The Strong Foundation is a Hawaii-focused funder concentrating on community resilience, education, cultural preservation, and place-based environmental stewardship across Oʻahu and the neighbor islands. Grants overwhelmingly support capital projects, facility upgrades, and program expansions for schools, community centers, cultural institutions, and health/community safety-net providers, with an emphasis on serving children, families, and native cultural and natural resources. The foundation favors organizations that deliver tangible local impact—restoration, infrastructure, and hands-on learning—over pure research or policy work.
The Strong Foundation’s recent giving is dominated by $100,000 grants that fund buildings, restorations, and program spaces across Hawaiʻi. In 2025, it supported Hawaii Theatre Center for "Enriching, Educating, Engaging Our Keiki Through the Arts," and The Maui Farm for its "Ho'olana Keiki Education Program," showing a mix of arts, youth learning, and community services. The pattern is practical and place-based: the foundation backs projects that create or improve physical space for schools, cultural organizations, health providers, and community-serving nonprofits. Its grant history points to a funder that favors tangible local improvements over abstract support. Recent awards reached independent and charter schools, cultural institutions, and family-service organizations, including Island School for a new classroom building and Pacific Cancer Foundation for support for children and families battling cancer. Other grants have funded redevelopment, security, outdoor learning areas, and technology centers, suggesting a consistent interest in infrastructure that strengthens daily operations and access to services. The foundation’s portfolio also reflects a strong connection to Hawaiʻi’s cultural and environmental landscape. Grants have supported historic preservation, native habitat work, and place-based learning, alongside youth enrichment and community safety-net programs. The result is a grantmaking profile centered on community resilience through capital improvements and direct program support.
In education, The Strong Foundation has funded physical expansion and learning spaces for schools. Examples include $100,000 to Island School for a new classroom building, $100,000 to Carden Academy of Maui for Building "C" expansion, and $100,000 to Hālau Kū Māna PCS for a multi-purpose technology center. Cultural preservation is another clear thread. The foundation gave $100,000 to Lahaina Restoration Foundation for rehabilitation of the historic Baldwin Home in Lahaina and $100,000 to Manoa Heritage Center for Kualiʻi-A, described as a cultural treasure and community resource. Youth and family services also appear often in the recent record. The Maui Farm received $100,000 for its Ho'olana Keiki Education Program, while Child & Family Services received $100,000 for a place of families and youth in crisis. Health-related support is present as well, including $100,000 to Pacific Cancer Foundation for children and families battling cancer.
$1.5M
$24.1M
$2.5M
$1.7M
Most grants fall between $50K and $100K, with a median of $100K.
25th Percentile
$50K
Median
$100K
75th Percentile
$100K
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Highly concentrated giving within Hawaiʻi: 25 grants of equal large amounts ($100,000 each) indicating a preference for sizable, one-off capital or program grants rather than many small awards. Grants are broadly distributed across sectors but repeatedly target local institutions and infrastructure projects; there is limited evidence of multi-year unrestricted operating support—funding appears project- and facility-focused with both island-wide geographic spread and repeated investment in education, culture, and conservation themes.
Notable grantees: Parker School, Manoa Heritage Center, The Nature Conservancy (Hawaiʻi), Teach For America–Hawaiʻi, Boys & Girls Club of Maui
Typical grant size clusters tightly around $100,000, with a p25 of $50,000 and both the median and p75 at $100,000. The recent record suggests a highly standardized upper tier of support rather than many small awards. The foundation appears to make repeat yearly grants, with recent awards visible in 2023, 2024, and 2025. It does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. The profile and grant list point to institutional, project-based giving rather than open application or individual support.
Grantmaking is overwhelmingly Hawaiʻi-centered, with 98% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state. Recent awards are spread across Honolulu, Kahului, Makawao, Pukalani, Wailuku, Hilo, Hāna, Lahaina, Ewa Beach, Waimea, Līhue, Haleʻiwa, and Haiku. Outside Hawaiʻi, the only named recipient location in the recent list is Denver, Colorado, through Book Trust Hawaii Chapter. The country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 55 grants to U.S. recipients.
