Search Through Grants for Charities in Hawaii in the U.S.

Background

Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation seeks to dramatically improve the lives of underserved communities across the globe by supporting scalable, innovative, and impact-first solutions that leverage existing systems and stakeholders. Our goal is to find social entrepreneurs with dynamic products or services that have a proven ability to positively impact the lives of underserved people, and nurture those organizations at the early stages by providing capacity, capital, and community.

Our application process is designed to be open and accessible, and we accept applications year round from across our priority geographies and sectors. Borrowing from our venture capital legacy, we find exceptional entrepreneurs and provide them with: 

Capacity

• The core of DRK’s model is deep and extensive operational and technical support for each portfolio organization, both through dedicated hands-on Board service and specialist capacity-building resources for fundraising, board and organizational development, leadership, financial support, and scaling strategy,

Capital

• DRK provides up to $300,000 USD in either unrestricted grant funding or investment capital over a three-year period, and

Community

• DRK convenes our portfolio and alumni annually, facilitating connections and community. 

What We Fund

DRK Foundation funds early-stage social impact organizations solving the world’s biggest social and environmental problems using bold, scalable approaches.

What stage of growth does DRK Foundation typically fund?

Early stage: Organizations who are early stage, which we define as post-pilot and pre-scale. This typically means: 

• Your program, product or service is already being used in the market or in the field, 
• You have early indication that your model is having its intended impact on the beneficiary populations,
• Your organization is relatively young (ideally between two and five years old, although we will consider both younger and older organizations).

Venture funding: In the case of for profits, we typically support Seed to Series A organizations, and never lead rounds; we also generally but not exclusively refrain from participating in financings exceeding a $15M USD post-money valuation.  

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. 

General Capital

Policy

Grants are provided for small capital projects, equipment, or renovations with total costs of less than $500,000.  

Fields of Interest

• Arts & Culture
• Community
• Education
• Environment
• Health
• Human 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 activities
• reasonableness of the project’s income/expenditure budget
• ability of the applicant to obtain entire funding and complete the proposed project.

Community Grants

State Farm is committed to helping build safer, stronger and better-educated communities.

• ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​We are committed to auto and home safety programs and activities that help people manage the risks of everyday life.
• We invest in education, economic empowerment and community development projects, programs and services that help people realize their dreams.
• We help maintain the vibrancy of our communities by assisting nonprofits that support community revitalization.

Good Neighbor Citizenship company grants focus on safety, community development and education.

Focus Areas

Safety Grants

We strive to keep our customers and communities safe. That's why our funding is directed toward:

• Auto safety — improving driver, passenger, vehicle or roadway safety
• Home safety — shielding homes from fires, crime or natural disasters
• Disaster preparedness and mitigation
• Disaster recovery

Community Development

We support nonprofits that invest and develop stronger neighborhoods. That's why our funding is directed toward:

• Affordable housing — home construction and repair
• Commercial/small business development
• Job training
• Neighborhood revitalization
• Financial literacy
• Sustainable housing and transportation
• Food insecurity

Education

Our education funding is directed toward initiatives that support the following programs:

• Higher education
• K-12 academic performance
• K-12 STEM
• Pathways for college and career success

Hawaii Dental Service Foundation

The HDS Foundation was established in 1986 by Hawaii Dental Service to improve the oral health of Hawaii’s communities. Grants are distributed to local non-profit organizations for programs and projects that provide oral health education, prevent oral disease, and increase access to dental care for underserved populations.

Smile Fund

The HDS Foundation Smile Fund supports organizations that offer innovative and collaborative outreach programs to improve oral health in Hawaii. The Smile Fund is intended to support oral health-related projects with up to $5,000.

Mission

The mission of the Hearst Foundations is to identify and fund outstanding nonprofits to ensure that people of all backgrounds in the United States can build healthy, productive and satisfying lives. Through its grantmaking, the Hearst Foundations support well-established nonprofit organizations that address significant issues within their major areas of focus—culture, education, health and social service—and that primarily serve large demographic and/or geographic constituencies. In each area of funding, the Foundations seek to identify those organizations achieving truly differentiated results relative to other organizations making similar efforts for similar populations. The Foundations also look for evidence of sustainability beyond their support.

