The Samuel N & Mary Castle Foundation makes very large, concentrated awards rather than many small grants; the two recorded grants (totaling $3.79M) were issued to the same, but unnamed/“see attached statement” recipient. Because the beneficiary and purposes are not disclosed in the summary data, the foundation appears to favor sizable, targeted support—potentially for a single institutional partner, endowment, or a confidential initiative—centered in Hawaii given the foundation’s Honolulu base.
Samuel N & Mary Castle Fdn’s recent giving is built around early childhood education in Hawaii, with a strong emphasis on preschools, teacher development, family support, and infant-toddler services. The foundation’s 2023 grants show a pattern of targeted institutional support across the early care and education pipeline, from scholarship and stipend programs to classroom quality improvements and services for young children and their caregivers. Several grants point to that long-running emphasis. The University of Hawaii Foundation received $125,000 for the H&D Memorial Early Childhood Educ Schlp and the Mary Tenney Castle Memorial Graduate Fellowhip for 2023-24, while the Department of Education was awarded $100,000 for the Hawaii Early Childhood Educator Stipend Program. The Catholic Diocese of Honolulu also received funding for both quality improvement in independent preschools and tuition assistance for low-income families in Catholic preschools. Other awards supported early education programs for at-risk or homeless children, maternal child health, infant mental health, and services for families with young children. The grant list also includes infrastructure support for preschool classrooms and playgrounds, showing that the foundation funds both people and physical settings in which young children learn.
A clear theme in the grant list is workforce development for early childhood educators. Samuel N & Mary Castle Fdn gave $110,000 to Erikson Institute for the Early Mathematics Teacher Education Program, and $60,000 to Chaminade University of Honolulu for scholarships for early educators and textbook purchase subsidies. It also supported STEM training for early childhood educators at Hanahau'oli Schools with a $37,245 grant. Family support services are another recurring area. Child & Family Service received $75,000 for parenting program services for low-income families, Family Hui Hawaii received $50,000 for peer parenting support programs, and Parents and Children Together received $41,008 for mental health services for low-income children and families. The foundation also backs early childhood systems and infrastructure. The University of Hawaii Office of Research Services got $25,428 for access mapping to inform expansion of Hawaii’s early care and education system, while Hanalani Schools received $25,000 for outdoor play and gross motor play enhancements.
$1.9M
$38.6M
$3.7M
$2.7M
Most grants fall between $15K and $50K, with a median of $28K.
25th Percentile
$15K
Median
$28K
75th Percentile
$50K
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Highly concentrated giving: very few but large grants directed to the same recipient; repeat funding of a single beneficiary and little evidence of distributed/small-dollar grants or broad portfolio diversification.
Notable grantees: Recipient listed as “SEE ATTACHED STATEMENT” (sole/primary grantee)
Typical grants cluster around a midfive-figure range, with a p25 of $15,000, a median of $27,714, and a p75 of $50,000. The recent record also shows a very concentrated upper end, including two multi-million-dollar grants listed as “See Attached Statement.” The foundation’s giving appears to recur in Hawaii across multiple years, with 55 grants all going to U.S. recipients and 98% of grants landing in the foundation’s HQ state. It is a regular funder, not a DAF, and it does not make program-related investments. Some current RFPs accept unsolicited applications, while others are invite-only or limited to specific preschool and infant-toddler programs.
Grantmaking is overwhelmingly Hawaii-centered: 98% of grants went to recipients in HI, and the top giving state by grant count is also HI. Honolulu appears repeatedly, including awards to the University of Hawaii Foundation, the Department of Education, Hawaii Childrens Action Network, the Catholic Diocese of Honolulu, and Kapiolani Health Foundation. Other Hawaii locations in the recent list include Ewa Beach, Wailuku, Kahului, Kailua-Kona, Kilauea, Makawao, Kamuela, and Mililani. All recorded recipient-country data is U.S.-based.
The grant list centers on early childhood education in Hawaii, including preschool quality, teacher training, tuition assistance, infant-toddler services, parenting support, mental health services for families with young children, and preschool facilities such as classrooms and playgrounds.
Typical grant size is $15,000 at the 25th percentile, $27,714 at the median, and $50,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent record also includes two much larger grants above $1.8 million.
The grant data shows a local giving scope, with 98% of grants going to recipients in Hawaii and all recorded recipient-country data in the U.S. The listed RFPs are Hawaii-focused, including statewide, rural, and West Maui priorities.
The record shows repeated support for early childhood education over multiple years, including awards in 2023 and current 2026 RFPs. That pattern suggests ongoing, programmatic grantmaking rather than isolated one-off awards.