Its recent grants favor capital projects and program spaces for schools, cultural organizations, family-service providers, and community facilities. Examples in the record include a new classroom building at Island School, a rehabilitation project at the historic Baldwin Home in Lahaina, and a multi-purpose technology center at Hālau Kū Māna PCS.
The grant-size distribution is tightly centered on $100,000. The p25 is $50,000, the median is $100,000, and the p75 is also $100,000.
Its giving is local, and 98% of grants go to recipients in Hawaiʻi. In the recent grants list, the only recipient outside the state is Book Trust Hawaii Chapter in Denver, Colorado; the rest are in Hawaiʻi.
Recent awards show support for education, cultural preservation, environmental stewardship, youth services, and health-related community support. Named examples include Hawaii Opera Theatre for education and outreach programs, Haleakala Conservancy for safety and security in Haleakala National Park, and Pacific Cancer Foundation for children and families battling cancer.
The available record shows annual grantmaking across 2023, 2024, and 2025, with multiple awards each year. That indicates recurring annual giving rather than a single isolated grant cycle.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOOK TRUST HAWAII CHAPTER | DENVER, CO | $100,000 | 2025 | PROMOTING LITERACY FOR HAWAI'I ELEMENTARY STUDENTS |
| HISTORIC HAWAII FOUNDATION | HONOLULU, HI | $100,000 | 2025 | HISTORIC PRESERVATION EDUCATION PROGRAM |
| VARIETY SCHOOL OF HAWAII | HONOLULU, HI | $100,000 | 2025 | VARIETY SCHOOL OUTDOOR PLAYGROUND |
| HUI NO'EAU | MAKAWAO, HI | $100,000 | 2025 | VISITING ARTIST COTTAGE REPAIR & RESTORATION PROJECT |
| TEACH FOR AMERICA-HAWAII | HONOLULU, HI | $100,000 | 2025 | TEACH FOR AMERICA HAWAI'I PROGRAMMING |
| THE NATURE CONSERVANCY | HONOLULU, HI | $100,000 | 2025 | PROTECTING MAUI'S CRITICAL HABITATS AND NATIVE FOREST BIRDS |
| UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII FOUNDATION | HONOLULU, HI | $100,000 | 2025 | MANOA ATHLETICS-RAINBOW WAHINE VOLLEYBALL TEAM |
| LIVING PONO PROJECT | PAIA, HI | $100,000 | 2025 | PU'U KUKUI WATERSHED ALAPI'I PROJECT |
| THE MAUI FARM | MAKAWAO, HI | $100,000 | 2025 | HO'OLANA KEIKI EDUCATION PROGRAM |
| MA KA HANA KA IKE BUILDING PROGRAM | HANA, HI | $100,000 | 2025 | MA KA HANA KA 'IKE 2024 CONTRACTOR TRUCK AND TRAILER |
| PACIFIC CANCER FOUNDATION | WAILUKU, HI | $100,000 | 2025 | HOPE PROJECT FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES BATTLING CANCER |
| REHABILITATION HOSPITAL OF THE PACIFIC FOUNDATION | HONOLULU, HI | $100,000 | 2025 | THE CARE FUND: CARING FOR THOSE WITH FEW RESOURCES |
| HAWAII THEATRE CENTER | HONOLULU, HI | $100,000 | 2025 | ENRICHING, EDUCATING, ENGAGING OUR KEIKI THROUGH THE ARTS |
