Koʻolau Pilina Fund 2024

The Harold K.L. Castle Foundation, based in Kailua, Hawaii, has a longstanding commitment to strengthening communities throughout the Koʻolau region of Oʻahu. The foundation continues this commitment through the Koʻolau Pilina Fund, a participatory grantmaking initiative entering its fourth year in 2025. The fund is tailored specifically for projects within Koʻolau communities stretching from Kahuku to Makapuʻu. Emphasizing grassroots efforts and community-led solutions, the fund supports initiatives that enhance regional resilience, particularly in historically under-resourced areas. The primary goal of the Koʻolau Pilina Fund is to cultivate long-term community well-being by reinforcing connections between people and place. It aims to derisk new ideas, expand promising ones, build organizational capacity, and progress grassroots projects. Grant decisions are made by a community-based committee using a rolling application process, ensuring ongoing opportunities for local participation and responsiveness to community needs. Applicants must be organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status or be sponsored by such entities. Each proposal must be geared toward future events or projects, as the fund does not reimburse for work already completed. Grant requests must fall within the range of $3,000 to $15,000. To maintain fairness, only one application per organization will be reviewed per cycle, preventing redundancy and broadening access. The fund prioritizes projects that support strong ʻohana and safe, resilient communities; improve food security through access to ʻāina and farming; enhance health and well-being; and promote community-based education and learning. Each proposal must align with the fund's values, which include fostering collaboration, equity in funding, and community-specific leadership. Projects that clearly reflect these values—Pilina, Pono, Ola Ka ʻĀina Ola Ke Kanaka, and Aloha Koʻolau—are more likely to receive funding. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year, with five review and award cycles scheduled in 2025. Deadlines for submissions are March 14, April 30, June 30, August 31, and October 31, with grant announcements occurring approximately two to four weeks after each deadline. Applications may be submitted via email or through an online portal. For questions or additional guidance, applicants may contact the fund team at pilinafund@gmail.com. This localized and participatory grantmaking model offers Koʻolau-based organizations a valuable opportunity to secure funding for community-centric projects that contribute to the region’s resilience and vitality.

Projects should be community-led, collaborative, and geographically focused on Koʻolau communities