Best Grants for Women in Hawaii

Hawaii nonprofits and fiscally sponsored programs serving only women and girls can access funding through Women’s Fund of Hawaii for general operations, special projects, and small capital needs, with awards up to US $10,000. Priority goes to programs advancing women’s financial security, safety, leadership, and well-being, especially for girls, Native Hawaiian communities, and rural areas.

NCAA Division II member colleges and universities, including those in Hawaii, can receive support to create new assistant coaching positions that increase ethnic minority and women’s representation in any NCAA-sponsored sport. With a mission to advance diversity in athletics, the National Collegiate Athletic Association provides up to US $48,000 over three years for salary, wages, and benefits.

Hawaii colleges and athletic conferences that are active NCAA Division II members can access funding to create full-time, mid- to senior-level athletics administration positions focused on diversity and leadership. These roles cover areas like strategic planning, compliance, fundraising, and student-athlete welfare, and may particularly benefit programs advancing opportunities for women in sports leadership.

Hawaii colleges and athletic conferences serving women and ethnic minorities in NCAA Division II administration can access funding through the National Collegiate Athletic Association to create full-time, entry-level athletics administrative internships. Awards of US $30,000 support intern salary, plus additional professional development funds, for one academic year at eligible Division II schools or multisport conference offices.

Nonprofits and community organizations in Hawaii supporting women and children’s legal access, safety, health, or education can apply for Hawaii Women's Legal Foundation microgrants of US $500 - US $5,000. Funding is typically project-based, with priority for efforts addressing domestic violence, child abuse, sexual abuse, financial independence, and overall welfare statewide, including neighbor islands.

U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits with 3+ full-time staff and budgets between $500,000 and $10 million can seek L B Research and Education Foundation support for education and health programs, including in Hawaii. Funding backs proven, research-informed initiatives that close opportunity gaps for underserved adolescents, post-secondary students, and adults, or improve access to physical and mental health care. Awards range from US $10,000 - US $75,000.

High school seniors pursuing STEM degrees with a focus on advancing gender equity may be eligible for the Athena Scholarship in Hawaii and nationwide. The San Diego Foundation offers US $1,000 - US $5,000 to students planning to attend a four-year U.S. university who demonstrate community service, financial need, and strong commitment to education.

Women age 19 and older pursuing two- or four-year college degrees may receive up to US $3,000 in scholarship support, including for students from Hawaii attending accredited U.S. institutions. Grants from Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts help women and girl services by easing higher education costs such as tuition, fees, and room and board.

Women who are unemployed or under-employed and pursuing post-high school education can receive multiyear tuition and college expense support through the Women's Education Coalition Grant, including residents of Hawaii studying in eligible programs. Grants from Kalamazoo Community Foundation help women in higher education and vocational training cover costs within their institution’s cost of attendance.

Female high school seniors pursuing higher education who attend Scranton or West Scranton High School and live in Lackawanna County may be eligible for this scholarship, supporting women and girl services. Scranton Area Foundation offers the Junior League of Scranton Scholarship, which may interest women-focused applicants, including those searching alongside Hawaii opportunities.

Scranton Area Foundation provides Hawaii women and girls pursuing further education with scholarship support through the Irene Zurine Memorial Scholarship. Traditional and nontraditional students planning higher education or adult education may be eligible. This national opportunity supports educational access and equity for women and girls across the U.S., including Hawaii.

Female or female-identified high school students pursuing higher education and active in volunteerism can benefit from this scholarship, which supports women and girl services. Scranton Area Foundation awards the Cinderella’s Closet of NEPA Scholarship to students from specific Northeastern Pennsylvania counties who have 50+ documented volunteer hours and a minimum 3.0 GPA.

The Bob Zylstra STEM Scholarship, offered by the Grand Rapids Community Foundation, supports undergraduate students who identify as female or as students of color from West Michigan. This scholarship aims to empower students pursuing STEM majors by removing barriers to education and fostering diversity in these fields. Each year, the foundation awards scholarships ranging from $2,000 to $5,000 to help students achieve their academic and career aspirations.

YWCA Chester County Fund

Mission Statement

A primary focus of the YWCA Chester County Fund is to provide scholarships to women, primarily non-traditional students, to continue their education.

Emma E. Hill Memorial Scholarship Fund

Mission Statement

The Emma E. Hill Memorial Scholarship Fund was established to memorialize Emma by helping female swimmers pursue their dreams of a college education. The scholarship awards will be granted on an annual basis to female graduating high school senior athletes in Southern Chester County.