Whether providing a scholarship to a deserving student, supporting a rural health clinic or bringing artists into schools so children can see firsthand the beauty of the arts, the Foundations’ focus is consistent: to help those in need, those underserved and those underrepresented in society. Since the Foundations were formed in the 1940s, the scale and capabilities of the grant making have changed, but the mission has not.

Culture Grant

The Hearst Foundations fund cultural institutions that offer meaningful programs in the arts and sciences, prioritizing those that enable engagement by young people and create a lasting and measurable impact. The Foundations also fund select programs nurturing and developing artistic talent. Supported organizations include arts schools, ballets, museums, operas, performing arts centers, symphonies and theaters.

Funding Priorities in Culture

In the recent past, 25% of total funding has been allocated to Culture. Organizations with budgets over $10 million have received 60% of the funding in Culture.

The Hearst Foundations are only able to fund approximately 25% of all grant requests, of which about 80% is directed to prior grantees and about 20% is targeted toward new grantees.

Types of Support

Program, capital and, on a limited basis, general and endowment support

About the Foundation

The Johnson Ohana Foundation is a non-profit public charity founded in 2008 by musician Jack Johnson, and his wife Kim, to promote positive and lasting change within communities by supporting organizations that focus on environmental, art, and music education.

Grant Program

The Johnson Ohana Charitable Foundation supports organizations with strong community involvement. We are most interested in funding organizations that work creatively toward solution-based approaches to environmental or societal problems, with a commitment to long-term and lasting change. The Johnson Ohana Charitable Foundation primarily supports smaller organizations working on issues relevant to their own local communities.

We fund groups that focus on one of three central themes: 

• Environmental Education
• Arts Education for Youth
• Music Education for Youth

The Johnson Ohana Foundation seeks out innovative non-profits that actively engage youth and/or volunteers in projects that provide measurable benefit to the environment and/or the community.

Fields of Interest - Art & Music Education

The Johnson Ohana Charitable Foundation regularly supports organizations that work in the following fields of interest and in addition, chooses a specific funding theme that varies periodically:

Arts Education for Youth

• Visual Arts (drawing, painting, ceramics, sculpture)
• Performing Arts (theatre, dance, musical theatre)
• Media Arts (film, photography, graphic design)

Music Education for Youth

• School or Community-Based Music Programs (low or no-cost instruction)
• Musical Ensembles (band, choir, orchestra)
• Musical Instruments (acquisition, maintenance, repair)

Environmental Education

• Oceans/ Rivers/ Watersheds
• Plastic Free Initiatives
• Renewable Energy
• Sustainable Living
• Sustainable Local Food Systems
• Farm to School Programs
• Tree Planting/Restoration
• Conservation Programs (energy, waste, water)

Current Funding Theme:

Sustainable Local Food Systems

Grant Size

The Johnson Ohana Charitable Foundation awards grants ranging from $2500 to $20,000. Grants can be directed to specific programs or to general operating expenses.

About the Foundation

The Johnson Ohana Foundation is a non-profit public charity founded in 2008 by musician Jack Johnson, and his wife Kim, to promote positive and lasting change within communities by supporting organizations that focus on environmental, art, and music education.

Grant Program

The Johnson Ohana Charitable Foundation supports organizations with strong community involvement. We are most interested in funding organizations that work creatively toward solution-based approaches to environmental or societal problems, with a commitment to long-term and lasting change. The Johnson Ohana Charitable Foundation primarily supports smaller organizations working on issues relevant to their own local communities.

We fund groups that focus on one of three central themes: 

• Environmental Education
• Arts Education for Youth
• Music Education for Youth

The Johnson Ohana Foundation seeks out innovative non-profits that actively engage youth and/or volunteers in projects that provide measurable benefit to the environment and/or the community.

A majority of our grants are awarded for a single year but we do on occasion award multi-year grants for up to a 3-year period. Multi-year grants are usually awarded to non-profits with which we have built a strong relationship and are generally associated with projects focusing on the current funding theme.

Fields of Interest

The Johnson Ohana Charitable Foundation regularly supports organizations that work in the following fields of interest and in addition, chooses a specific funding theme that varies periodically:

Environmental Education 

• Oceans/ Rivers/ Watersheds
• Plastic Free Initiatives
• Renewable Energy
• Sustainable Living
• Sustainable Local Food Systems
• Farm to School Programs
• Tree Planting/Restoration
• Conservation Programs (energy, waste, water)

Current Funding Theme

• Sustainable Local Food Systems

Grant Size

The Johnson Ohana Charitable Foundation awards grants ranging from $2500 to $20,000. Grants can be directed to specific programs or to general operating expenses.

