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Maui United Way Inc

Annual Giving
$0.5M
Grant Range
$10K - $0.3M
Decision Time
4mo
Success Rate
60%

Maui United Way Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $453,000 (2022 regular grants) + $12.9M wildfire relief (2023-2024)
  • Success Rate: Varies by program (Kahua: 15 selected from applicant pool)
  • Decision Time: 3-5 months typical for Community Impact Grant
  • Grant Range: $10,000 - $250,000 (program dependent)
  • Geographic Focus: Maui County (Maui, Molokai, and Lanai)

Contact Details

Website: www.mauiunitedway.org
Phone: 808.244.8787
Email: info@mauiunitedway.org
Address: 310 W Kaahumanu Ave Bldg, Rm. 202, Kahului, HI 96732

Key Grant Contacts:

  • Jane Leek, Grants Administrator
  • Makana Rosete, Community Impact Manager

Overview

Founded as the United Way serving Maui County, Maui United Way Inc (EIN: 99-0086524) is a Philanthropy, Voluntarism and Grantmaking Foundation that distributed $452,996 in grants across 39 awards in 2022 through its regular programs. Following the August 2023 Maui wildfires, the organization significantly expanded its operations, allocating over $12.9 million in wildfire relief funds, including $7.8 million in direct emergency financial assistance to nearly 8,000 survivors and $5.1 million in grants to nonprofits. The organization's mission is to "bridge resources to enrich and empower our County of Maui community" through three impact areas: Education, Income (sustainability), and Health. Under new CEO Jeeyun Lee (appointed 2025), Maui United Way emphasizes community-led solutions and cross-sector partnerships. The organization holds a Four-Star rating (91%) from Charity Navigator and Platinum status from GuideStar, demonstrating strong governance and financial accountability.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Community Impact Grant (Three-Year Cycle)

  • Funding range: Varies by program
  • 23 organizations funded in 2023-2025 cycle (extended to 2025-2026)
  • Applications open every three years
  • Evaluated by 30 community volunteers
  • Focuses on measurable, lasting community change

Kahua Grants Initiative

  • Capacity-building program for emerging and grassroots nonprofits
  • Up to 15 organizations per cohort
  • Funding amount not publicly disclosed
  • Includes technical assistance and peer learning through April 30, 2026
  • Partnership with SR Partners LLC for grant consulting support

Mā'ona Food Security Grant

  • Range: $50,000 - $250,000
  • Addresses food insecurity in Maui County
  • Prioritizes culturally grounded solutions and strong community ties
  • Recent award example: $50,000 to Kaialahui Foundation for Meaʻai Pono program

Wildfire Relief Grants (Special Initiative)

  • Phase 2: $10,000 each to 22 local nonprofits
  • Mental Health Grants: $649,504 total distributed
  • Ohana Mental Health Grant: $500,000 launched
  • Focus areas: keiki and young adults, mental health, stable housing, job training/education/employment

Maui Recovery Funders Collaborative

  • Single-entry point process for multiple funders
  • Streamlined approach reduces burden on applicants
  • Coordinates funding across philanthropic network

Priority Areas

Maui United Way focuses on three main impact areas:

Education

  • Youth mentoring and support programs
  • Educational enrichment for keiki and young adults
  • After-school and summer programs

Income/Financial Security

  • Job training and workforce development
  • Employment support services
  • Economic stability programs

Health

  • Mental health services and grief support
  • Substance use treatment and prevention
  • Sexual assault prevention
  • Healthcare access

Current Strategic Priorities (Post-Wildfire):

  • Keiki and young adults
  • Mental health
  • Stable housing
  • Workforce development
  • Nonprofit capacity-building
  • Environmental recovery and remediation

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions not publicly documented. However, funding is restricted to:

  • Organizations serving Maui County residents
  • Programs aligned with Education, Income, or Health impact areas
  • Nonprofits demonstrating measurable community impact

Governance and Leadership

Chief Executive Officer:

  • Jeeyun Lee (appointed December 2025)
  • Previously Director of Community Impact and Interim CEO
  • West Maui resident with firsthand wildfire experience

CEO's Vision: "I've seen firsthand the power of what is possible when our community comes together. As CEO, I want to build on the progress we make when we focus on the challenges we share as a community. As residents of this county, we carry many of the same struggles — which means we can align our work between public, private and community partnerships to share in creating holistic solutions."

Board of Directors:

Leadership:

  • Chris Smith, Board Chair
  • Shanda Vangas, Outgoing Chair
  • Paul Apao, Vice Chair
  • Dr. Jennifer Salisbury, Secretary
  • Matthew Mori, Treasurer

At-Large Members: Scott Crockford, Max Novena, Jonnie Torres, Mary Anderson, Barbara Geary, Inita Fonohema, Kolea (Skye) Razon-Olds, Kiko Camacho, Joyce Wang, Ron Williams, Melissa Padilla, Sylvia Ho, Kaleena Wakamatsu

Staff Team:

  • Lindsey Shiroma, Deputy Director
  • Sherry Ann Yamashita, Finance Manager
  • Makana Rosete, Community Impact Manager
  • Jane Leek, Grants Administrator
  • Lehua Leong, Community Impact Coordinator

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Community Impact Grant (Three-Year Cycle):

  • Online applications open every three years for Partner Agencies
  • Most recent cycle: Applications opened January 24, 2023, closed March 3, 2023
  • Applicants must create an account on Maui United Way's website
  • Account credentials are retained for future applications and reporting
  • Applications evaluated by 30 community volunteers
  • Next cycle timing not yet announced

