Opening soonCloses Jan 31, 2027
For Nonprofits
Nonprofit capacity buildingTrainingStrategic partnerships+1 more
About Maui United Way
Maui United Way connects local partners, funding, and community knowledge across Maui, Molokai and Lānaʻi to address urgent needs, strengthen nonprofits, and create stronger, more resilient communities.
Focus Areas
Mental healthHealthcare accessYouth developmentFood securityAgricultural resilienceDisaster preparedness and reliefEmergency recoveryHousing stabilityEmployment and workforce developmentFinancial assistanceFinancial coachingNonprofit capacity buildingEducationCultural healing
About Maui United Way
Maui United Way’s recent grantmaking shows a strong disaster-recovery and basic-needs role in Maui County, especially after the 2023 wildfires. The foundation combines emergency food and shelter funding with multi-year community grants and targeted recovery initiatives for health, food access, and nonprofit resilience. Its wildfire-related programs include the Mā‘ona Food Security Grant, which funded 13 local organizations to expand access to fresh, nutritious, and culturally appropriate food, and the Kahua Grants Initiative, which pairs funding with technical assistance and peer learning for emerging and grassroots nonprofits. In parallel, Maui United Way’s Community Impact Grant and Community Resiliency Grant support selected organizations serving Maui, Molokai, and Lāna‘i. Recent awards also show support for program delivery across education, health, youth services, financial security, and community resiliency. The pattern is local and place-based: the foundation works through Maui County organizations and public-facing emergency assistance structures, while also funding nonprofit capacity building and internal financial infrastructure. Its stated purpose is to advance and nurture the well-being of the Maui, Molokai and Lāna‘i community through impactful, equitable, and sustainable initiatives.
What Maui United Way Funds
Food security is a visible thread in Maui United Way’s grantmaking. Through the Mā‘ona Food Security Grant, it funded 13 local organizations to expand access to fresh, nutritious, and culturally appropriate food after the 2023 wildfires. Emergency shelter and hunger relief are also central through the Emergency Food and Shelter Program, which supports nonprofit, faith-based, and governmental organizations providing food, shelter, and supportive services. In education, the foundation gave $99,687 to Kupu for academic support and $178,000 to Hawaii 3rs for a playground project, showing attention to children’s learning and recreation environments. Health appears in both general and disaster-related forms, including a program support grant to Women Helping Women and a disaster relief grant to Pacific Birth Collective. The foundation also backs land preservation, as shown by its grant to Hawaii Land Trust for land preservation.
How Maui United Way Gives
Typical awards are tightly clustered: the 25th percentile is $10,000, the median is $12,720, and the 75th percentile is $15,014. That points to a grantmaking style centered on smaller, operationally useful awards rather than a few very large gifts. The recent record shows repeated support to the same organizations across years, including Hale Mahaolu and Maui Adult Day Care Center, which suggests ongoing relationships rather than one-off transactions. Maui United Way’s programs include both unsolicited opportunities and invitation-based initiatives: Community Impact Grant and Community Resiliency Grant accept unsolicited applications, while the Kahua Grants Initiative does not. The foundation is structured around local community grantmaking, emergency administration, and capacity-building support.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$2M
Total Assets
$27.3M
Total Revenue
$4.8M
Total Expenses
$5.9M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $10K and $15K, with a median of $13K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$13K
75th Percentile
$15K
Geographic Reach
Local5 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
SHANDA VANGAS
Unlock Deep Analysis
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeSee Similar Funders
Free Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeExplore related grant guides
Want a Personalized Pitch for Maui United Way?
Sign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Free plan available
No contracts
Cancel anytime