Some listed RFPs do accept unsolicited applications, including Improving Instructional Quality in Independent Preschools, Capital Improvements / Preschool Playgrounds, Teacher Training Projects for Preschools in Hawaii, and the rural and neighbor island micro-grant program. Other initiatives, such as the infant-toddler invite-only program, do not.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Samuel N & Mary Castle Fdn that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Projects must be well-reasoned, research-oriented, and often involve multiple partners and multiple funders; routine classroom technology purchases are not funded.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEE ATTACHED STATEMENT | HONOLULU, HI | $1,936,030 | 2025 | SEE ATTACHED STATEMENT |
| SEE ATTACHED STATEMENT | HONOLULU, HI | $1,853,412 | 2024 | SEE ATTACHED STATEMENT |
| UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII FOUNDATION | HONOLULU, HI | $125,000 | 2023 | H&D MEMORIAL EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUC SCHLP AND THE MARY TENNY CASTLE MEMORIAL GRADUATE FELLOWHIP FOR 2023-24 ACAD YR |
| ERIKSON INSTITUTE | CHICAGO, IL | $110,000 | 2023 | EARLY MATHEMATICS TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAM |
| HAWAII CHILDRENS ACTION NETWORK | HONOLULU, HI | $100,000 | 2023 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION | HONOLULU, HI | $100,000 | 2023 | HAWAII EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATOR STIPEND PROGRAM |
| PUNAHOU SCHOOL | HONOLULU, HI | $100,000 | 2023 | MARY TENNEY CASTLE SCHOLARSHIP FUND |
| CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF HONOLULU | HONOLULU, HI | $75,000 | 2023 | AUGMENTING QUALITY IN HAWAII'S INDEPENDENT PRESCHOOLS: ST. MICHAEL, ST. JOSEPH, ST. THERESA |
| CHILD & FAMILY SERVICE | EWA BEACH, HI | $75,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT FOR PARENTING PROGRAMS SERVICES LOW-INCOME FAMILIES |
| CHAMINADE UNIVERSITY OF HONOLULU | HONOLULU, HI | $60,000 | 2023 | SCHOLARSHIPS FOR EARLY EDUC TEACHERS $50,000 & $10,000 FOR TEXTBOOK PURCHASE SUBSIDES |
| KOKUA KALIHI VALLEY COMPREHENSIVE FAMILY SVCS | HONOLULU, HI | $60,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT FOR MATERNAL CHILD HEALTH PROGRAM |
| CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF HONOLULU | HONOLULU, HI | $60,000 | 2023 | TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES IN CATHOLID PRE-SCHOOLS |
| PARTNERS IN DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION | HONOLULU, HI | $60,000 | 2023 | EARLY EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR AT-RISK/HOMELESS CHILDREN |
| UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII FOUNDATION | HONOLULU, HI | $50,000 | 2023 | HAWAII EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS EXCELLENCE & EQUITY PROJECT (UH COLLEGE OF EDUC) |
| MONTESSORI SCHOOL OF MAUI | MAKAWAO, HI | $50,000 | 2023 | CLASSROOM REPLACEMENT PROJECT |
| MAUI FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES | WAILUKU, HI | $50,000 | 2023 | EARLY HEAD START'S HOME SCHOOL CONNECTION PROJECT |
| KAPIOLANI HEALTH FOUNDATION | HONOLULU, HI | $50,000 | 2023 | RESOURCES AND SUPPORT FOR INFANTS AND FAMILIES IN THE NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE |
| KAUAI CHRISTIAN ACADEMY | KILAUEA, HI | $50,000 | 2023 | CLASSROOM CONSTRUCTION PROJECT |
| THE SALVATION ARMY | HONOLULU, HI | $50,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT OF THE OHANA CENTER FOR INFANT HEALTH MENTAL HEALTH AND A FAMILY SERIVES THERAPIST |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES | HONOLULU, HI | $50,000 | 2023 | MARY TENNEY CASTLE EMERGENCY FUND FOR FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN FOR 2023 |
| IMUA FAMILY SERVICES | KAHULUI, HI | $50,000 | 2023 | PLAY IMUA PROGRAM OPERATING EXPENSES |
| FAMILY HUI HAWAII | HONOLULU, HI | $50,000 | 2023 | HUI PEER PARENTING SUPPORT PROGRAMS |
| COLLABORATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES | HONOLULU, HI | $50,000 | 2023 | SHARED BUSINESS & ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES FOR DAYCARE PROVIDERS AND PRE-SCHOOLS |
| INSTITUTE FOR NATIVE PACIFIC EDUCATION & CULTURE (INPEACE) | KAPOLEI, HI | $50,000 | 2023 | SUPPORT TRAINING IN BRAIN DEVELOPMENT FOR EARLY LEANING STAFF |
| FAMILY SUPPORT HAWAII | KAILUAKONA, HI | $45,000 | 2023 | QUALITY ENHANCEMENT IN THE EARLY EDUCATION HEAD START PROGRAM |
| PARENTS AND CHILDREN TOGETHER | HONOLULU, HI | $41,008 | 2023 | MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR LOW-INCOME CHILDREN AND FAMILIES |
| HANAHAU'OLI SCHOOLS | HONOLULU, HI | $37,245 | 2023 | STEM TRAINING FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS |
| FRIENDS OF THE FUTURE | KAMUELA, HI | $30,000 | 2023 | 2ND YEAR SUPPORT FOR ECE CAREER PATHWAYS (HILO) |
| UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII OFFICE OF RESEARCH SERVICES | HONOLULU, HI | $25,428 | 2023 | ACCESS MAPPING TO INFORM THE EXPANSION OF HAWAII EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION SYSTEM |
| MILILANI PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH PRE-SCHOOL | MILILANI, HI | $25,000 | 2023 | CLASSROOM UPGRADE PROJECT |
| HANALANI SCHOOLS | MILILANI, HI | $25,000 | 2023 | PRESCHOOL ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM: OUTDOOR PLAY & GROSS MOTOR PLAY ENHANCEMENTS |
| SAINT MARK LUTHERAN SCHOOL | KANEOHE, HI | $25,000 | 2023 | CONSTRUCTION OF NEW PLAYGROUND |
| MAKIKI CHRISTIAN CHURCH PRE-SCHOOL | HONOLULU, HI | $25,000 | 2023 | CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS |
| COLLABORATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES | HONOLULU, HI | $25,000 | 2023 | EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION POLICY RESEARCH FOR THE "COMMIT TO KEIKI" CAMPAIGN |
| KAWAIAHAO CHURCH | HONOLULU, HI | $25,000 | 2023 | SECURITY EQUIPMENT |
| HAWAII FOODBANK | HONOLULU, HI | $20,000 | 2023 | PURCHASE OF FOOD FOR THE ONGOING SCHOOL AND KEIKI PANTRY PROJECT |
| HAWAII FOODBANK | HONOLULU, HI | $20,000 | 2023 | MATCHING FOOD PURCHASES |
| HUI NO'EAU VISUAL ARTS CENTER | MAKAWAO, HI | $17,000 | 2023 | PRE-SCHOOL ART PROGRAM FOR THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2022-2023 |
| SEAGULL SCHOOLS INC | KAILUA, HI | $15,000 | 2023 | TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES |
| WAILUKU UNION CHURCH PRE-SCHOOL | WAILUKU, HI | $15,000 | 2023 | TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES |
| GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH | HONOLULU, HI | $15,000 | 2023 | TUITION ASSISTANCE TO LOW-INCOME FAMILIES |
| AE KAMALII PRE-SCHOOL | LIHUE, HI | $15,000 | 2023 | TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES |
| YWCA OF HAWAII ISLAND | HILO, HI | $15,000 | 2023 | TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES |
| KCAA PRE-SCHOOLS OF HAWAII | HONOLULU, HI | $15,000 | 2023 | TUITION ASSISTANCE TO LOW-INCOME FAMILIES |
| MONTESSORI COMMUNITY SCHOOL | HONOLULU, HI | $15,000 | 2023 | TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES |
| RAINBOW SCHOOL | KAHUKU, HI | $15,000 | 2023 | TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES |
| CHAMINADE UNIVERSITY MONTESSORI LAB SCHOOL | HONOLULU, HI | $15,000 | 2023 | PRESCHOOL TUITION ASSISTANCE TO LOW-INCOME FAMILIES |
| NA KAMALI'I HOALOHA | KAUNAKAKAI, HI | $15,000 | 2023 | TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES |
| FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH PRESCHOOL | HONOLULU, HI | $15,000 | 2023 | TUITITION ASSISTANCE TO CHILDREN FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILES |
| WAIKIKI COMMUNITY CENTER | HONOLULU, HI | $15,000 | 2023 | TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES |
SEE ATTACHED STATEMENT
$1,936,030SEE ATTACHED STATEMENT
SEE ATTACHED STATEMENT
$1,853,412SEE ATTACHED STATEMENT
UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII FOUNDATION
$125,000H&D MEMORIAL EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUC SCHLP AND THE MARY TENNY CASTLE MEMORIAL GRADUATE FELLOWHIP FOR 2023-24 ACAD YR