| MANOA HERITAGE CENTER | HONOLULU, HI | $100,000 | 2025 | KUALII-A CULTURAL TREASURE AND COMMUNITY RESOURCE |
| MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION IN HAWAII DBA MENTAL HEALTH AMERICA OF HAWAII | HONOLULU, HI | $50,000 | 2025 | NO SHAME, GET HELP SUICIDE PREVENTION APP |
| HUI O WA'A KAULUA | LAHAINA, HI | $50,000 | 2025 | RESTORING, REBUILDING, AND REPLACING WA'A FROM THE MAUI FIRE LOSSES |
| CHILD & FAMILY SERVICES | EWA BEACH, HI | $100,000 | 2024 | FROM HOPE TO STRENGTH: A PLACE OF FAMILIES AND YOUTH IN CRISIS |
| KOKUA KALIHI VALLEY COMPREHENSIVE FAMILY SERVICES | HILO, HI | $100,000 | 2024 | EQUITY FOR KKV'S YOUTH AND DISABLED DENTAL PATIENTS |
| ISLAND SCHOOL | LIHUE, HI | $100,000 | 2024 | NEW CLASSROOM BUILDING |
| PARKER SCHOOL | WAIMEA, HI | $100,000 | 2024 | BROADENING FOUNDATIONS FOR EXCELLENCE |
| ASSISTANCE DOGS OF HAWAII | MAKAWAO, HI | $100,000 | 2024 | ASSISTANCE DOGS OF HAWAII HONOLULU OFFICE |
| SEABURY HALL | MAKAWAO, HI | $100,000 | 2024 | SECURITY GATE |
| FEEDING HAWAII TOGETHER | HONOLULU, HI | $100,000 | 2024 | WALK-IN REFRIGERATOR AND FREEZER REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT |
| STRAUB FOUNDATION | HONOLULU, HI | $100,000 | 2024 | STRAUB REDEVELOPMENT-PHASE ONE |
| HUI HO'OLEIMALUO | HILO, HI | $100,000 | 2024 | KAUHALE O KAUMAUI |
| HALEAKALA CONSERVANCY | PUKALANI, HI | $100,000 | 2024 | ENHANCED SAFETY AND SECURITY WITHIN HALEAKALA NATIONAL PARK |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF MAUI | KAHULUI, HI | $100,000 | 2024 | REBUILDING PROMISING FUTURES IN PAUKUKALO |
| BISHOP MUSEUM | HONOLULU, HI | $50,000 | 2024 | SCIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY FESTIVAL |
| HOOLA NA PUA | HONOLULU, HI | $50,000 | 2024 | PREVENTION EDUCATION/AWARENESS TRAINING AND STARFISH MENTORING |
| NAAIKANE O MAUI | MAKAWAO, HI | $50,000 | 2024 | MAUI DISASTER RELIEF |
| SPECIAL OLYMPICS HAWAII | EWA BEACH, HI | $50,000 | 2024 | BUILDING CHAMPIONS-A CAMPAIGN FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS HAWAI'I |
| HAWAII COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | HONOLULU, HI | $50,000 | 2024 | MAUI STRONG FUND |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF HAWAII | HONOLULU, HI | $50,000 | 2024 | PU'UHONUA INITIATIVE |
| HUI O WAA KAULUA | KAHULUI, HI | $50,000 | 2024 | MAUI DISASTER RELIEF |
| KULA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | KULA, HI | $45,000 | 2024 | PTA KEOKEA AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE PROGRAM |
| BALLET HAWAII | HONOLULU, HI | $25,000 | 2024 | THE NUTCRACKER RELOCATION DURING BLAISDELL RENOVATION |
| MOANALUA GARDENS FOUNDATION | HONOLULU, HI | $25,000 | 2024 | MALAMA KAMANANUI VALLEY ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION INITIATIVE |
| ROTARY DISTRICT 5000 FOUNDATION | HONOLULU, HI | $25,000 | 2024 | CENTENNIAL PARK WAIKIKI |
