Quick Stats
- Annual Giving: $856,661 (2023 tax year, from 990 Filing Data - represents total functional expenses)
- Grant Range: $5,000 to $20,000
- Geographic Focus: Hawai'i
- Application Method: Fixed deadlines (typically April for annual grants); rolling for Urgent Action Grants
- Total Assets: $3,366,860 (2023 tax year)
Contact Details
- Website: https://hawaiipeoplesfund.org
- Email: hawaiipf@gmail.com
- Phone: 808-593-9969
- Address: P.O. Box 4163, Honolulu, HI 96812
Funding Priorities
- Grassroots organizations challenging systems of oppression in Hawai'i
- Community organizing led by people most impacted by injustice
- Constituent-led initiatives (led by, with, and for those most impacted)
- Indigenous sovereignty and land protection ('āina kulaiwi)
- Racial, economic, and environmental justice
- Issues affecting low-income families, houseless communities, people with disabilities, indigenous, immigrant, and communities of colour
- Leadership development and diversity
- Work that is inclusive and empowering rather than service provision
- Supports organizations considered too small, too new, or too controversial by traditional funders
What They Don't Fund
- Ongoing programme work with unanticipated expenses (for Urgent Action Grants)
- One-time events not connected to ongoing social change organizing strategies
- Seed funding for new projects (via Urgent Action Grants)
- Budget shortfalls or cash flow issues
- Travel to conferences outside of Hawai'i
Application Process & Timeline
The fund offers multiple grant programmes:
Hōʻāla Grants: Annual grant cycle with applications typically due in mid-April. Maximum grant award of $5,000. Organizations that have never been funded by HPF receive priority consideration. Supports start-up organizations and emergent community movements (applicant organizations must be less than 5 years old).
Urgent Action Grants: Rolling basis for grassroots social justice organizations facing urgent threats, critical organizing junctures, or breaking opportunities. Maximum grant request of $5,000. Applicants typically notified within 2-3 weeks of receipt.
Kāmau Grants: Two-year grants of $15,000 awarded to grassroots groups demonstrating year-over-year impact towards long-lasting social change.
Applications must include organizational and project budgets with narratives. Applicants must review Funding Guidelines and Eligibility Criteria before applying. The Grantmaking Committee uses a consensus-based, community-empowered process involving activists and community leaders.
References
🎯 You've done the research. Now write an application they can't refuse.
Hinchilla combines funder's specific priorities with your organisation's past successful grants and AI analysis of what reviewers want to see.
Data privacy and security by default
Your organisation's past successful grants and experience
AI analysis of what reviewers want to see
A compelling draft application in 10 minutes instead of 10 hours