Free funder guide · Hawaii · Last checked 27 September 2026
Which Hawaii environmental funders actually accept applications
Most private foundations in Hawaii have already told the IRS they won't read your proposal. This page explains how to spot them, and lists 11 secular funders of environmental and conservation work in Hawaii that do take applications, with what they fund, what they have given, and when they next open.
Hawaii has few open private foundations, and most of the ones that fund conservation also gave to a church, a YMCA or YWCA, or a religious school in their recent filings, so only two private foundations made this list. Most of what is here is state and county money, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and the Hawaii Community Foundation's marine program.
From my own read of IRS filings, September 2026
In Hawaii, 127 of the 197 private foundations with $1 million or more in assets tick the box on their tax return saying they don't accept unsolicited requests. That is 64%.
That leaves 70 larger Hawaii foundations that say they will read an application. It is a lower share of closed doors than in Virginia (71%, 586 of 820) and Maryland (76%, 559 of 739), counted the same way.
How I counted: every private non-operating foundation with a Hawaii address on the IRS Exempt Organizations Master File (September 2026 release) reporting assets of $1 million or more, checked against its most recent e-filed Form 990-PF (tax years 2024 to 2026, almost all 2024 or 2025). Operating foundations, which mostly run their own programs, are left out, as they were for Virginia and Maryland. Counting them too gives 68% (149 of 220).
What the checkbox means
One small box on the tax return tells you whether to bother.
Every private foundation files Form 990-PF with the IRS each year. Part XIV, line 2 of that return has a checkbox. A foundation that ticks it is telling the IRS, in writing, that it chooses its grantees itself. A proposal sent to it is usually wasted work.
"Check here if the foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."Form 990-PF, Part XIV, line 2
A foundation that leaves the box empty has to fill in lines 2a to 2d instead: who receives applications, what form they should take, any deadlines, and any limits on who or what it funds. For many small family foundations, those four lines are the only published guidelines they have.
The box does not tell you whether a foundation funds your kind of work. For that, read line 3a, the list of grants it actually paid. Check both before you write a letter of inquiry. Any foundation's return can be read free on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
11 funders
Open to applications, and funding environmental work in Hawaii.
Every funder below is secular, says it accepts applications (on its website or its tax return), and has paid grants to environmental or conservation groups in its most recent filing. Government programs are the exception: they file no tax return. Community foundations are listed by the program that fits environmental groups. Grant examples come from each funder's latest IRS filing unless the funder's own site is named.
Verified date on the funder's own site on 27 Sept 2026Expected based on last cycle; next not yet postedRolling applications any timeFiling only no website; from the tax return, confirm firstCheck site next date not posted; open their page
Statewide and regional public grantmakers
01
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation: Hawaii Conservation Program
Washington, DC · priority areas on Hawaii Island, Maui, Oahu and Kauai
Native forest bird recovery inside mapped priority areas: palila, kiwikiu, Oahu elepaio and alala, plus landscape-scale mosquito control on Maui and Kauai to slow avian malaria. Nonprofits can apply, and projects that bring in Native Hawaiian cultural knowledge and community stewardship are encouraged.
Typical grant
Generally $50,000 to $200,000, with at least 1:1 match (2027 request for proposals). Its 2026 slate funded eight grants totaling nearly $1.2 million, including The Nature Conservancy $44,500 (kiwikiu predator control in Waikamoi Preserve) and Lanai Culture & Heritage Center $46,400 (deer and sheep management and community stewardship).
Next deadline
Full proposal October 21, 2026, 5:59 p.m. HST Verified. Awards are announced about March 2027.
How to apply
Full proposal in NFWF's Easygrants system. The 2027 timeline has no pre-proposal step.
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation: Coral Reef Stewardship Fund
Washington, DC · U.S. coral reef states and territories, including Hawaii
Cuts local threats to priority reefs, such as sediment and nutrient runoff and overfishing, and funds coral restoration and restoration science. Its 2026 Hawaii grants paid for watershed and fishpond work on Maui and Molokai, sediment mapping, and wildfire and feral-animal control on Maui.
Typical grant
No range posted. Hawaii grants on its 2026 slate ran $150,000 to $289,800, including The Coral Reef Alliance $175,000 (native plants, taro patches and water quality monitoring above Olowalu reef) and $150,000 (restoring Molokai fishponds with local partners).
Next deadline
No request for proposals is posted; the 2026 grant slate came out in September 2026. Watch its page for the next round Check site.
How to apply
Online proposal in NFWF's Easygrants system when a request for proposals opens.
Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources: Legacy Land Conservation Program
Honolulu · statewide
State grants, paid from real estate conveyance tax, that let nonprofit land conservation organizations, counties and state agencies buy land or conservation easements protecting watersheds, coasts, habitat, cultural sites, farmland, parks and open space.
Typical grant
About $5.3 million is expected for fiscal year 2027 acquisition awards. Nonprofits must match at least 25% of total transaction costs and be registered with the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (its site).
Next deadline
Fiscal year 2027 cycle: the agency consultation form was due September 14, 2026; the full application is due November 2, 2026 Verified. Commission presentations about February 2027. The next cycle's dates are not posted Check site.
How to apply
Sign up online first (one sign-up per proposed application); the program then emails SharePoint folders for the agency consultation form and the application.
Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources: Kaulunani Urban and Community Forestry
Honolulu · statewide
Community grants for urban and community forestry on public or publicly accessible land or school grounds: tree planting and care, education, invasive pests of trees and Arbor Day projects. It focuses on underserved communities and Native Hawaiians.
