The Cooke Foundation Limited focuses its giving on major capital projects for cultural and educational institutions in Honolulu, with a strong emphasis on municipal arts organizations and elite private schooling. Grants are sizable and targeted—often structured as multi-payment commitments toward campus improvement and capital campaigns—reflecting a preference for high-impact, place-based investments in local arts infrastructure and K–12 facilities.
Cooke Foundation Limited’s recent giving is defined by a long-running commitment to Honolulu capital projects, especially in arts institutions and private schools. The largest grant in the file is a $391,859 award to Punahou School for the Punahou School Academy Learning Commons, followed by a five-payment commitment to the Honolulu Academy of Arts and Honolulu Museum of Art for HOMA Beretania campus capital improvements. That pattern points to a funder that backs visible, place-based projects rather than a broad scatter of small awards. The foundation also supports educational facilities and cultural infrastructure through repeated grants to Hanahauoli School, Manoa Heritage Center, and Diamond Head Theatre. Several awards are unrestricted annual grants, while others are tied to named construction or restoration projects, including campus improvements, new classroom space, and organ restoration. Its portfolio shows sustained support for institutions serving students, arts audiences, and local cultural preservation efforts in Hawaiʻi.
In arts and cultural programming, Cooke Foundation Limited backed capital work at the Honolulu Academy of Arts and Honolulu Museum of Art with a series of payments for HOMA Beretania campus capital improvements. It also supported the Diamond Head Theatre project “A New Diamond Head Theatre” and gave to the Honolulu Biennial Foundation for Hawaii Triennial 2022 community engagement. In education infrastructure, the foundation funded Punahou School’s Academy Learning Commons and Island School’s new classroom building project. It also made annual unrestricted grants to Hanahauoli School, showing a mix of project-based and general support in K–12 settings. Beyond arts and schools, the foundation gave to North Hawaii Hospice Inc for capacity building for community palliative care and to River of Life Mission for holistic health and wellness through community-driven hubs.
Typical grant size clusters at $10,000 at the 25th percentile and $20,000 at both the median and 75th percentile, but the recent file also includes much larger capital commitments such as $391,859 and repeated $200,000 installments. The grant list shows recurring support over multiple years for several recipients, including Honolulu Academy of Arts, Hanahauoli School, Manoa Heritage Center, and Hawaii Symphony Orchestra. Cooke Foundation Limited is a regular funder, not a donor-advised fund or program-related-investment vehicle. It accepts unsolicited submissions through its Grants and Reports guidance and its Annual Grants and Beautification Awards entry points.
$1.4M
$16M
$1.5M
$1.6M
Most grants fall between $10K and $20K, with a median of $20K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$20K
75th Percentile
$20K
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Concentrated, large-dollar grants (few but significant awards), frequently split into multi-payment commitments to the same institutions; heavily geographically focused on Honolulu.
Notable grantees: Honolulu Academy of Arts (Honolulu Museum of Art), Punahou School, Honolulu Museum of Art
Cooke Foundation Limited gives almost entirely in Hawaiʻi: 96% of grants in the file go to recipients in the headquarters state. Honolulu is the clear center of gravity, with repeated awards to organizations there, including arts groups, schools, and human-services providers. Outside Honolulu, recent grants reached Kamuela, Lihue, and Captain Cook, showing some island-wide spread. The country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 246 grants recorded to U.S. recipients.
The file shows a strong mix of arts and cultural institutions, private schools, and community-serving nonprofits in Hawaiʻi. Recent grants include support for campus capital improvements, classroom and learning-space projects, community palliative care, health reporting, and a community wellness hub.
Yes. The foundation lists unsolicited access points through its Grant Seekers guidance, Annual Grants, and Beautification Awards. Those site sections are presented as the entry points for prospective applicants in Hawaiʻi.
Typical grants cluster at $10,000 for the 25th percentile and $20,000 for both the median and 75th percentile. Recent awards also include larger commitments tied to capital projects, such as $391,859 and multiple $200,000 payments.
The foundation gives most often in Hawaiʻi, and 96% of grants in the file go to recipients in the HQ state. Honolulu receives many of those awards, with additional grants to recipients in Kamuela, Lihue, and Captain Cook.
The record shows repeated support to several organizations across multiple years. Honolulu Academy of Arts, Hanahauoli School, Manoa Heritage Center, and Hawaii Symphony Orchestra each appear in more than one year, and some awards are structured as multi-payment commitments.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Cooke Foundation Limited that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: A Hawaiʻi public or charter school may apply for recognition of completed work that enhanced its campus's appearance.
