The Minami Community Foundation focuses on Windward Oʻahu community-strengthening projects, with sizable investments in local education (scholarships and college support), neighborhood infrastructure (park and parking improvements, refrigeration for food programs), and place-based environmental resilience (invasive species control, micro-hydro/grids, and fishpond/estuary food projects). They tend to fund locally rooted nonprofits, schools, and community groups that deliver practical, project-based outcomes rather than national organizations.
A $50,000 grant to Hui Ulu Mea Ai for a hydro-micro grid captures the Minami Community Foundation’s pattern: it backs practical, place-based projects that strengthen Windward Oʻahu communities. Across the recent grants list, the foundation appears in education, environmental work, food resilience, and neighborhood infrastructure, usually through local schools, nonprofits, and community groups. The portfolio includes repeated support for scholarships and college access, alongside grants for invasive species control, refrigeration for food programs, park improvements, and cultural or community events. The foundation’s work is locally rooted and operational in character. It has funded Windward Oʻahu organizations that need equipment, supplies, or project support rather than broad unrestricted national grants. Recent examples include $50,000 to the University of Hawaii Foundation for scholarship support and $30,000 to the same grantee for WCC Ahupuaʻa internships, showing a steady interest in student advancement and workforce development. Other grants point to a similar approach in the broader community: the foundation funds projects meant to be used directly, on the ground, in the places where people live, study, farm, and gather.
Education is one of the clearest themes in the grant record. The foundation gave $20,000 to James B. Castle High School for college scholarships and $20,000 to the University of Hawaii Foundation for Windward Community College, alongside additional scholarship awards in 2024 and 2025. Environmental restoration is another recurring area. In 2023, it awarded $30,000 to Ohu Ohu Koolau Inc for albizia and feral pig control, and in 2024 it gave $20,000 to Pacific American Foundation for fire ant supplies and equipment. Both grants point to hands-on conservation and land stewardship. Food resilience also shows up in the recent grants. The foundation provided $25,000 to Paepae O Heʻeia for a food resiliency project and $20,000 to Kakoʻo Oiwi for a refrigeration project, linking agriculture, storage, and local food access. Community infrastructure appears as well, including $25,000 to Windward Dog Park Hui for dog park equipping and $15,000 to Key Project for a parking lot and tiller.
Grant sizes cluster in the middle range, with a typical award of $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $15,000 at the median, and $25,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent list also includes a few larger awards at $50,000 and $30,000, but many grants sit in the $5,000 to $20,000 band. The pattern is recurring rather than one-off: the University of Hawaii Foundation and James B. Castle High School both appear more than once, and Key Project appears in multiple years as well. The foundation funds individuals, and its grantmaking is operational and project-based, often supporting scholarships, equipment, and program costs. It is local in scope and does not make program-related investments.
$170K
$2.9M
$161K
$209K
Most grants fall between $10K and $25K, with a median of $15K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$15K
75th Percentile
$25K
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Concentrated, place-based giving on Windward Oʻahu: a mix of a few larger multi-grant recipients (e.g., Univ. of Hawaii Foundation, local high school) combined with many medium-sized one-time project grants to local community groups and environmental nonprofits.
Notable grantees: University of Hawaii Foundation (Windward Community College scholarships), James B. Castle High School (student scholarships), Paepae o Heʻeia (food resiliency / loko/estuary work), Ohu Ohu Koolau / Kakoʻo ʻŌiwi (invasive species control & refrigeration support), Windward Dog Park Hui (local park infrastructure)
All recent grants in the dataset went to recipients in Hawaii, and the foundation’s giving is concentrated there. Kaneohe appears repeatedly across the recipient list, including grants to the University of Hawaii Foundation, Hui Ulu Mea Ai, Key Project, and James B. Castle High School. Other recipient cities include Kailua, Pearl City, Waimanalo, and Kaneohe. The country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 25 grants in the United States and no non-U.S. recipients in the recent data.
The recent grants point to education, environmental restoration, food resilience, and community infrastructure. Examples include scholarship support, land stewardship projects, refrigeration for food programs, and equipment for parks and community groups.
The typical grant size is $15,000 at the median, with the 25th percentile at $10,000 and the 75th percentile at $25,000. Recent awards also include larger grants of $50,000 and $30,000.
No. The foundation funds individuals as well as organizations. Its recent grant record also includes scholarships and student support alongside awards to schools and local nonprofits.
The record shows recurring support for some recipients. The University of Hawaii Foundation appears multiple times, James B. Castle High School appears multiple times, and Key Project appears in more than one year, indicating repeat funding relationships.