Grant Review Process

Environmental Education grants are reviewed in the spring.

The Labcorp Charitable Foundation

We believe every person deserves equitable care and education.

In 2020 Labcorp established a private charitable 501(c)(3) foundation to advance our desire to bring quality healthcare access to all by supporting education and our local communities. 

Common grant opportunities include:

• Supporting food pantries and meal programs
• Providing healthcare and patient services for underserved populations
• Encouraging STEM programming
• Advocating for healthy lifestyles through ongoing medical research and screening

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. 

Today, McInerny Foundation is honored for its generous contributions to education and social services to which most of their grantmaking is allocated, while the balance of their  funding is distributed for arts and culture, health, environment, and other projects. 

Fields of Interest

• Arts & Culture
• Community
• Education
• Environment
• Health
• Human Services

Program Support: Support is provided for programs and projects that better the lives of individuals and families in the state of Hawaii.

General Operating Support: Support is usually provided to organizations having an established relationship with the Foundation. 

Additional Information

Board of Directors

In order to be successful in accomplishing its purposes, a charitable organization generally must have community and business support, rather than relying solely on foundations or government funding. For this reason the Distribution Committee pays particular attention to how active members of an organization’s Board of Directors are in carrying out their responsibilities to the organization.   

Other Factors

Some other factors considered in reviewing a proposal are:

• the community’s need for the proposed program or project in relation to other similar activities;
• reasonableness of the project’s income/expenditure budget;
• ability of the applicant to obtain entire funding and sustain the proposed project.

Philanthropy is our commitment to communities in which we operate and broader society. We focus our resources on a limited number of key projects that can deliver valuable benefits from our contributions and those of our partners. We give priority to innovative, high-quality projects that meet the following criteria:

• promote sustainable development
• offer an opportunity for Roche to use its expertise and logistics capabilities
• involve Roche actively at an early stage with local authorities and established partners
• engage Roche employees in cultural (focus on contemporary arts), educational and social activities
• managed by an accredited charity

Our four focus areas

Humanitarian and Social

We direct the majority of our philanthropic donations to humanitarian and social development projects.

Science and education

We are dedicated to programmes that promote scientific interest and provide educational opportunities for young people around the world.

Community and Environment

We are committed to building stronger communities and responding to natural disasters sustainably.

Arts and Culture

We support groundbreaking contemporary art, cultural projects and activities that explore the parallels between innovation in art and in science. 

Hawaii Dental Service Foundation

The HDS Foundation was established in 1986 by Hawaii Dental Service to improve the oral health of Hawaii’s communities. Grants are distributed to local non-profit organizations for programs and projects that provide oral health education, prevent oral disease, and increase access to dental care for underserved populations.

Hawaii Dental Service Foundation Grants

The HDS Foundation’s objective is to improve oral health in the communities where HDS operates (Hawaii, Guam and Saipan). Grants will be limited to projects related to the advancement of oral health. HDS will consider programs and projects that promote:

• Oral health education
• Prevention of oral disease
• Access to dental care by underserved populations

Bank of Hawaii Foundation has a steadfast commitment to strengthening communities in the areas we serve. The Foundation focuses on programs and projects which provide significant impact within low and moderate-income communities.

In addition to financial support, we partner with community organizations, provide technical assistance and advisory services to non-profit organizations, mobilize employee volunteers and collaborate with business partners to leverage our resources and investments.

Our Focus Areas:

The Foundation’s interests generally fall within the following categories:

• Community Development, including financial literacy, asset building and economic development.
• Education, with an emphasis on financial literacy and increasing disadvantaged children’s access to high-quality educational opportunities.
• Human Services, with an emphasis on addressing basic needs such as food, shelter, health and clothing.
• Arts and Culture, with an emphasis on programs that integrate the arts into children’s education or increase children’s access to our major arts partners.
• Foundation-initiated special projects.

