State of Hawai‘i. Its funds originated from the estates of twin brothers, William and James McInerny, and their older sister, Ella McInerny, whose wealth was generated in large part by a distinguished clothing establishment in the city of Honolulu.
Policy
Grants are provided for small capital projects, equipment, or renovations with total costs of less than $500,000.
Fields of Interest
Arts & CultureCommunityEducationEnvironmentHealthHuman Services
General Capital requests are for projects or equipment having a total cost under $500,000; however at the discretion of the foundation’s grants administrator, projects or purchases of certain values and scope may be treated aslarge capital projects and subject to the guideline criteria for large capital. (There are separate guidelines for Major Capital requests with total project costs of $500,000 or more.)
Currently there are NO deadlines dates when submitting grant proposals for General Capital support. The Distribution Committee normally has four meetings during its fiscal year to consider grant requests.
General Capital grants are provided for FF&E (furniture, fixtures, & equipment), renovations and/or small construction projects of buildings. Projects requiring permits must be filed PRIOR to submitting a grant application. Generally, the Foundation prefers to be one of several contributors, expecting the organization to acquire needed funds from several sources to assure the project is completed at a specific time and/or in a timely manner. In the interest of public causes, McInerny Foundation has long required that all (100%) board of directors of an organization make a personal annual financial contribution, at some level, to the support of the organization; in addition to participating in fundraising activities. Directors are also required to attend Board meetings, volunteer work when needed, and make significant efforts to gain community and business support.
Some other factors considered in reviewing a proposal are:
the community’s need for the proposed project in relation to other similar activitiesreasonableness of the project’s income/expenditure budgetability of the applicant to obtain entire funding and complete the proposed project.

Eligibility

McInerny Foundation provides grants to organizations benefiting the people of Hawaii. Organizations must be exempt from federal taxes under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and be classified as a public charity. Specific Eligibility CriteriaRequires 100% Board of Director financial participationExplicit criteria for religious affiliated organizationsValidation of expenses

Ineligibility

Although the Trust is broad-purposed, it does not make grants to churches or individuals, nor for endowments, reserve purposes, deficit financing, or for the purchase of real estate. The McInerny Foundation trust document specifically excludes support to churches, religious entities and organizations which proselytize, encourage theology, sectarianism, spiritualism, religion or any system of religious worship.McInerny Foundation does not provide grants for the purchase of real estate; nor does the foundation provide grants for deficit funding or for endowments, or to organizations that “re‐grant” McInerny Foundation funds.