Maui United Way’s Kahua Grants

Maui United Way’s Kahua Grants Initiative is a capacity-building program specifically tailored to support emerging and grassroots nonprofit organizations operating within Maui. The initiative is structured to fortify the organizational foundations of participating nonprofits by offering a comprehensive package that includes funding, technical assistance, and opportunities for peer learning. The overarching goal is to expand the impact of these organizations and to help them build long-term sustainability in their community service efforts. The assistance offered through the Kahua Grants Initiative includes a range of support services. These encompass the identification of appropriate grant opportunities, incorporating both conventional and innovative methods for securing funding, and providing tailored coaching and advisory support to help nonprofits shape strong funding concepts. Further services include grant proposal writing, developing grant budgets, conducting section-by-section reviews of application responsiveness, editing for grammar and clarity, and guiding applicants through the entire submission process. The program will accept up to 15 nonprofit participants who will be expected to be fully committed to the initiative. This includes being responsive to communication, attending all scheduled meetings, and having a designated point of contact with authority from organizational leadership. Each participating organization must also attend five virtual training sessions and two in-person trainings, as well as support the program evaluation by completing pre- and post-program surveys. Applicants must be prepared to submit their 501(c)(3) determination letter, a state compliance letter, and a comprehensive list of their board and staff. The application deadline for the 2025 cohort is June 27, with acceptance notifications scheduled to be sent on July 1. The first cohort meeting will be held on Monday, July 7. The intake form also requests detailed information about the organization, including mailing and physical addresses, primary contact information, experience with various types of grants, registration status on federal grant platforms, current community partnerships, and available matching funds. Applicants are also asked to assess their organizational capacity to manage grants and articulate what they hope to gain from participating in the program. The completed application, along with all required documents, should be submitted by the deadline. In case of any issues with uploads, applicants are instructed to email the necessary materials to mapu@srpartnersllc.com. For additional information, interested parties may contact Maui United Way at P.O. Box 275, Kahului, HI 96733 or by phone at 808.244.8787.

Applicants must ensure full participation, responsiveness, and consistent engagement. Readiness to engage in peer learning and training sessions is key.