Our focus includes partnering with community development organizations whose programs are designed to strengthen low and moderate income communities. These might include:

• Community development non-profits with a focus on affordable housing, economic development, revitalization of low- and moderate-income areas, and community development services.
• Community development corporations and community development financial institutions.
• Public policy advocacy groups that broadly impact low- and moderate-income communities

Major Capital Grants

Grants are predominantly for capital needs of a major nature. 

Bank of Hawaii Foundation has a steadfast commitment to strengthening communities in the areas we serve. We focus on programs and projects which provide significant impact within low and moderate income communities.

In addition to financial support, we partner with community organizations, provide technical assistance and advisory services to non-profit organizations, mobilize employee volunteers and collaborate with business partners to leverage our resources and investments.

Our Focus Areas:

• Community Development, including financial literacy, asset building and economic development.
• Education, with an emphasis on financial literacy and increasing disadvantaged children’s access to high-quality educational opportunities.
• Human Services, with an emphasis on addressing basic needs such as food, shelter, health and clothing.
• Arts and Culture, with an emphasis on programs that integrate the arts into children’s education or increase children’s access to our major arts partners.
• Foundation-initiated special projects.

Our focus includes partnering with community development organizations whose programs are designed to strengthen low and moderate income communities. These might include:

• Community development non-profits with a focus on affordable housing, economic development, revitalization of low- and moderate-income areas, and community development services.
• Community development corporations and community development financial institutions.
• Public policy advocacy groups that broadly impact low- and moderate-income communities.

Established in 1980, the James & Abigail Campbell Foundation embraces the values and beliefs of James and Abigail Campbell by investing in Hawaii’s people and the communities that nurture them.

Over the years, the Foundation has had a great return on this investment — in the form of stronger families, more effective educational programs and an improved quality of life for the people of Hawaii. In 2005, the Foundation, which is funded primarily by Campbell family members, was renamed the James & Abigail Campbell Family Foundation to reaffirm the family’s commitment to Hawaii and its future well-being. It is dedicated to continuing the Foundation’s work in memory of James and Abigail Campbell.

The Foundation supports projects in the following areas: 

• Youth- Programs that address the challenges of young people. 
• Education- Support for public schools, early childhood education and environmental stewardship. 
• Hawaiian- Support for programs that promote values and the health and welfare of Hawaiians.

Vision Statement

Hawaii’s near-shore systems are sustainable because they are well regulated by strong, responsible, responsive government authorities and non-profit partners using an ecosystem approach that benefits from broad-based expert opinion and inclusive community involvement in determining management priorities.

Goals

Make measureable improvements in our nearshore oceans where possible now; promote systemic change by improving governance and a community-based management model of practice for scaled impact in the near term; and foster a collaborative set of stakeholders to maintain a healthy system for nearshore management throughout Hawaii in the long term.

Investment Areas/Tactics

The most significant change in this third iteration of our Theory of Change is that we have done away with the seven investment areas meant to serve as programmatic foci and evaluation criteria. Instead we have shifted to five specific tactics to improve marine resource health and management. These represent shared, more proactive priorities with several partners, intended to help Hawaii achieve marine management targets over the next 1-5 years that move our islands towards two results: 1) a substantial increase in the number and percentage of nearshore marine acres in the Main Hawaiian Islands that are effectively managed based on more collaborative science, better management and improved enforcement; and 2) a similarly substantial increase in Hawaii’s capacity for ocean management.

These tactics are (in no order of priority):