Deadline: February 1, 2027, at 4:00 p.m.
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Create a free accountDeadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PUNAHOU SCHOOL | HONOLULU, HI | $391,859 | 2025 | PUNAHOU SCHOOL ACADEMY LEARNING COMMONS |
| PUNAHOU SCHOOL | HONOLULU, HI | $200,000 | 2025 | PUNAHOU SCHOOL ACADEMY LEARNING COMMONS |
| HONOLULU MUSEUM OF ART | HONOLULU, HI | $200,000 | 2025 | HOMA BERETANIA CAMPUS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS (PMNT 5 OF 5) |
| HONOLULU ACADEMY OF ARTS | HONOLULU, HI | $200,000 | 2025 | HOMA BERETANIA CAMPUS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS (PMNT 4 OF 5) |
| HONOLULU ACADEMY OF ARTS | HONOLULU, HI | $100,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL GRANT - UNRESTRICTED GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HONOLULU ACADEMY OF ARTS | HONOLULU, HI | $100,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL GRANT - UNRESTRICTED GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HANAHAUOLI SCHOOL | HONOLULU, HI | $50,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL GRANT - UNRESTRICTED GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HANAHAUOLI SCHOOL | HONOLULU, HI | $50,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL GRANT - UNRESTRICTED GENERAL SUPPORT |
| RIVER OF LIFE MISSION | HONOLULU, HI | $50,000 | 2025 | HOLISTIC HEALTH & WELLNESS THROUGH COMMUNITY-DRIVEN HUBS |
| NORTH HAWAII HOSPICE INC | KAMUELA, HI | $50,000 | 2025 | CAPACITY BUILDING FOR COMMUNITY PALLIATIVE CARE |
| MANOA HERITAGE CENTER | HONOLULU, HI | $50,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL GRANT - UNRESTRICTED GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MANOA HERITAGE CENTER | HONOLULU, HI | $50,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL GRANT - UNRESTRICTED GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HONOLULU CIVIL BEAT INC | HONOLULU, HI | $40,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY HEALTH REPORTING (YEAR 2) |
| CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF ST ANDREW | HONOLULU, HI | $40,000 | 2025 | ST. ANDREW'S CATHEDRAL AEOLIAN-SKINNER ORGAN RESTORATION PROJECT |
| FRIENDS OF AMY B H GREENWELL ETHNOBOTANICAL GARDEN | CAPTAIN COOK, HI | $31,100 | 2025 | HANAU HOU - REVITALIZING AMY GREENWELL ETHNOBOTANICAL GARDEN |
| HAWAII SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | HONOLULU, HI | $30,000 | 2025 | HAWAII SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA 2025-26 SEASON |
| THE NATURE CONSERVANCY OF HAWAII | HONOLULU, HI | $25,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL GRANT - UNRESTRICTED GENERAL SUPPORT |
| FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY OF HAWAII | HONOLULU, HI | $25,000 | 2025 | PHASE II OF FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY OF HAWAII CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| MOLOKAI LAND TRUST | KAUNAKAKAI, HI | $25,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL GRANT - UNRESTRICTED GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE NATURE CONSERVANCY OF HAWAII | HONOLULU, HI | $25,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL GRANT - UNRESTRICTED GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MOLOKAI LAND TRUST | KAUNAKAKAI, HI | $25,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL GRANT - UNRESTRICTED GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HAWAII COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | HONOLULU, HI | $25,000 | 2025 | MAUI COUNTY STRONG FUND |