The grants are concentrated in Hawaii, with 100% of recent grants going to recipients in the state. Kaneohe appears often among recipient locations, and other recipients are in Kailua, Pearl City, and Waimanalo.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YWCA | KANEOHE, HI | $72,300 | 2026 | KITCHEN CONSTRUCTION SUPPORT |
| HAWAII EDUCATION OF THE ARTS | KAILUA, HI | $51,200 | 2026 | THEATER AND TEACHER SUPPORT |
| JAMES B CASTLE HIGH SCHOOL | KANEOHE, HI | $15,000 | 2026 | COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS |
| KEAHIAKAHOE CANOE CLUB | KANEOHE, HI | $15,000 | 2026 | CANOE AND EQUIPMENT |
| CASTLE ALUMNICOMM ASSOC | KANEOHE, HI | $8,000 | 2026 | TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK |
| BOTTLES4COLLEGE | HAUULA, HI | $5,000 | 2026 | ALOHA AINA FAIR |
| PACIFIC AMERICAN FOUNDATION | KAILUA, HI | $3,500 | 2026 | SLOW FOOD OAHU GRANT |
| HUI ULU MEA AI | KANEOHE, HI | $50,000 | 2025 | HYDRO-MICRO GRID |
| JAMES B CASTLE HIGH SCHOOL | KANEOHE, HI | $20,000 | 2025 | COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS |
| KAKO'O OIWI | KANEOHE, HI | $20,000 | 2025 | REFRIDGERATION PROJECT |
| UNIV OF HAWAII FOUNDATION | KANEOHE, HI | $20,000 | 2025 | WINDWARD COM COLLEGE |
| PACIFIC AMERICAN FOUNDATION | KAILUA, HI | $10,000 | 2025 | SLOW FOOD OAHU GRANT |
| KEY PROJECT | KANEOHE, HI | $7,500 | 2025 | KOOLAU OHANA FESTIVAL |
| UNIV OF HAWAII FOUNDATION | KANEOHE, HI | $6,250 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| JAMES B CASTLE HIGH SCHOOL | KANEOHE, HI | $6,250 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| WINDWARD DOG PARK HUI | KANEOHE, HI | $25,000 | 2024 | COST FOR DOG PARK EQUIPPING |
| PACIFIC AMERICAN FOUNDATION | KAILUA, HI | $20,000 | 2024 | FIRE ANT SUPPLIES AND EQUIP |
| UNIV OF HAWAII FOUNDATION | KANEOHE, HI | $16,000 | 2024 | WINDWARD COM COLLEGE SCHOL |
| HUI MAKUA O PUAHALA | KANEOHE, HI | $10,000 | 2024 | SPORTS EQUIP HAWAIIAN IMMERSION SCH |
| KAI LOA INC | KANEOHE, HI | $10,000 | 2024 | KE KULA O KAMAKAU LAB PUB CHAR SCHOO |
| MALAMA HONUA PUBL CHART SCH | WAIMANALO, HI | $10,000 | 2024 | ENVIRONMENTAL/EDUCATIONAL |
| HAWAIIAN WARRIORS CANOE CLUB | KANEOHE, HI | $8,000 | 2024 | TO PURCHASE A CANOE |
| UNIV OF HAWAII FOUNDATION | KANEOHE, HI | $50,000 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIP |
| UNIV OF HAWAII FOUNDATION | KANEOHE, HI | $30,000 | 2023 | WCC AHUPUA'A INTERNSHIPS |
| OHU OHU KOOLAU INC | PEARL CITY, HI | $30,000 | 2023 | ALBIZIA / FERAL PIG CONTROL |
| PAEPAE O HE'EIA | KANEOHE, HI | $25,000 | 2023 | FOOD RESILIENCY PROJECT |
| JAMES B CASTLE HIGH SCHOOL | KANEOHE, HI | $15,000 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| JAMES B CASTLE HIGH SCHOOL | KANEOHE, HI | $15,000 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| KEY PROJECT | KANEOHE, HI | $15,000 | 2023 | PARKING LOT & TILLER |
| KANEOHE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | KANEOHE, HI | $5,000 | 2023 | EDUCATIONAL VISITS TO FARMS |
| SECOND HELPINGS HAWAII | KAILUA, HI | $5,000 | 2023 | COMMUNITY SUPPORT |
| KO'OLAUPOKU HAWAIIAN CIVIC CLUB | KANEOHE, HI | $5,000 | 2023 | CHRISTMAS LIGHTS |
YWCA
$72,300KITCHEN CONSTRUCTION SUPPORT
HAWAII EDUCATION OF THE ARTS
$51,200THEATER AND TEACHER SUPPORT
JAMES B CASTLE HIGH SCHOOL
$15,000COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS
KEAHIAKAHOE CANOE CLUB
$15,000CANOE AND EQUIPMENT
CASTLE ALUMNICOMM ASSOC
$8,000TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK
BOTTLES4COLLEGE
$5,000ALOHA AINA FAIR
HUI ULU MEA AI
$50,000HYDRO-MICRO GRID
JAMES B CASTLE HIGH SCHOOL
$20,000COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS
UNIV OF HAWAII FOUNDATION
$20,000WINDWARD COM COLLEGE
KEY PROJECT
$7,500KOOLAU OHANA FESTIVAL
UNIV OF HAWAII FOUNDATION
$6,250SCHOLARSHIPS
JAMES B CASTLE HIGH SCHOOL
$6,250SCHOLARSHIPS
WINDWARD DOG PARK HUI
$25,000COST FOR DOG PARK EQUIPPING
UNIV OF HAWAII FOUNDATION
$16,000WINDWARD COM COLLEGE SCHOL
HUI MAKUA O PUAHALA
$10,000SPORTS EQUIP HAWAIIAN IMMERSION SCH
KAI LOA INC
$10,000KE KULA O KAMAKAU LAB PUB CHAR SCHOO
MALAMA HONUA PUBL CHART SCH
$10,000ENVIRONMENTAL/EDUCATIONAL
HAWAIIAN WARRIORS CANOE CLUB
$8,000TO PURCHASE A CANOE
UNIV OF HAWAII FOUNDATION
$50,000SCHOLARSHIP
UNIV OF HAWAII FOUNDATION
$30,000WCC AHUPUA'A INTERNSHIPS
OHU OHU KOOLAU INC
$30,000ALBIZIA / FERAL PIG CONTROL
PAEPAE O HE'EIA
$25,000FOOD RESILIENCY PROJECT
JAMES B CASTLE HIGH SCHOOL
$15,000SCHOLARSHIPS
JAMES B CASTLE HIGH SCHOOL
$15,000SCHOLARSHIPS
KANEOHE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
$5,000EDUCATIONAL VISITS TO FARMS
SECOND HELPINGS HAWAII
$5,000COMMUNITY SUPPORT
KO'OLAUPOKU HAWAIIAN CIVIC CLUB
$5,000CHRISTMAS LIGHTS