• Reduce land-based pollution measurably and meaningfully in at least one pilot site: This will focus on watershed regions that partners such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric and Administration (NOAA) and the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) have already identified as priority, namely West Maui and the North Kona Coast of Hawaii, where resources and efforts are already being concentrated and can be leveraged. In the ideal, working solutions can be proven in these areas and subsequently exported as a model to be applied elsewhere in Hawaii In this light, the Foundation will not ignore potential projects in other regions that might result in workable solutions.
• Support Hawaii’s capacity to properly manage the state’s resources: In following the DLNR Chair’s and Division Administrator’s leads, the Foundation will dedicate resources toward strengthening staff positions, programs, and policies that DLNR does not have the resources to carry out on its own. Pursuant with State and Federal law, supporting the State, either directly or through a third-party fiscal sponsor is both legal and ethical. In addition to supporting DLNR, the Foundation is also committed to supporting a robust non-profit marine management sector. And when appropriate, the Foundation is also amenable to granting directly to communities who have the capacity and motivation to carry their own programs.
• Improve the State’s marine management infrastructure: The Foundation would like to focus on efforts that work collaboratively with fishers and other ocean users to find solutions that suit a broad range of needs and concerns. This will include improving enforcement, broadening education and outreach with users (e.g., tagging programs, improving access to sustainable fishing and fish), and collecting better stock data that inform better management decisions. For example, some form of registry, license or permit for recreational ocean users would provide valuable data to inform better marine management decision-making.
• Build a community-based co-management model of practice: As supporters and ‘service-providers’ to communities that are defined by use, place and practice, the non-profit sector consists of many organizations working with communities and stakeholders to improve marine resources across Hawaii The Foundation intends to use its giving resources and ability to convene towards an increasingly collaborative and cooperative marine management sector. Organizations in the Federal, State, local government and private spaces need to work collectively to reduce unnecessary redundancy, optimize efficiency in a resource-limited capacity environment, and maximize impact. Discussed in further detail in later sections, a number of collective impact opportunities currently exist to help the sector work toward shared goals.
• Designate new areas and regulations that sustain resources and benefit all users: Consistent with above tactics, in following the DLNR’s lead and the wishes of local communities of place, use, and practice, the Foundation aims to help support the groundwork necessary to establish new areas and rules that ensure sustainable harvest, habitat protection, and benefit to all users. Invariably, there will be contention associated with these efforts, which is why the Foundation is also wed to improving designation processes to be as fair, open, and inclusive as possible. Nonetheless, the Foundation believes that further efforts are necessary if we are to sustain our nearshore marine resources for future generations.

Lastly, the impact of these five tactics will be measured by two performance measures. While still largely undefined now, we anticpate that both of these performance measures will be finalized by summer 2017:

• The first is the amount of nearshore marine acres effectively managed, whose definition is currently under development in partnership with the Governor’s administration and several marine science and management organizations. ‘Effectively managed’ will be informed by a balanced perspective between biological status and management action. It is important to note that this coincides with Governor Ige’s newly launched environmental platform including his commitment to effectively manage 30% of our nearshore marine areas by 2030, and the cross-sectoral Aloha+ Challenge for sustainability. For more information on these State-led efforts click here.
• The second metric will focus on measuring Hawaii’s capacity to manage our marine resources. This is a measure of collective capacity in both the government and non-profit spaces. Because it has concluded that there is no single metric for capacity, the Foundation has opted for a shared checklist of priorities with a broad cross section of partners. The degree to which collaborators can work down this shared checklist will serve as a measure of progress. This ‘checklist’ is currently being developed with partners.

Strengthening Windward O‘ahu Communities

Windward Oahu Strategy: Building social, human, and natural capital with a particular emphasis towards nurturing future community leaders.

The Harold K.L. Castle Foundation builds on the strengths of vibrant Windward Oahu communities through investments that support the region’s rich cultural legacy, its youth and families, and its natural resources.

Like many Hawaii-based organizations, the Foundation is rooted in a strong sense of community and place. Prior to creating a family foundation in 1962, Harold K.L. Castle gave generously of his time, energy, and financial resources to the Windward Oahu community in which he lived and worked. With an eye toward the future and a vision of building civic and cultural resources, Mr. Castle in his lifetime made substantial gifts of land for Windward churches and schools, and for institutions such as Castle Medical Center and the Windward YMCA. Over its 44-year history, the Foundation has maintained a deep connection to its roots in Windward Oahu and a commitment to contributing to the vitality of communities from Kahuku to Waimanalo.

Our Purpose

The Harold K.L. Castle Foundation helps communities build assets in Windward Oʻahu by strengthening and supporting the region’s rich cultural legacy, its youth and families, and its natural resources. Investing in the unique history, traditions, people, and environment of Windward Oʻahu has important implications for the state as a whole, and is an important piece of the Foundation’s commitment to “Building Resources for Hawaiʻi’s Future.”

Our Goals

• By 2027, to dramatically increase the number of Windward Oʻahu youth who complete college and attain employment success, particularly in STEM careers;
• By 2027, to ensure that all Windward Oʻahu students graduate high school with a mālama ‘āina mindset and the resiliency and civic skills needed to protect and restore the watersheds and fisheries of Koʻolauloa and Koʻolaupoko; and
• To support other unique opportunities to strengthen the health, safety, and vibrancy of the region’s communities.