About Emma

Emma was an excellent student as a sophomore at Unionville High School (UHS). She loved to swim and was a dedicated member of both the Kennett YMCA Sea Dragons and UHS swim teams. In her spare time, Emma was a lifeguard and also taught young children how to swim at the Y. As a younger child and teenager, Emma excelled on the ballfield in URA softball.

At the young age of 16, Emma passed away following complications caused by a rare type of gastric cancer, a form of the disease that was unheard of in a child and unfortunately found too late. Throughout Emma’s brief illness, she was strong and determined to get better, and did not let her health issues define her in any way.

Emma was beautiful in every sense of the word, and was loved throughout her community and beyond. She worked hard at whatever she was trying to accomplish, but always with a cheery, exuberant attitude and lovely smile. More than anything, her absolute kindness and warm heart are what made Emma our sweet girl.

Madeline Mellers Memorial Girls Golf Scholarship

Madeline started playing golf at a young age with her father, Ed Mellers, in Missouri. After moving to Colorado with her mother and stepfather, Chris and Ann Bush in 4th grade, she continued to play and started competing in CJGA events around the state. When she started as a freshman at Rye High School in 1990-91, there was no girls’ golf team at Rye High School so CHSAA said she could try out for the boys’ team, and she made it! Her junior year, Madeline along with her coach, Greg Bailey and Hollydot Professional, Prim Ivan, approached CHSAA again to see if Mad’s scores from Boys golf in fall could qualify her for the Girls State golf tournament the next spring, and CHSAA decided yes! She qualified and played in her 1st state tournament the next spring, placing 10th. In those days, the girls competed against girls from every size of high school in the state 1A to 6A.

During her Junior and Senior years, Madeline was also working with Dana Smith, a well known teaching professional from the Mike McGetrick Golf Academy in Denver. Dana took Madeline’s golf to the next level and is now graciously helping with her scholarship. He was chosen as the best teacher in Colorado by Golf digest and has several articles on golf published by Golf digest and Golf Illustrated. He is currently one of the staff at Trent Wearner Golf in Denver.

Her senior year, we were able to field a team made up of girls from various Southern Colorado small high schools and they played in girls’ season, 11 tournaments in all. Madeline was medalist in all 11 tournaments. She went on to become the Pueblo Ladies City Champion 3 times in 1994, 1995, and 1996. She was the youngest girl to win the Ladies championship at 17 years old!

Madeline was awarded a golf and academic scholarship to Stetson University, a division 1 school in Florida, where she attended and played golf for 4 years graduating in 1998. Denver University Law School was her next stop, and she graduated with her Juris Doctorate in 2002, passed the bar and started her law career with a private firm in Denver.

Tragically, we lost Madeline at 41 years old to colon cancer after a courageous 5-year battle. At the time of her death, she was a Senior Asst. Attorney General for the state of Colorado and very actively involved as a fundraiser for the Colon Cancer Alliance of Colorado. Madeline Ann Mellers played golf all of her life and was President of the Denver Businesswomen’s golf league. 

Description of the award

• We will be awarding two $2,500.00 scholarships
• Payment will be made to the institution directly
• Both in-state and out-of-state institutions are accepted
• Applicants must maintain a 3.0 or above GPA while maintaining the scholarship

About The Glaucoma Foundation

The Glaucoma Foundation is dedicated to improving the lives of people with glaucoma. The Foundation works to encourage and support basic and applied research in glaucoma with a goal of preserving and restoring vision. We strive to be an important resource to help patients, their families, and at-risk individuals to manage their glaucoma through education and outreach.

About Research to Prevent Blindness

The mission of Research to Prevent Blindness (RPB) is to preserve and restore vision by supporting research to develop treatments, preventives and cures for all conditions that damage and destroy sight. Since it was founded 60 years ago, in 1960, RPB has channeled more than $383 million into eye research. As a result, RPB has been identified with nearly every major breakthrough in vision research in that time.

The Glaucoma Foundation (TGF) and Research to Prevent Blindness (RPB) partner annually to provide a grant aimed at supporting women and under-represented racial and ethnic minority researchers in the pursuit of glaucoma research.

The TGF (sponsored by Patricia Hill) / RPB Fellowships in Glaucoma provide one-year $10,000 fellowships focused on substantive glaucoma research, including investigation into the etiology, diagnosis and/or treatment of glaucoma, to current ophthalmology fellows with an MD, MD/PhD, PhD or other relevant degree.

