Community Funding Hubs for Resilience and ʻĀina Stewardship

The University of Hawaiʻi Sea Grant College Program is seeking proposals to establish Community Funding Hubs that will serve specific moku or hui moku regions across the Hawaiian Islands. These regions include West Kauaʻi; Waiʻanae, Oʻahu; Molokaʻi; Central Maui; and Kohala, Hawaiʻi. Up to five Community Funding Hubs may be funded, with each eligible to receive a maximum of $300,000 for up to three years. These hubs will act as localized administrative centers supporting community-based organizations engaged in resilience, stewardship, and co-management initiatives. Community Funding Hubs are expected to facilitate grant management for smaller organizations, particularly those that may lack the infrastructure to manage federal, state, or foundation funding on their own. They will support the full grant lifecycle, including proposal development, budget creation, reporting, and fiscal compliance. In addition, hubs are expected to implement financial systems that enable timely fund distribution while operating under a cost-reimbursement model via subawards from the University of Hawaiʻi. Hubs will be encouraged to coordinate funding strategies responsive to the needs of the moku they serve. This includes activities related to ʻāina restoration, disaster preparedness, hazard mitigation, and co-management of natural resources. They will also foster long-term relationships between community organizations and funders, while offering technical assistance and capacity-building services to increase grant competitiveness and organizational readiness. The application process is multi-phased. A non-mandatory Statement of Interest is due by November 21, 2025, via a Google Form. Full proposals are due December 15, 2025, and must be submitted through the eSeaGrant platform. Proposals must include a narrative, data management plan, project team qualifications, budget spreadsheet and justification, and letters of support. Proposal development webinars and office hours will be offered leading up to the deadline. Proposals will first undergo a peer-review for alignment with local needs, followed by expert panel evaluation based on criteria such as place-based alignment, proposed hub design, organizational capacity, community engagement, and long-term outcomes. Final funding recommendations are expected in February 2026, with awards beginning in May 2026. Funded hubs will operate for three years under annual subaward agreements and will be required to submit semiannual progress reports. This initiative is part of the broader Pili Nā Moku project, a five-year effort funded by NOAA’s Climate Resilience Regional Challenge, which seeks to revitalize traditional Hawaiian land and stewardship systems through large-scale community-based investments in resilience and ʻāina stewardship.

Ensure strong place-based alignment with one of the five moku. Emphasize fiscal capacity, grants management history, and relationships with local communities. Clearly detail support services offered and fund disbursement approach.