About University of Hawaii Foundation
To advance the University of Hawaiʻi by raising and stewarding philanthropic support for student success, research, faculty, facilities and community needs across the UH system.
Focus Areas
Higher educationScholarshipsResearchFaculty supportCapital projects and facilitiesCommunity recovery and resilienceWorkforce developmentCultural preservationSustainabilityInnovation
Who They Fund
HIDOE schools and students (Hawaii K–12 students)high school seniors statewide (FAFSA targets)small-scale farmers / prospective farm entrepreneurs
About University of Hawaii Foundation
The University of Hawaii Foundation’s largest recent grant was a $14,824,909 award to the University of Hawaii for university support, research, scholarships, and awards. That single grant sets the tone for a funder that primarily channels philanthropic support into the University of Hawaiʻi system while also backing statewide education and workforce-related work in Hawaiʻi. In the latest grants, the foundation combined very large institutional support with smaller awards for student networking, small farm startup and expansion, and entrepreneurship prizes. The foundation’s giving is tightly linked to higher education and to programs that support students, faculty, and research across the UH system. A $12,592,877 grant to the University of Hawaii in the prior year continued that same pattern of institutional support, research, and scholarship funding. Beyond the university itself, the foundation also funded the State of Hawaii Dept of Education for pipeline-strengthening work and FAFSA completion efforts, showing a broader interest in education access from K–12 through postsecondary transition. Smaller grants reached community partners working on student networks, farm development, and startup support.
What University of Hawaii Foundation Funds
Higher education is the clearest theme in the recent record. The foundation gave $258,300 to the State of Hawaii Dept of Education to support HIDOE schools and students, strengthen the education pipeline, and assist with postsecondary education. Student access shows up again in a separate grant of $13,300 to the State of Hawaii Dept of Education for the Cash for College 808 Challenge, which aims to increase FAFSA completion rates among high school seniors across the state. The foundation also funded $25,000 grants to Adult Friends for Youth, Kupu, Hawaii Workforce Pipeline Inc, and Center for Tomorrow's Leaders for work to implement and adapt strategies, tools, and metrics that build and strengthen students’ networks. Outside education, it supported agriculture with matching grants of $25,000 each to Big Tree Farm LLC, Old Koloa Regenerative Farm, and Ahiki Acres LLC to help small farmers start or expand operations.
How University of Hawaii Foundation Gives
Typical grants cluster around a $25,000 median, with a p25 of $25,000 and a p75 of $83,325. The distribution is mixed: a few very large institutional awards sit alongside many grants at the same modest level, suggesting a blend of major university support and targeted program grants. The foundation is a regular funder rather than a donor-advised fund, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. Recent awards appear in consecutive years, including major grants in both 2023 and 2024, which points to recurring support rather than isolated one-time giving.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$15.3M
Total Assets
$893.5M
Total Revenue
$123.1M
Total Expenses
$68.5M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $25K and $83K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$25K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$83K
Geographic Reach
Local1 state funded
About 100% of grants go to recipients in HI.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
JOHN HAN
Accepts unsolicited proposals
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