| THE NORTH SHORE COMMUNITY LAND TRUST | HALEIWA, HI | $20,000 | 2025 | KALAEOKAUNAOA COASTAL STRAND RESTORATION |
| HONOLULU CIVIL BEAT INC | HONOLULU, HI | $20,000 | 2025 | ECONOMIC INEQUALITY REPORTING (YEAR 1) |
| RESIDENTIAL YOUTH SERVICES & EMPOWERMENT | HONOLULU, HI | $20,000 | 2025 | RYSE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM |
| PARKER SCHOOL | KAMUELA, HI | $20,000 | 2025 | BROADENING FOUNDATIONS FOR EXCELLENCE |
| YOUNG AT HEART WORKSHOP | HONOLULU, HI | $20,000 | 2025 | AUPUNI SPACE, AN ONGOING PROGRAM OF PUUHONUA SOCIETY |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF HAWAII | HONOLULU, HI | $20,000 | 2025 | WHAT'S NEXT INITIATIVE |
| HALEIWA WAIALUA HISTORICAL SOCIETY | WAIALUA, HI | $20,000 | 2025 | WAIALUA HERITAGE CENTER |
| HAWAII FOODBANK | HONOLULU, HI | $20,000 | 2025 | FOOD 4 KEIKI SCHOOL PANTRY PROGRAM |
| HONOLULU BIENNIAL FOUNDATION | HONOLULU, HI | $20,000 | 2025 | HAWAII TRIENNIAL 2025 |
| UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII FOUNDATION | HONOLULU, HI | $20,000 | 2025 | NEW & TRADITIONAL KOREAN MUSIC IN HONOLULU: A COLLABORATION BETWEEN UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII-DEPT OF MUSIC, HAWAII SYMPHONY & SEOUL NATIONAL UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF MUSIC |
| UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII FOUNDATION | HONOLULU, HI | $20,000 | 2025 | EMPOWERING MAUI FARMERS: DIVERSIFYING AGRICULTURE FOR ECONOMIC RECOVERY & RESILIENCY |
| MOLOKAI OHANA HEALTH CARE INC | KAUNAKAKAI, HI | $20,000 | 2025 | CLIMATE-DRIVEN RELOCATION FOR MOLOKAI COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER |
| KUPU | HONOLULU, HI | $20,000 | 2025 | KUPU COMMUNITY PROGRAM |
| SUSTAINABLE MOLOKAI | KAUNAKAKAI, HI | $20,000 | 2025 | FUNCTIONAL OPERATIONS TRANSFORMATION |
| ULTIMATE HAWAIIAN TRAIL RUN FOUNDATION INC | LAWAI, HI | $20,000 | 2025 | KEALA KIDS: YOUTH MENTAL & PHYSICAL HEALTH PREVENTION PROGRAMS |
| UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII FOUNDATION | HONOLULU, HI | $20,000 | 2025 | THE MANOA MIRROR, NEW STUDENT-LED, MOBILE-FIRST COMMUNITY NEWS ORGANIZATION IN HAWAII, AIMED AT DEEPENING & BROADENING THE STATE'S PUBLIC DISCOURSE |
| LYMAN HOUSE MEMORIAL MUSEUM | HILO, HI | $20,000 | 2025 | LYMAN MISSION HOUSE RESTORATION |
| HANA ARTS | HANA, HI | $20,000 | 2025 | UPLIFTING THE EAST MAUI COMMUNITY THROUGH ARTS & CULTURE |
| UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII FOUNDATION | HONOLULU, HI | $20,000 | 2025 | BLACKNESS BELONGING HI |
| OCEAN ALLIANCE PROJECT | HONOLULU, HI | $20,000 | 2025 | KOAVIEW:: A COMMUNITY BASED APPROACH TO CORAL RESTORATION & ECOLOGICAL MONITORING |
| ROTARY DISTRICT 5000 FOUNDATION | HONOLULU, HI | $20,000 | 2025 | CENTENNIAL PARK WAIKIKI PHASE 2 CONSTRUCTION PROJECT |
| HOSPICE OF HILO | HILO, HI | $20,000 | 2025 | FAMILY CENTERED COMMUNITY GRIEF SUPPORT FOR EAST HAWAII |
| DOWNTOWN ART CENTER | HONOLULU, HI | $20,000 | 2025 | DOWNTOWN ART CENTER'S ART EXHIBITIONS FOR FY 2026 |
| HOLUALOA FOUNDATION FOR ARTS AND CULTURE | HOLUALOA, HI | $20,000 | 2025 | DONKEY MILL ART CENTER YOUTH EDUCATION PROGRAM |
| MALAMA KAUAI | KILAUEA, HI | $20,000 | 2025 | MALAMA KAUAI'S FOOD HUB PROGRAMS: GROWING KAUAI'S FOOD SYSTEM |
| HAMAKUA YOUTH FOUNDATION | HONOKAA, HI | $20,000 | 2025 | HAMAKUA YOUTH CENTER |
| YOUNG OF HEART WORKSHOP | HONOLULU, HI | $20,000 | 2025 | HOOMAU NA MAKA O KA AINA |
