Transitioning Foster Youth

The Victoria S. and Bradley L. Geist Foundation, through its collaboration with the Hawaiʻi Youth Opportunities Initiative—a Co-Investment site aligned with the Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative—offers a grant program dedicated to supporting transitioning foster youth in Hawaiʻi. The Foundation's primary goal with this funding opportunity is to promote programs and services that improve outcomes for youth who have experienced the foster care or mental health systems after the age of 14, even if they have since been adopted or reunited with birth families. The Foundation emphasizes alignment with the Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative framework and seeks proposals that demonstrate direct engagement with youth in the development and implementation of programs. Successful proposals should target one or more of the following outcome areas: permanence (establishing lifelong supportive relationships), education (access and attainment of post-secondary education and employment-readiness), employment (obtaining and maintaining steady work), housing (securing safe and affordable living arrangements), health (ensuring both physical and mental healthcare access), social capital (building community relationships), and financial capability (budgeting and financial literacy). Grants typically range from $10,000 to $75,000 per year, with the possibility of multi-year support for up to three years. Multi-year funding is contingent on the submission of satisfactory annual progress reports. Administrative fees are limited to 5% of the grant amount unless the applicant organization exclusively serves legally recognized foster youth under the age of 24. Capital requests and endowments are explicitly excluded from eligibility. Grant requests are evaluated based on program alignment, organizational capability, program design and implementation, measurable outcomes, and the ability to leverage additional resources or partnerships. Eligible applicants include tax-exempt Hawaiʻi-based organizations such as 501(c)(3) nonprofits, government agencies, and religious institutions that meet federal tax exemption requirements. Programs must primarily serve youth aged 14–24 who were in the child welfare or mental health systems post-14 years of age. Applications must be submitted online via the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation’s Grants Portal. All applicants must also ensure their organization profile is current and certified annually. Required materials include an IRS determination letter (unless on file), staff details, financial statements, a Board of Directors list, and other project-specific documentation. Applications consist of four tabs: Program Overview, Program Information, Budget, and Support Documents & Certification. Required responses include program summaries, needs assessments, activity timelines, partnership descriptions, budget breakdowns, and a Project Tracking Matrix. Applicants are also asked to evaluate and measure their outcomes, specifying indicators, targets, and methods for gathering participant feedback and tracking results. Applications are due online by 4:00 p.m. HST on January 15, May 15, or September 15, 2025. These correspond to reviews at the Foundation’s Board of Trustees meetings in March, July, and November respectively. Late or incomplete submissions, or those from organizations with overdue grant reports, will not be considered. For questions, contact Jarissa Lum at jlum@hcf-hawaii.org or call (808) 566-5522. Technical issues with the online portal should be submitted through the Foundation’s support ticket page. This grant opportunity is recurring and non-rolling.

Applicants are encouraged to review the Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative framework and align their projects accordingly. Applicants should also familiarize themselves with the application portal and review the user guide.