The Community Grants program provides project or program-based funding to nonprofit organizations benefitting the communities and people of Hawai‘i. We believe that those working closest to the people they serve are best informed of the needs and opportunities that exist through the connections and relationships that they build every day.
Specific geographic funds established at the Hawai‘i Community Foundation support this program and are conducted in three different grant rounds throughout the year. Each grant round will have different fund priorities.
FINAL REPORT REQUIREMENT
When you have completed your project, please complete a final report. The reporting due date is one month after the grant end date and appears on your award letter. For all grants awarded up to January 1, 2024, use the Final Report Guidelines linked below to complete, and upload your final report to the Grants Portal. For grants awarded after January 1, 2024, the final report form must be completed within the Grants Portal by accessing the “Reporting” tab of your grant.
Final Report Guidelines
Open Applications
Please check back periodically for open applications.
Applications Currently Closed
The fund was established with the broad purpose to “support organizations that benefit the people, flora and fauna of Kaua‘i.” Funding is available for a broad range of community needs, including culture and arts, education, environment, health and human services.
The purpose of the fund is to benefit the people and communities of East Hawai‘i, from Waipi‘o Valley to Waiohinu. The East Hawai‘i Fund especially welcomes proposals that involve people and organizations from different sectors of the community who are working together to address an issue of concern to the community.
Preference will be given to projects that address a community need in one or more of the following areas:
- Educational opportunities with an emphasis on early childhood, after school/out-of-school experiential opportunities for youth, and/or preparedness for education and career success
- Strengthening intergenerational relationships
- Economic sufficiency for self, family and community
- Family-centered and integrative approaches to health care
- Social conditions such as poverty, domestic violence, substance abuse or crime
- Recreational opportunities with an emphasis on family and/or intergenerational activities
The purpose of the fund is to support activities and projects of charitable agencies that work to improve the quality of life of the residents of the ‘Ewa area.
Preference will be given to projects that address a community need and benefit the ‘Ewa Community that:
- Are conducted by organizations based in the ‘Ewa area, have a history of involvement in the ‘Ewa community, or are partnering with an ‘Ewa organization, with strong preference given to groups based in ‘Ewa Beach
- Involve or serve youth, particularly out of school time, or the elderly
- Are supporting program expenses, as opposed to personnel expenses.
The purpose of the fund is “to promote resource conservation programs for the community that would affect the use of natural resources such as water and land. The goal is to promote and support programs that create and instill a conservation ethic in our keiki and ‘ohana, an attitude that recognizes and respects living on an island of finite resources.”
Preference will be given to projects that:
- Promote natural resource conservation through:
- Environmental Education, including curriculum for school-based programs, workshops, conferences, or seminars;
- Video or film projects or public service announcements (PSA) promoting energy conservation, environmental education, natural resource stewardship or conservation;
- Implementation of hands-on natural resource stewardship projects such as reforestation, eradication of invasive species, or reclamation of streams;
- Alternative, renewable energy projects in conjunction with education programs; or
- Acquisition or preservation of land for the purposes of conservation or sustainability, in perpetuity;
- Benefit the geographical community identified by the zip codes of 96707 and 96792, essentially the Wai‘anae Coast and Kapolei. Note: Groups not based in this community must demonstrate a partnership with an organization or community group based within the area by submitting a letter of commitment from the community partner;
- Focus on youth (approximately 10-25 years), although intergenerational projects where youth are learning from the knowledge and experience of kupuna will also be considered; and
- Demonstrate commitment to support the local economy by spending majority of the funds within the community.
The fund was established with a broad purpose, “to be used for charitable and community purposes within the geographic district of Kahuku, bounded by Turtle Bay and Malaekahana.”
Preference will be given to projects that address a community need and benefit the Kahuku community in the following areas:
- Educational opportunities, including early care and education
- Recreational opportunities
- Economic sufficiency for self, family and community; such as emergency assistance to individuals and families
- Social conditions such as crime, poverty, substance abuse or domestic violence
- Health care
- Strategic action plan around future development of the Kahuku community
- Greater understanding of traditional and contemporary cultural arts, practices and values of the Ko‘olauloa moku
Kahuku Wind Community Fund
The fund was established with the broad purpose to “benefit the neighboring community to the North Shore wind farm located at Kahuku, specifically the geographic area bounded by Hauula to Turtle Bay.” Funding is available for a broad range of community needs.
Kūki‘o Community Fund
The Kūkiʻo Community Fund is no longer participating in HCF’s Community Grants Program. The Kūkiʻo Community Fund is continuing to invest in communities.
The purpose of the fund is to “promote and enrich the lifestyle of the residents of Lāna‘i through the support of educational, cultural and recreational activities for the Lāna‘i community with special emphasis on youth, young adults and senior citizens.” All projects must benefit the Lāna‘i community. Preference will be given to projects that focus on youth, young adults or senior citizens and provide educational activities, cultural activities, or recreational activities.
The West Hawai‘i Fund was established for the benefit of the people and communities of West Hawaiʻi, from North Kohala to Ocean View Estates. The West Hawaiʻi Fund aims to support programs that address equitable and inclusive access to services, build resilience and connection between different sectors of the community, and strengthen the long-term capacity of individuals and organizations to become healthy, vibrant, and sustainable. Preference will be given to organizations based in West Hawai‘i.