Kahua Grants Initiative:

  • Application deadline: June 27 (for 2025 cohort)
  • Acceptance notifications: July 1
  • Cohort runs for 10 months (July through April)
  • Up to 15 nonprofits selected per cohort
  • Requires full engagement: responsive communication and attendance at all scheduled meetings

Specialized Grants (Rolling/Periodic):

  • Mā'ona Food Security Grant and other specialized initiatives have specific deadlines
  • Check website for current opportunities
  • Single-entry point available through Maui Recovery Funders Collaborative for disaster-related funding

General Requirements:

  • Must serve Maui County residents
  • Programs must align with impact areas: Education, Income, or Health
  • Demonstrate commitment to measurable, lasting community change
  • Organizations need tax-exempt status (specific requirements vary by program)

Decision Timeline

  • Community Impact Grant: Approximately 3-5 months from application close to announcement
    • 2023 example: Applications closed March 3, announcement made in late 2023
  • Kahua Grants Initiative: 4 days from deadline to notification (June 27 deadline, July 1 notification)
  • Wildfire Relief Grants: Expedited timeline due to emergency nature
  • Decision-making involves community volunteer review panels

Success Rates

Community Impact Grant:

  • 2023-2025 cycle: 23 organizations selected
  • 2020-2023 cycle: 39 organizations selected (8 more than previous cycle, 11 first-time recipients)
  • Represents approximately 30-40 organizations funded per three-year cycle from applicant pool

Kahua Grants Initiative:

  • 15 nonprofits selected per cohort from applicant pool
  • Inaugural 2025 cohort included: Boys & Girls Club Maui, Catholic Charities Maui, Grow Some Good, Habitat for Humanity Maui, Hāna Business Council, Hoʻōla iā Mauiakama, Kākoʻo Maui, Laʻakea Village, Maui Historical Society, Our Kūpuna, Pacific Birth Collective, Pacific Cancer Foundation, Piha Wellness & Healing, Roots Reborn, What Makes You Feel Beautiful

Emergency Financial Assistance (Wildfire Relief):

  • 77% success rate (7,000+ approved from 9,000+ applications)

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies not publicly documented. However:

  • Community Impact Grant operates on three-year cycles, suggesting automatic opportunity to reapply when next cycle opens
  • Account credentials are retained for future applications, indicating expectation of potential reapplication
  • New nonprofits are regularly funded (11 first-time recipients in 2020-2023 cycle)

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Community Needs: Maui United Way prioritizes "projects with strong community ties, culturally grounded solutions, and innovative strategies" addressing critical needs in Education, Income, and Health. Applications should demonstrate deep understanding of Maui County's specific challenges.

Measurable Impact: The organization looks for "exceptional commitment to creating measurable, lasting change in the Maui community." Include specific metrics, outcomes, and evaluation plans that demonstrate how your program will create tangible community benefit.

Community-Led Solutions: CEO Jeeyun Lee emphasizes: "We're not just mapping contaminated land, we're opening the door for long-term solutions shaped by the people who live here. This project is about reclaiming space, addressing health and safety, and investing in what our communities want to see for themselves." Applications should demonstrate community voice and leadership in program design.

Cultural Grounding: Particularly for food security and other culturally-sensitive initiatives, Maui United Way prioritizes "culturally grounded solutions." Programs should reflect Hawaiian cultural values and practices where appropriate and demonstrate cultural competency.

Collaborative Approach: Lee's vision emphasizes partnership: "As residents of this county, we carry many of the same struggles — which means we can align our work between public, private and community partnerships to share in creating holistic solutions." Demonstrate how your organization collaborates with others.

Organizational Capacity: Through the Kahua Grants Initiative and other programs, Maui United Way invests in organizational infrastructure. While emerging organizations are supported, applicants should demonstrate basic operational capacity or clear plan for capacity building.

Responsiveness and Engagement: For programs like Kahua, full engagement is expected: "responsive to requests and communications, ensuring participation at every scheduled meeting." Demonstrate organizational reliability and communication capacity.

Recent Funding Patterns: Successful 2023-2025 Community Impact Grant recipients included:

  • Aloha House (substance use detox services)
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters (youth mentoring)
  • Child and Family Service (sexual assault prevention)
  • Habitat for Humanity Maui
  • Boys & Girls Clubs of Maui

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Three-year funding cycle: Community Impact Grants operate on a three-year cycle. Plan ahead and watch for announcement of next cycle (next opening likely 2026 for 2026-2028 funding).

  • Community-centered approach matters: Emphasize community voice, culturally grounded solutions, and collaborative partnerships. CEO Jeeyun Lee's leadership prioritizes community-led initiatives over top-down approaches.

  • Multiple entry points: Don't limit yourself to Community Impact Grants. Specialized initiatives like Kahua (capacity-building), Mā'ona (food security), and periodic targeted grants offer diverse funding opportunities.

  • Capacity-building available: If your organization is emerging or grassroots, Kahua Grants Initiative provides both funding and technical assistance. This can strengthen your organization for future larger grant applications.

  • Geographic focus: Must serve Maui County residents (Maui, Molokai, Lanai). Island-specific or culturally Hawaiian programs appear particularly competitive.

  • Measurable outcomes required: The organization emphasizes "measurable, lasting change." Include specific metrics and evaluation plans demonstrating concrete community impact.

  • Post-wildfire priorities: Current strategic focus includes mental health, housing, workforce development, youth services, and nonprofit capacity-building. Alignment with these priorities may strengthen applications in near term.

References

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