Atherton Family Foundation Grant

The Atherton Family Foundation, a longstanding private philanthropic organization focused on improving life in Hawai‘i, administers an annual grant program to support nonprofit organizations engaged in community betterment. The Foundation provides funding across a wide spectrum of issue areas including arts, culture, and humanities; community development; education; environment; health; human services; spiritual development; and youth development. Its mission emphasizes systemic change and collaborative approaches, recognizing that enduring solutions require joint efforts from multiple organizations. The Foundation offers two main types of funding: program support and capital support. Program requests are considered during three annual cycles—January, April, and October—while capital requests are only reviewed in July. Program grants generally average around $19,000, whereas capital grants, which are intended for tangible, depreciable assets such as buildings and equipment, average about $38,000. Large capital requests, defined as those exceeding $500,000 in total project cost, are subject to additional requirements, including proof of at least 60% of funding secured prior to submission. These larger awards may reach up to $200,000 and are disbursed over three years contingent upon annual progress reports. Eligibility is limited to 501(c)(3) public charities. Type III non-functionally integrated 509(a)(3) supporting organizations are ineligible. Fiscal sponsorship is allowed under strict conditions—sponsors must ensure charitable purpose, monitor grant activities, and comply with expenditure controls. Organizations must have completed any prior grants with final reports submitted to be eligible for new funding. Only one grant per organization is permitted per calendar year, with an exception made for organizations serving as both applicants and fiscal sponsors for other projects. Applications must be submitted through the Hawai‘i Community Foundation’s Grants Portal. New users must register and complete an organization profile, which includes financial statements, staff and volunteer counts, board member lists, and service area details. Incomplete applications or outdated financial documentation will result in administrative denial. For programs involving fiscal sponsorship, additional documents such as a resolution and agreement from the fiscal sponsor are required. The application consists of four main sections: Program Overview, Program Information, Budget, and Supporting Documents & Certification. Applicants must provide comprehensive narrative responses addressing the problem or opportunity the program addresses, activities to be undertaken, expected results, and partnerships. Quantitative output metrics and qualitative impact evaluations are required. The Budget section requires detailed financial projections, including expenses, anticipated income, and the specific amount requested. Use of the Foundation’s budget template is strongly recommended. The deadlines for 2025 are January 6 (program), April 1 (program), July 1 (capital), and October 1 (program). All applications must be submitted by 4:00 p.m. HST on these dates. The Grants Portal closes automatically at the deadline. Questions about the guidelines or grant process can be directed to Elizabeth Lentz-Hill at elentzhill@hcf-hawaii.org or by phone at (808) 566-5543. Technical issues should be submitted via the Foundation’s support ticket system at http://hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/ticket.

Submit early; use Foundation's budget template; ensure financial documents are current and complete.