Elsie H. Wilcox Foundation Grant

The Elsie H. Wilcox Foundation, managed by the Bank of Hawai‘i as trustee, provides funding to tax-exempt charitable organizations operating throughout the state of Hawai‘i. The foundation was created in honor of Elsie H. Wilcox and operates under a trust that allows for flexibility in addressing emerging or evolving community needs. Its governing Distribution Committee is responsible for awarding grants in accordance with the stipulations of the Deed of Trust. The overarching goal is to support programs that have meaningful, large-scale impacts across Hawaiian communities. Funding is awarded specifically to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations whose initiatives provide benefit to a significant number of people. The foundation gives priority to proposals that demonstrate community engagement, fiscal responsibility, and the ability to secure supplementary support. The fund does not support endowments, deficit financing, out-of-state travel, or grants to individuals. Organizations planning to use a fiscal sponsor are required to contact the Charitable Foundation Services office prior to submitting their application, to ensure the appropriate handling of such requests. Strong emphasis is placed on the activity and accountability of the applicant organization’s board of directors. The Distribution Committee evaluates how well the board fulfills its duties, including participation in fundraising activities and financial contributions to the organization. Board members are expected to attend meetings, contribute volunteer work when needed, and assist in cultivating community and business backing. These criteria ensure that supported organizations are not solely reliant on foundation or government grants for sustainability. For programs involving school participation, additional documentation is required. Applicants must include a list of participating schools and letters of support from school principals or teachers who have committed to or expressed interest in the program. The foundation also requires an estimated number of students expected to benefit from the initiative, which forms part of the proposal review. Each proposal is evaluated on the community need for the proposed project relative to existing activities in the area, the reasonableness of the program’s income and expense budget, and the organization’s capacity to secure full funding and sustain the effort over time. Proposals are weighed on their merit both at present and in the future. Not all qualified proposals may receive funding due to budget limitations. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM on September 1 of the current year. Awards are announced in writing following review. Successful applicants are required to submit a narrative report aligned with the Foundation’s specific reporting guidelines, detailing outcomes and a fiscal accounting of how funds were used. Questions about the application process can be directed to Claire Tarumoto, Vice President and Grants Administrator, via email at Claire.Tarumoto@boh.com or phone at (808) 694-4945.