| PARENTS AND CHILDREN TOGETHER | HONOLULU, HI | $25,000 | 2024 | KALAULANILAWAPUNI: A PERMANENT HOME FOR BRIGHTER FUTURES |
| CHAMINADE UNIVERSITY | HONOLULU, HI | $100,000 | 2023 | PHASE I LIBRARY REDESIGN |
| PONO ACADEMY | KAHULUI, HI | $100,000 | 2023 | PONO ACADEMY |
| CARDEN ACADEMY OF MAUI | PUKALANI, HI | $100,000 | 2023 | CARDEN ACADEMY OF MAUI BUILDING "C" EXPANSION FOR GRADES 2, 3, 4 & 5 |
| HAWAII OPERA THEATRE | HONOLULU, HI | $100,000 | 2023 | HAWAII OPERA THEATRE EDUCATION & OUTREACH PROGRAMS |
| HAWAIIAN ISLANDS LAND TRUST | WAILUKU, HI | $100,000 | 2023 | ADAPTIVE REUSE RESTORATION FOR C W DICKEY HOUSE, WAIHEE MAUI |
| LAHAINA RESTORATION FOUNDATION | LAHAINA, HI | $100,000 | 2023 | REHABILITATION OF THE HISTORIC BALDWIN HOME IN LAHAINA |
| REAL ONGOING OPPORTUNITIES TO SOAR INC | HAIKU, HI | $100,000 | 2023 | GROWING ROOTS PHASE II AND III |
| GIRL SCOUTS OF HAWAII | HONOLULU, HI | $100,000 | 2023 | STEM CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE AT PAUMALU |
| HALAU KU MANA PCS | HONOLULU, HI | $100,000 | 2023 | MULTI PURPOSE TECHNOLOGY CENTER |
| HAWAIIAN HUMANE SOCIETY | HONOLULU, HI | $100,000 | 2023 | WEST OAHU CAMPUS PROJECTWEST OAHU CAMPUS PROJECT |
| KAPIOLANI HEALTH FOUNDATION | HONOLULU, HI | $100,000 | 2023 | TEEN RESILIENCY PROGRAM AT KAPIOLANI MEDICAL CENTER FOR WOMEN & CHILDREN |
BOOK TRUST HAWAII CHAPTER
$100,000PROMOTING LITERACY FOR HAWAI'I ELEMENTARY STUDENTS
HISTORIC HAWAII FOUNDATION
$100,000HISTORIC PRESERVATION EDUCATION PROGRAM
VARIETY SCHOOL OF HAWAII
$100,000VARIETY SCHOOL OUTDOOR PLAYGROUND
HUI NO'EAU
$100,000VISITING ARTIST COTTAGE REPAIR & RESTORATION PROJECT
TEACH FOR AMERICA-HAWAII
$100,000TEACH FOR AMERICA HAWAI'I PROGRAMMING
THE NATURE CONSERVANCY
$100,000PROTECTING MAUI'S CRITICAL HABITATS AND NATIVE FOREST BIRDS
UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII FOUNDATION
$100,000MANOA ATHLETICS-RAINBOW WAHINE VOLLEYBALL TEAM
LIVING PONO PROJECT
$100,000PU'U KUKUI WATERSHED ALAPI'I PROJECT
THE MAUI FARM
$100,000HO'OLANA KEIKI EDUCATION PROGRAM
MA KA HANA KA IKE BUILDING PROGRAM
$100,000MA KA HANA KA 'IKE 2024 CONTRACTOR TRUCK AND TRAILER
PACIFIC CANCER FOUNDATION
$100,000HOPE PROJECT FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES BATTLING CANCER
REHABILITATION HOSPITAL OF THE PACIFIC FOUNDATION
$100,000THE CARE FUND: CARING FOR THOSE WITH FEW RESOURCES
HAWAII THEATRE CENTER
$100,000ENRICHING, EDUCATING, ENGAGING OUR KEIKI THROUGH THE ARTS
MANOA HERITAGE CENTER
$100,000KUALII-A CULTURAL TREASURE AND COMMUNITY RESOURCE
MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION IN HAWAII DBA MENTAL HEALTH AMERICA OF HAWAII
$50,000NO SHAME, GET HELP SUICIDE PREVENTION APP
HUI O WA'A KAULUA
$50,000RESTORING, REBUILDING, AND REPLACING WA'A FROM THE MAUI FIRE LOSSES