Our Strategy

In 2017, Directors embarked on a 10 year journey to achieve three primary goals within Windward Oʻahu through four key strategies:

Our Priorities

Our approach to grant making over the past years has been consistent. We continue to look for organizations that can significantly leverage our grants with other sources of support, where our funds can play a catalytic role, where we can see the promise of significant impact on important public issues in Hawaii, and where there is strong leadership that can make the best use of the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation’s funds. In Windward O‘ahu, this means start-up for promising new organizations, innovation, and scaling good work when strategies align.

It is with these values in mind that we lift up the following priorities for funding in Windward Oʻahu:

• High quality organizations and/or programs based in the region or with a record of longstanding ties to the region and effective current or potential relationships with schools and/or community
• OR high performing potential partners from outside of the region that are uniquely qualified to address Foundation goal(s) within the region
• Highly collaborative organizations that exhibit authentic, reciprocal relationships with schools and communities
• Innovation, capacity building, and occasionally scaling of programs that align to the strategy – the Foundation does not support ongoing programs or operations
• Small preschool improvements are welcome throughout the year, but are restricted to $25,000 or less. Larger capital requests for Windward Oʻahu are considered once per year in the fall with inquiries for such requests due October 1.

Much of this work will focus on building capacity within existing people, places, and programs of the region – thereby amplifying the bright spots, accelerating progress, and realizing potential within Windward Oʻahu. This will primarily be accomplished by supporting networks, systems, and cohorts for deeper learning and impact. The intention is to ground this work deeply in community for lasting and sustainable change.

The Harold K.L. Castle Foundation is excited to announce that the Ko‘olau Pilina Fund has reopened for applications. Now in itʻs second year, the fund prioritizes projects specifically tailored to Ko‘olau communities on Oʻahu from Kahuku to Makapuʻu.

The purpose of the Koʻolau Pilina Fund (the fund) is to build community resilience in the Koʻolau region. and follows a participatory approach to grantmaking in which a committee made up of Ko‘olau community members will vet proposals through an open, rolling application process.

Our Mission

Our mission is to continue and further the philanthropic legacy of Gardner Cowles, Jr. and the Cowles family, which includes promotion of education, social justice, health, and the arts.

The Founder

The Cowles Charitable Trust was first established in 1948 by Gardner “Mike” Cowles, Jr. (1903-1985). Born into the Cowles publishing family of Des Moines, Iowa, Mike was the youngest of Gardner Cowles and Florence Call Cowles’ six children. A newspaper editor and publisher by trade, he was committed to his family’s traditions of responsible, public-spirited, and innovative journalism as well as philanthropy. 

The Cowles Charitable Trust supports the arts, education, the advancement of ethical journalism, medical and climate research.

Strong Foundation Grant

There are no multi-year grants or grants to endowments, and each organization will be limited to a maximum of one grant every three years. 

Program Information

Grants are primarily to be for programs and organizations that are youth oriented.

Specific Eligibility Criteria

• Grant requests must be supported by a Strong Foundation trustee.
• Requesting organization is responsible for obtaining a commitment from the foundation’s trustee prior to submission of the request; the trustee should be sufficiently knowledgeable about the charity and its request to be its champion at the foundation’s annual meeting.

Strong Foundation Grant

There are no multi-year grants or grants to endowments, and each organization will be limited to a maximum of one grant every three years. 

Program Information

Grants are primarily to be for programs and organizations that are youth oriented.

Specific Eligibility Criteria

• Grant requests must be supported by a Strong Foundation trustee.
• Requesting organization is responsible for obtaining a commitment from the foundation’s trustee prior to submission of the request; the trustee should be sufficiently knowledgeable about the charity and its request to be its champion at the foundation’s annual meeting.

The American Water Charitable Foundation is an independent, 501(c)(3) private foundation, supported by the shareholders of American Water. The Foundation’s Board of Trustees, composed of officers and leaders of American Water or its subsidiaries, review Foundation programs, guidelines, and distribution of funds.