Typical grant
Not posted per grant. Over $9.1 million to more than 500 projects since 1993, matched by over $9 million (its site).
Next deadline
The 2026 community grant round has closed and the next round is not posted Check site.
How to apply
Application on Kaulunani's grant page when a round opens; a current Hawaii Compliance Express certificate is required. It also invites a short pre-proposal form at any time so staff can match projects to other funding.
Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources: Forest Stewardship Program
Honolulu · statewide
Planning and cost-share help for private owners or long-term leaseholders of at least 5 contiguous forested (or formerly forested) acres, including private groups and associations, for native forest restoration, wildlife habitat, watershed and riparian protection, fire prevention and education.
Typical grant
75% of the cost of a 10-year management plan, and up to 50% of approved practices, subject to program funding (its site).
Next deadline
No deadline posted; contact staff, then send a project proposal to the Forest Stewardship Advisory Committee Rolling.
How to apply
Contact Division of Forestry and Wildlife staff to discuss the project, then submit a proposal; approved proposals are invited to write a full 10-year plan.
U.S. Forest Service Community Forest Program (through Hawaii DLNR)
Honolulu · statewide
Federal matching money for nonprofit conservation organizations and local governments to buy forest land outright (at least 5 acres and 75% forested) and run it as a community forest with public access.
Typical grant
Up to 50% of project costs, with a 50% non-federal match. Conservation easements are not eligible (its site).
Next deadline
Annual deadlines vary and none is posted Check site.
How to apply
Talk to the Division of Forestry and Wildlife (contact on its page) about the property first; applications go to the state forester.
City and County of Honolulu: Clean Water and Natural Lands Program
Honolulu · Oahu
City money that buys land or conservation easements on Oahu for any of seven conservation purposes, including watershed, habitat, cultural sites and farmland. Land trusts and nonprofits can propose sites, and easements are often co-held with community partners that then steward the land.
Typical grant
Not a cash grant to the organization: the City pays for the acquisition. $38.5 million in public funds has gone to 1,459 acres so far (its site).
Next deadline
None; inquiries at any time. Inquiry to closing can take two to three years Rolling.
How to apply
Online inquiry form, then a meeting with the City's Conservation Office; qualified proposals go to the Advisory Commission and then City Council.
NOAA: Hawaii Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET)
Honolulu · statewide
Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences for K-12 students in Hawaii's ahupuaa, and training for their teachers, weaving Native Hawaiian knowledge with Western science.
Next deadline
No competition is open. Its Hawaii page says a funding opportunity was anticipated in 2026; NOAA's national B-WET page lists none open Check site.
How to apply
Federal application when NOAA posts a Hawaii B-WET funding notice; questions to [email protected].
Hawaii Community Foundation: Holomua Marine Initiative
Honolulu · statewide, nearshore waters
A pooled fund backing the state's community-based nearshore marine management effort. Papio Grants give short-term support to projects that improve nearshore marine management with strong community engagement, with priority for groups that have had no more than one Holomua grant; Strengthening Community Advocacy funds a one-year advocacy cohort.
Typical grant
Papio up to $10,000 for up to 12 months. Community Advocacy up to $10,000 or 10% of the operating budget, 50% match required, 20 to 25 grants (its site).
Next deadline
Community Advocacy October 5, 2026, 4 p.m. HST Verified. Papio fourth-quarter deadline November 6, 2026, 4 p.m. HST Verified; the 2027 quarterly dates are not posted yet.
How to apply
HCF Grants Portal; set up an organization account before the deadline.
No website; everything here comes from its tax filing for the year to March 2025. General charitable grants, most of them on Maui, including marine research and education, climate literacy and land trust education programs.
Typical grant
Its 16 grants ran $2,000 to $40,000. Examples: Whale Trust $20,000 and $10,000, Maui Huliau Foundation $10,000 (climate literacy project), Hawaiian Islands Land Trust $5,000 (aina-based education at Waihee, Maui).
Next deadline
None stated Filing only.
How to apply
Apply on the foundation's own application form; ask for it from Jami Lynn Burks, PO Box 342190, Kailua, HI 96734, (808) 683-8363.
Small grants in environment, education, human services and peace. It gives few grants a year, two of them on Hawaii Island in 2024, so treat it as a long shot. It does not fund religious organizations.
Typical grant
Its 5 grants in 2024 ran $1,000 to $17,000. Examples: The Nature Conservancy $17,000, Project Hawaii $5,000, Puako Community Association $1,000.
Next deadline
Letters of inquiry at any time; grants are usually decided at the end of the year, and letters received after October 1 may wait until the next year Rolling.
How to apply
Letter of inquiry of no more than two pages, as a PDF with the 501(c)(3) letter attached, by email to [email protected]; full applications by invitation only. Past grantees can ask for the application directly. Its website (earthshinefoundation.org) has an expired security certificate, so browsers may show a warning; the link here goes to its tax filings instead.
It is not exhaustive and it is not a ranking. Deadlines and guidelines change, so open each funder's own page before you start. Grants are competitive, and past grant sizes describe what a funder gave, not what it will give you. I list secular funders only.
The full version
Want this done for your own organization?
A Funding Roadmap ($1,200, flat fee) gives you ten to fifteen funders matched to your mission, place and size, the grants each one paid to groups like yours, how to apply, and a 12-month grant calendar. Every deadline is labeled the same way as on this page.
Email me your organization's name, rough budget and what you'd like funded. You'll get a written reply within two business days.
You fill in a short intake questionnaire, then answer one round of written follow-up questions.
About three weeks later you get the roadmap, a two-page note on how to use it, and 14 days of email questions.
Everything happens in writing. There are no calls or meetings.