CHILD & FAMILY SERVICES
$100,000FROM HOPE TO STRENGTH: A PLACE OF FAMILIES AND YOUTH IN CRISIS
KOKUA KALIHI VALLEY COMPREHENSIVE FAMILY SERVICES
$100,000EQUITY FOR KKV'S YOUTH AND DISABLED DENTAL PATIENTS
ISLAND SCHOOL
$100,000NEW CLASSROOM BUILDING
PARKER SCHOOL
$100,000BROADENING FOUNDATIONS FOR EXCELLENCE
ASSISTANCE DOGS OF HAWAII
$100,000ASSISTANCE DOGS OF HAWAII HONOLULU OFFICE
SEABURY HALL
$100,000SECURITY GATE
FEEDING HAWAII TOGETHER
$100,000WALK-IN REFRIGERATOR AND FREEZER REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT
STRAUB FOUNDATION
$100,000STRAUB REDEVELOPMENT-PHASE ONE
HUI HO'OLEIMALUO
$100,000KAUHALE O KAUMAUI
HALEAKALA CONSERVANCY
$100,000ENHANCED SAFETY AND SECURITY WITHIN HALEAKALA NATIONAL PARK
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF MAUI
$100,000REBUILDING PROMISING FUTURES IN PAUKUKALO
BISHOP MUSEUM
$50,000SCIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY FESTIVAL
HOOLA NA PUA
$50,000PREVENTION EDUCATION/AWARENESS TRAINING AND STARFISH MENTORING
NAAIKANE O MAUI
$50,000MAUI DISASTER RELIEF
SPECIAL OLYMPICS HAWAII
$50,000BUILDING CHAMPIONS-A CAMPAIGN FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS HAWAI'I
HAWAII COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$50,000MAUI STRONG FUND
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF HAWAII
$50,000PU'UHONUA INITIATIVE
HUI O WAA KAULUA
$50,000MAUI DISASTER RELIEF
KULA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
$45,000PTA KEOKEA AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE PROGRAM
BALLET HAWAII
$25,000THE NUTCRACKER RELOCATION DURING BLAISDELL RENOVATION
MOANALUA GARDENS FOUNDATION
$25,000MALAMA KAMANANUI VALLEY ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION INITIATIVE
ROTARY DISTRICT 5000 FOUNDATION
$25,000CENTENNIAL PARK WAIKIKI
PARENTS AND CHILDREN TOGETHER
$25,000KALAULANILAWAPUNI: A PERMANENT HOME FOR BRIGHTER FUTURES
CHAMINADE UNIVERSITY
$100,000PHASE I LIBRARY REDESIGN
PONO ACADEMY
$100,000PONO ACADEMY
CARDEN ACADEMY OF MAUI
$100,000CARDEN ACADEMY OF MAUI BUILDING "C" EXPANSION FOR GRADES 2, 3, 4 & 5
HAWAII OPERA THEATRE
$100,000HAWAII OPERA THEATRE EDUCATION & OUTREACH PROGRAMS
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS LAND TRUST
$100,000ADAPTIVE REUSE RESTORATION FOR C W DICKEY HOUSE, WAIHEE MAUI
LAHAINA RESTORATION FOUNDATION
$100,000REHABILITATION OF THE HISTORIC BALDWIN HOME IN LAHAINA
REAL ONGOING OPPORTUNITIES TO SOAR INC
$100,000GROWING ROOTS PHASE II AND III
GIRL SCOUTS OF HAWAII
$100,000STEM CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE AT PAUMALU
HALAU KU MANA PCS
$100,000MULTI PURPOSE TECHNOLOGY CENTER
HAWAIIAN HUMANE SOCIETY
$100,000WEST OAHU CAMPUS PROJECTWEST OAHU CAMPUS PROJECT
KAPIOLANI HEALTH FOUNDATION
$100,000TEEN RESILIENCY PROGRAM AT KAPIOLANI MEDICAL CENTER FOR WOMEN & CHILDREN