Applications will be accepted in the following states served by American Water, in addition to its Military Service locations: California, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

The Water and Environment Grant Program will be awarded to help fund innovative, community-based projects that:

• improve, restore or protect the watersheds, surface water and/or groundwater supplies
• promote water conservation
• improve equitable access to water-based recreation in underserved communities 

Founded in Honolulu, Hawai`i in 2003, The GIFT Foundation of Hawai`i is dedicated to supporting and empowering charitable groups in the Hawai`i community. The GIFT Foundation is a non-profit, 501(c)(3), volunteer organization run by young professionals who are heavily involved in the local community. The GIFT Foundation of Hawai`i’s mission is to encourage young adults in Hawai`i to participate in philanthropic giving. Each year, one or more Hawai`i based grantees are selected to receive a one-time grant award from proceeds raised by an annual charity event.

Priorities of the GIFT Foundation

Proposals will be accepted in the following areas of focus:

• Projects that benefit youth and education programs in the state of Hawaii
• Startup projects in their early stages of development
• Projects that can demonstrate financial sustainability
• Projects that have leadership in place
• Projects that can demonstrate that they will have high community impact

True Inspiration Awards

The True Inspiration Awards® program was created in 2015 to honor the legacy of Chick-fil-A® founder S. Truett Cathy. Through these annual grants, it is our pleasure to celebrate and support nonprofit organizations making an impact in their local communities.

S. Truett Cathy Honoree

One organization will be selected as the S. Truett Cathy Honoree. The S. Truett Cathy Honoree embodies the generous, innovative spirit of Chick-fil-A’s late founder — pioneering new ways to solve problems and serve others.

Category winners

In 2025 we will continue to support nonprofits with a total commitment of $6 million in grants ranging from $30,000-$350,000.

Sixteen organizations will be awarded for their work in these areas.

Caring for People (four winners): Programs or projects supporting educational initiatives, including fostering character and leadership development, academic excellence and community involvement in underserved youth.

Caring through Food (four winners): Programs or projects focused on addressing hunger and food insecurity facing children and their families.

Community (four winners): Programs or projects focused on providing housing and other direct services to support young people and their families.

Caring for our Planet (four winners): Programs or projects that show care for our environment and our planet, or that demonstrate environmental stewardship through initiatives directly related to our other True Inspiration Awards categories of food, community and people (i.e., community beautification, education opportunities, community gardens, outdoor classrooms, etc.) 

Theory of Change

The Kūpuna Aging in Place (KAP) Program for Elderly Services supports organizations that provide a range of supportive services including community-based support services, adult day care & adult day health, and caregiver support services for low- to moderate-income kūpuna (seniors) age 65 and older and their caregivers so that kūpuna in Hawaiʻi can age in place, for as long as it is in their best interest.

Background

There are an estimated 282,567 kūpuna 65 years and older in Hawaiʻi making up 19.6% of the total population in the state according to the U.S. Census. By 2045, the population of kūpuna in Hawaiʻi 65 years and older will represent 24% of the population, as compared to only 8% in 1980. In addition, Hawaiʻi continues to have the highest life expectancy in the nation at over 80 years of age.

Many kūpuna in Hawaiʻi rely on informal or family caregivers. Data indicates that this trend continues to grow and for many caregivers this is a source of stress which can negatively impact workforce productivity and quality of life. There are approximately 157,000 family members in Hawaiʻi providing care for their loved ones throughout the year. The value of this unpaid care totals about $2.1 billion. In an AARP survey of Hawaiʻi voters aged 45 and older, about half said they were providing for or had provided care to an adult loved one. Sixty-three percent reported feelings of emotional stress and 51% struggled to balance their family and job responsibilities.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines aging in place as "the ability to live in one's own home and community safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless of age, income, or ability level." Aging in place benefits kūpuna, their families, and greater communities. The Stanford Center on  longevity and the MetLife Mature Market Institute states that one of the key community characteristics that supports sustainable aging in place is “Community Supports & Services” including the availability of health care, supportive services, healthy food, and social integration. Supportive services include home and  community-based services and caregiver support services.The pandemic reinforced the  importance of “Community Supports & Services” for kūpuna and their caregivers. Organizations innovated to meet the needs of this high-risk population to address issues including food security, access to basic necessities, use of technology to access medical care and social opportunities, and transportation barriers. Kūpuna continue to experience challenges and support services are essential to maximize opportunities to age well, remain active, and enjoy quality lives while engaging in their communities, a goal of Hawaiʻi’s 2019-2023 State Plan on Aging.

