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Maui United Way Inc

Annual Giving
$1.8M
Grant Range
$10K - $0.3M
Decision Time
4mo
Success Rate
30%

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Maui United Way Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $1,808,387 (2022 total expenses per 990 filing)
  • Success Rate: Varies by programme (Kahua: 15 selected from applicant pool)
  • Decision Time: 3-5 months typical for Community Impact Grant
  • Grant Range: $10,000 - $250,000 (programme 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. Following the August 2023 Maui wildfires, the organisation 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 organisation'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 CEO Jeeyun Lee (appointed 2025), Maui United Way emphasises community-led solutions and cross-sector partnerships. The organisation holds a Four-Star rating (91%) from Charity Navigator and Platinum status from GuideStar, demonstrating strong governance and financial accountability.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

Community Impact Grant (Three-Year Cycle)

  • Funding range: Varies by programme
  • 23 organisations funded in most recent 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 programme for emerging and grassroots nonprofits
  • Up to 15 organisations per cohort
  • Funding amount not publicly disclosed
  • Includes technical assistance and peer learning through cohort period
  • 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
  • Prioritises culturally grounded solutions and strong community ties
  • Recent award example: $50,000 to Kaialahui Foundation for Meaʻai Pono programme

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 programmes
  • Educational enrichment for keiki and young adults
  • After-school and summer programmes

Income/Financial Security

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

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:

  • Organisations serving Maui County residents
  • Programmes 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
  • Applications typically open in January and close in early March
  • 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

Kahua Grants Initiative:

  • Application deadline typically in late June
  • Acceptance notifications typically in early July
  • Cohort runs for 10 months
  • Up to 15 nonprofits selected per cohort
  • Requires full engagement: responsive communication and attendance at all scheduled meetings

Specialised Grants (Rolling/Periodic):

  • Mā'ona Food Security Grant and other specialised 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
  • Programmes must align with impact areas: Education, Income, or Health
  • Demonstrate commitment to measurable, lasting community change
  • Organisations need tax-exempt status (specific requirements vary by programme)

Decision Timeline

  • Community Impact Grant: Approximately 3-5 months from application close to announcement
  • Kahua Grants Initiative: 4 days from deadline to notification
  • Wildfire Relief Grants: Expedited timeline due to emergency nature
  • Decision-making involves community volunteer review panels

Success Rates

Community Impact Grant:

  • Recent cycle: 23 organisations selected
  • Previous cycle: 39 organisations selected (8 more than prior cycle, 11 first-time recipients)
  • Represents approximately 30-40 organisations funded per three-year cycle from applicant pool

Kahua Grants Initiative:

  • 15 nonprofits selected per cohort from applicant pool
  • Recent 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 recent cycle)

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Community Needs: Maui United Way prioritises "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 organisation looks for "exceptional commitment to creating measurable, lasting change in the Maui community." Include specific metrics, outcomes, and evaluation plans that demonstrate how your programme will create tangible community benefit.

Community-Led Solutions: CEO Jeeyun Lee emphasises: "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 programme design.

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

Collaborative Approach: Lee's vision emphasises 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 organisation collaborates with others.

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

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

Recent Funding Patterns: Successful Community Impact Grant recipients have 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 announcements of the next cycle opening.

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

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

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

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

  • Measurable outcomes required: The organisation emphasises "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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