| HANA ARTS | HANA, HI | $20,000 | 2025 | HANA ARTS ACADEMY |
PUNAHOU SCHOOL
$391,859PUNAHOU SCHOOL ACADEMY LEARNING COMMONS
PUNAHOU SCHOOL
$200,000PUNAHOU SCHOOL ACADEMY LEARNING COMMONS
HOMA BERETANIA CAMPUS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS (PMNT 5 OF 5)
HONOLULU ACADEMY OF ARTS
$200,000HOMA BERETANIA CAMPUS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS (PMNT 4 OF 5)
HONOLULU ACADEMY OF ARTS
$100,000ANNUAL GRANT - UNRESTRICTED GENERAL SUPPORT
HONOLULU ACADEMY OF ARTS
$100,000ANNUAL GRANT - UNRESTRICTED GENERAL SUPPORT
RIVER OF LIFE MISSION
$50,000HOLISTIC HEALTH & WELLNESS THROUGH COMMUNITY-DRIVEN HUBS
NORTH HAWAII HOSPICE INC
$50,000CAPACITY BUILDING FOR COMMUNITY PALLIATIVE CARE
MANOA HERITAGE CENTER
$50,000ANNUAL GRANT - UNRESTRICTED GENERAL SUPPORT
MANOA HERITAGE CENTER
$50,000ANNUAL GRANT - UNRESTRICTED GENERAL SUPPORT
CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF ST ANDREW
$40,000ST. ANDREW'S CATHEDRAL AEOLIAN-SKINNER ORGAN RESTORATION PROJECT
FRIENDS OF AMY B H GREENWELL ETHNOBOTANICAL GARDEN
$31,100HANAU HOU - REVITALIZING AMY GREENWELL ETHNOBOTANICAL GARDEN
THE NATURE CONSERVANCY OF HAWAII
$25,000ANNUAL GRANT - UNRESTRICTED GENERAL SUPPORT
FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY OF HAWAII
$25,000PHASE II OF FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY OF HAWAII CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
MOLOKAI LAND TRUST
$25,000ANNUAL GRANT - UNRESTRICTED GENERAL SUPPORT
THE NATURE CONSERVANCY OF HAWAII
$25,000ANNUAL GRANT - UNRESTRICTED GENERAL SUPPORT
MOLOKAI LAND TRUST
$25,000ANNUAL GRANT - UNRESTRICTED GENERAL SUPPORT
THE NORTH SHORE COMMUNITY LAND TRUST
$20,000KALAEOKAUNAOA COASTAL STRAND RESTORATION
HALEIWA WAIALUA HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$20,000WAIALUA HERITAGE CENTER
HONOLULU BIENNIAL FOUNDATION
$20,000HAWAII TRIENNIAL 2025
UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII FOUNDATION
$20,000NEW & TRADITIONAL KOREAN MUSIC IN HONOLULU: A COLLABORATION BETWEEN UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII-DEPT OF MUSIC, HAWAII SYMPHONY & SEOUL NATIONAL UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF MUSIC
UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII FOUNDATION
$20,000EMPOWERING MAUI FARMERS: DIVERSIFYING AGRICULTURE FOR ECONOMIC RECOVERY & RESILIENCY
MOLOKAI OHANA HEALTH CARE INC
$20,000CLIMATE-DRIVEN RELOCATION FOR MOLOKAI COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER
ULTIMATE HAWAIIAN TRAIL RUN FOUNDATION INC
$20,000KEALA KIDS: YOUTH MENTAL & PHYSICAL HEALTH PREVENTION PROGRAMS
UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII FOUNDATION
$20,000THE MANOA MIRROR, NEW STUDENT-LED, MOBILE-FIRST COMMUNITY NEWS ORGANIZATION IN HAWAII, AIMED AT DEEPENING & BROADENING THE STATE'S PUBLIC DISCOURSE
HANA ARTS
$20,000UPLIFTING THE EAST MAUI COMMUNITY THROUGH ARTS & CULTURE
UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII FOUNDATION
$20,000BLACKNESS BELONGING HI
OCEAN ALLIANCE PROJECT
$20,000KOAVIEW:: A COMMUNITY BASED APPROACH TO CORAL RESTORATION & ECOLOGICAL MONITORING
ROTARY DISTRICT 5000 FOUNDATION
$20,000CENTENNIAL PARK WAIKIKI PHASE 2 CONSTRUCTION PROJECT
HOSPICE OF HILO
$20,000FAMILY CENTERED COMMUNITY GRIEF SUPPORT FOR EAST HAWAII
DOWNTOWN ART CENTER
$20,000DOWNTOWN ART CENTER'S ART EXHIBITIONS FOR FY 2026
HOLUALOA FOUNDATION FOR ARTS AND CULTURE
$20,000DONKEY MILL ART CENTER YOUTH EDUCATION PROGRAM
HAMAKUA YOUTH FOUNDATION
$20,000HAMAKUA YOUTH CENTER
HANA ARTS
$20,000HANA ARTS ACADEMY