Hawai‘i Community Foundation (HCF) has provided grants for elderly services for over 30 years through the Persons in Need (PIN) program, now known as the KAP program. Recognizing the rapid growth in the number of kūpuna and the dependence on caregivers, in 2011, HCF adopted a focus for its aging grants to “strengthen the safety net of family and informal care giving services for the elderly, with an emphasis on families and elderly of modest means.”

Purpose

Through this Funding Opportunity, HCF seeks proposals from qualified 501(c)(3) public charities to provide:

• Community-based support services for low- to moderate-income kūpuna age 65 or older provided in kūpuna’s homes or at a center/facility.
• Tuition assistance for low- to moderate-income kūpuna age 65 or older to attend licensed adult day care or adult day health programs.
• Caregiver support services including education, support groups, and respite.

About Us

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. 

Fields of Interest

•  Arts & Culture
•  Community
•  Education
•  Environment
•  Health
•  Human Services

Major Capital Requests

Major Capital requests may include capital campaigns, projects and equipment purchases with TOTAL costs of $500,000 and more.    

Major Capital grants may be provided for the purchase of equipment, renovations and construction of buildings; and occasionally for the purchase of land to protect the environment.  

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 activities
• reasonableness of the project’s income/expenditure budget
• ability of the applicant to obtain entire funding and complete the proposed project.

Community Partnership Award

The Mutual of America Foundation Community Partnership Award recognizes outstanding nonprofit organizations in the United States that have shown exemplary leadership by facilitating partnerships with public, private or social sector leaders who are working together as equal partners, not as donors and recipients, to build a cohesive community that serves as a model for collaborating with others for the greater good.

Each year, the Mutual of America Foundation sponsors a national competition in which hundreds of organizations demonstrate the value of their partnership to the communities they serve, their ability to be replicated by others and their capacity to stimulate new approaches to addressing significant social issues.

Six organizations are selected by an independent committee to receive the Community Partnership Award.

• The Thomas J. Moran Award is given to the national award-winning program and includes $100,000 and a documentary video about the program.
• The Frances R. Hesselbein Award is given to a partnership that is addressing social challenges in more than one community, or which demonstrates the potential to be replicated in other communities. This recipient receives $75,000.
• Four other organizations are named Honorable Mention recipients for their programs, and each receives $50,000.

Since its inception in 1996, the Community Partnership Award has recognized 262 partnerships from cities and towns across America. Like so many of our clients working in the nonprofit community, Mutual of America is dedicated to having a direct, positive impact on society.

Our History

The National Football League has a long-standing tradition of giving back to the community. In 2012, the National Football League Foundation was established after the NFL’s philanthropic organizations were restructured. While the NFL Foundation is new, its commitment to philanthropy builds on the history of NFL Charities and the NFL Youth Football Fund.

In 1973, NFL Charities was created as a way for the League and the 32 member clubs to collectively make grants to charitable and worthwhile causes on a national scale. Since its inception, NFL Charities granted more than $148 million to more than 1,400 different organizations.

In 1998, the NFL and NFL Players Association (NFLPA) formed the NFL Youth Football Fund (YFF) — a 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation which supports the game at the youth level, promotes positive youth development and ensures the health of football in future generations.

Through NFL Charities and the NFL Youth Football Fund, the NFL provided hundreds of millions of dollars to worthy causes and organizations. In 2012, the NFL decided to make changes to the structure of its philanthropic organizations. The NFL Youth Football Fund was merged with NFL Charities and then renamed NFL Foundation. The decision to restructure the NFL’s philanthropy efforts under one, nonprofit entity, allows the charitable organization to be more efficient and make a greater impact.

Today, the NFL Foundation supports more than 45 grant and recognition in support of its mission. In 2018, the Foundation issued a record number of grants to the charitable endeavors of current and former players, clubs and organizations across the country supporting community wellbeing.

Pro Bowl Community Grant

Provides grants to Hawaiian nonprofit organizations to benefit the state beyond the Pro Bowl game. Recipient organizations must be dedicated to serving youth in the state of Hawaii.