2025 Richard Smart Fund

The Richard Smart Fund Grants Program, administered by the Hawai‘i Community Foundation (HCF), is a long-standing funding initiative dedicated to supporting healthcare, educational, and charitable endeavors in the Waimea area of Hawai‘i Island. Funded annually by the Parker Ranch Foundation Trust, the program has provided $8.1 million in grants since 2001. The primary objective is to empower nonprofit organizations that serve the Waimea community, especially those able to articulate their responsibilities—referred to in Hawaiian as "kuleana"—toward shaping the area's future through community engagement, cultural respect, and collaborative efforts. This funding opportunity is deeply informed by the Waimea Futures Initiative, launched in 2023, which involved a series of community conversations aimed at envisioning a sustainable and inclusive future for Waimea. The initiative surfaced core community concerns such as the affordability of housing, cost of living, and the cultural divide between generational and newer residents. It also highlighted a collective aspiration to cultivate mutual respect, cultural stewardship, and shared prosperity. The Weaving Hui, a community advisory group, collaborated with HCF to incorporate these community-driven insights into the current grantmaking process. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, fiscally sponsored community groups, church programs with charitable purposes, and projects affiliated with the Hawai‘i Department of Education. Applicants must be either based in or demonstrably serve the Waimea area (ZIP code 96743). Organizations currently holding overdue reports from prior HCF funding are not eligible to apply. Only one application is allowed per organization, with an exception for those serving as a fiscal sponsor. The grant application must be submitted online via HCF’s Grants Portal by 4:00 p.m. HST on May 30, 2025. Required application materials include an organization profile, financial documentation, program overview, and responses to key questions addressing the program's alignment with Waimea’s community needs. Evaluation criteria emphasize alignment with the Waimea Community Report, community inclusivity, place-based methodologies, and collaborative strategies. Awards average $25,000 for a one-year period. Applications will be evaluated by both HCF staff and members of the Weaving Hui for alignment with Waimea’s community values and priorities. Fiscal sponsors must submit a resolution from their board and an agreement form, along with standard IRS determination documentation. Technical support is available for applicants navigating the online submission platform. For inquiries related to the grant opportunity, applicants may contact Michelle Pope at mpope@hcf-hawaii.org or by phone at (808) 792-3101.