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
HAWAII EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATOR STIPEND PROGRAM
PUNAHOU SCHOOL
$100,000MARY TENNEY CASTLE SCHOLARSHIP FUND
CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF HONOLULU
$75,000AUGMENTING QUALITY IN HAWAII'S INDEPENDENT PRESCHOOLS: ST. MICHAEL, ST. JOSEPH, ST. THERESA
SUPPORT FOR PARENTING PROGRAMS SERVICES LOW-INCOME FAMILIES
CHAMINADE UNIVERSITY OF HONOLULU
$60,000SCHOLARSHIPS FOR EARLY EDUC TEACHERS $50,000 & $10,000 FOR TEXTBOOK PURCHASE SUBSIDES
SUPPORT FOR MATERNAL CHILD HEALTH PROGRAM
CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF HONOLULU
$60,000TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES IN CATHOLID PRE-SCHOOLS
EARLY EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR AT-RISK/HOMELESS CHILDREN
HAWAII EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS EXCELLENCE & EQUITY PROJECT (UH COLLEGE OF EDUC)
RESOURCES AND SUPPORT FOR INFANTS AND FAMILIES IN THE NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE
KAUAI CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
$50,000CLASSROOM CONSTRUCTION PROJECT
THE SALVATION ARMY
$50,000SUPPORT OF THE OHANA CENTER FOR INFANT HEALTH MENTAL HEALTH AND A FAMILY SERIVES THERAPIST
CATHOLIC CHARITIES
$50,000MARY TENNEY CASTLE EMERGENCY FUND FOR FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN FOR 2023
FAMILY HUI HAWAII
$50,000HUI PEER PARENTING SUPPORT PROGRAMS
COLLABORATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES
$50,000SHARED BUSINESS & ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES FOR DAYCARE PROVIDERS AND PRE-SCHOOLS
SUPPORT TRAINING IN BRAIN DEVELOPMENT FOR EARLY LEANING STAFF
FAMILY SUPPORT HAWAII
$45,000QUALITY ENHANCEMENT IN THE EARLY EDUCATION HEAD START PROGRAM
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR LOW-INCOME CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
FRIENDS OF THE FUTURE
$30,0002ND YEAR SUPPORT FOR ECE CAREER PATHWAYS (HILO)
UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII OFFICE OF RESEARCH SERVICES
$25,428ACCESS MAPPING TO INFORM THE EXPANSION OF HAWAII EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION SYSTEM
MILILANI PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH PRE-SCHOOL
$25,000CLASSROOM UPGRADE PROJECT
HANALANI SCHOOLS
$25,000PRESCHOOL ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM: OUTDOOR PLAY & GROSS MOTOR PLAY ENHANCEMENTS
SAINT MARK LUTHERAN SCHOOL
$25,000CONSTRUCTION OF NEW PLAYGROUND
MAKIKI CHRISTIAN CHURCH PRE-SCHOOL
$25,000CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS
COLLABORATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES
$25,000EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION POLICY RESEARCH FOR THE "COMMIT TO KEIKI" CAMPAIGN
KAWAIAHAO CHURCH
$25,000SECURITY EQUIPMENT
PURCHASE OF FOOD FOR THE ONGOING SCHOOL AND KEIKI PANTRY PROJECT
HUI NO'EAU VISUAL ARTS CENTER
$17,000PRE-SCHOOL ART PROGRAM FOR THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2022-2023
SEAGULL SCHOOLS INC
$15,000TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES
WAILUKU UNION CHURCH PRE-SCHOOL
$15,000TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES
GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH
$15,000TUITION ASSISTANCE TO LOW-INCOME FAMILIES
AE KAMALII PRE-SCHOOL
$15,000TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES
YWCA OF HAWAII ISLAND
$15,000TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES
KCAA PRE-SCHOOLS OF HAWAII
$15,000TUITION ASSISTANCE TO LOW-INCOME FAMILIES
MONTESSORI COMMUNITY SCHOOL
$15,000TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES
RAINBOW SCHOOL
$15,000TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES
CHAMINADE UNIVERSITY MONTESSORI LAB SCHOOL
$15,000PRESCHOOL TUITION ASSISTANCE TO LOW-INCOME FAMILIES
NA KAMALI'I HOALOHA
$15,000TUITION ASSISTANCE FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH PRESCHOOL
$15,000TUITITION ASSISTANCE TO CHILDREN FROM LOW-INCOME FAMILES