Mid-career women of color environmental leaders, including those based in Hawaii, can apply for Rachels Network’s Catalyst Award organizational grant, offering US $10,000 to their organizations. Funding supports leaders advancing environmental conservation, sustainability, and stewardship, and may benefit groups focused on empowering women and girls through environmental initiatives.

Mid-career women of color environmental leaders in Hawaii can receive personal support to advance work in sustainability, conservation, and environmental stewardship. Grants from Rachels Network help U.S.-based women and girl service leaders with a US $15,000 personal award, plus potential organizational funding, leadership development services, and public recognition.

Nonprofit women and girl service organizations in Hawaii working in the U.S. or its territories can receive US $25,000 to support community-focused causes, education, child welfare, or development efforts. With a mission to honor women who uplift their communities, L'Oreal Paris provides these Women of Worth Awards with mentorship and national visibility.

 YWCA Clark County Chan Barnett Scholarship

The mission of the YWCA Clark County Scholarship is to advance, support and promote education for women returning to the workforce.

The YWCA Clark County Scholarship was founded in 1994 by Channing R. R. Barnett with the purpose of helping women acquire training they need to become employable and self-sufficient.

Channing was sixty when she left her marriage. She had been a wife and mother for thirty two years - and worried she had no 'marketable skills' with which to support herself. Conquering her fears, Chan enrolled in Clark College's Displaced Homemakers Program. With the support of other women, Chan began to explore and develop her own talents. Drawing on her strong conviction to 'paddle her own canoe' she decided to make the most of her resources.

Reading the Wall Street Journal from cover to cover, taking advantage of every free resource she could find, and having the confidence to call investment brokers and ask lots of questions eventually paid off! As Chan said, she went from, "just having my toes in the stock market, then my ankle, and now I'm swimming up to my neck!"

The support she received from YWCA during this challenging time inspired Chan to start YWCA Scholarship. Her personal success is an inspiration to us all; it is her hope to pass along that inspiration to other women who face similar challenges.

Award Amount

One to two scholarships in the range between $1,000 - $4,000 may be awarded at the scholarship committee's discretion.

The Zonta Club of Greater Sandusky High School STEM Scholarship Fund provides financial support to female high school seniors from Erie, Huron, or Ottawa County, Ohio, who plan to pursue a degree in STEM or medical fields at accredited institutions. Established by the Zonta Club, this scholarship aims to empower young women to contribute positively to their communities by facilitating access to higher education opportunities. Since its inception, it has fostered academic growth and leadership among recipients.

The Zonta Club of Greater Sandusky offers a scholarship fund aimed at supporting female residents of Erie, Huron, Ottawa, or Sandusky Counties, Ohio. This fund is specifically for women aged 23 and older who are returning to education after a break. Eligible candidates must be enrolled in a 2-4 year undergraduate program at an accredited institution, empowering them to enhance their educational and professional prospects.

The College Women's Club Charitable Fund Scholarship aims to support female graduating seniors from selected high schools in Erie County, Ohio, who are pursuing undergraduate degrees. With a focus on financial need and a minimum GPA requirement of 3.5, this scholarship encourages young women to contribute positively to their communities. Since its inception in 1995, the fund has played a vital role in enhancing educational opportunities and fostering leadership among local students.

The Cohen-Tucker Dissertation Fellowship Program, established by ASEEES in 2015, supports doctoral students conducting research in Russian/Soviet historical studies. With a stipend of up to $28,000, it is open to students from all disciplines. A special focus is given to Women's and Gender Studies. Applicants must be doctoral students at US universities, proficient in relevant languages, and able to defend their dissertations during the fellowship tenure. Preference may be given to research on the Soviet era.

The AAUW Branch and State Affiliate Community Action Grants aim to empower AAUW branches and state organizations by providing up to $10,000 for innovative STEM programming targeted at girls in grades K-12. This initiative is designed to foster hands-on learning experiences, expand local impact, and showcase AAUW's commitment to gender equity in STEM. By collaborating with other organizations, AAUW seeks to build confidence and inspire the next generation of female STEM leaders.

The AAUW Community Action Grants provide up to $75,000 to support nonprofits and educational institutions that empower girls in grades K–12 to succeed in STEM fields. By fostering hands-on learning, mentorship, and family involvement, these grants aim to build confidence and skills among girls, especially those from underrepresented communities. AAUW believes that immersive STEM environments and relatable role models can inspire lasting interest and help close the gender gap in leadership and careers.