Responding to federal funding cuts with support for our nonprofit sector to build long-term community resilience.

The Hawaiʻi Resilience Fund was created by the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation (HCF) in 2020 to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, distributing $12.2 million to help meet the immediate and evolving needs of Hawaiʻi’s people.

Now, in 2025, we’ve reactivated the Hawaiʻi Resilience Fund, for a new purpose.

Strengthening Hawaiʻi’s Resilience

Hawai‘i nonprofits are facing delayed or reduced access to more than $97 million in federal funding, with an additional $300 million at stake. Because of this, more than 500,000 Hawaiʻi residents could lose access to essential services like food assistance, housing support, and health care.

The vitality of Hawai‘i’s nonprofits remains at the forefront of HCF’s focus, and we see an opportunity to combat the impacts of the federal disinvestment through the Hawai‘i Resilience Fund.

• A critical moment to act: This our chance to close the gap and ensure resources continue flowing to the people and programs that need them most.
• An opportunity to protect what matters most: By stepping up together, we can safeguard these lifelines, strengthen our communities, and ensure families thrive.

Hawai‘i’s nonprofit sector is a powerful force for community well-being. From ensuring families have food and housing to advancing child welfare, domestic violence prevention, and legal support, nonprofits strengthen every corner of our islands. Together, they employ more than 80,000 people – one in eight workers statewide – and generate more than $7 billion annually in economic activity, according to the Hawai‘i Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations (HANO), fueling both care and prosperity.

Rooted in aloha and culture, these organizations embody resilience and connection. Yet, with federal support shrinking, they face challenges that could limit their ability to serve. This moment calls us to stand with them, to ensure they not only endure but thrive. By investing in our nonprofits, we invest in Hawai‘i’s stability, recovery, and the thriving future our communities deserve.

Responding with Resilience

While the State Legislature has set aside $50 million to support nonprofits, HANO estimates total losses from the sector could reach $400 million. Across the state, philanthropic leaders are asking: How can we make a real difference? The Hawaiʻi Resilience Fund is HCF’s action plan to turn that concern into meaningful support – designed to complement, not duplicate, state resources. It offers nimble, transparent, and transformative assistance, helping nonprofits build capacity, adaptability, and long-term sustainability.

Our approach was shaped by the voices of the community. In February 2025, we gathered anonymous feedback from nonprofits through the Center for Effective Philanthropy survey to capture their evolving needs, and in May 2025, we surveyed 22 Hawaiʻi-based funders to understand philanthropic priorities in response to federal disinvestment. These insights guide our three-pronged strategy:

• Financial stabilization – Direct nonprofit support through grantmaking (both by invitation and via open calls) to transform services and operations. Funds may be used to support mergers, restructuring, and funding innovation to promote lasting impact and efficiency.
• Capacity-building and technical assistance – Launching a nonprofit resource hub in partnership with HANO to assist in providing coaching, legal support, strategic planning, fundraising expertise, and wellness resources.
• Responsive and inclusive support – Targeted grants for sectors often overlooked in emergency relief, such as arts, education, and environment, along with collective communications, advocacy, and flexibility to address emergency needs.

By investing in these areas, the Hawai‘i Resilience Fund protects the nonprofit infrastructure, ensures continuity of essential services, and equips communities, families, and future generations for long-term resilience.

Our Goal – Raise $1.8 million by October 2025

Already, HCF has committed $500,000 and seeks to raise an additional $1.3 million to launch the first phase of the fund. We are looking for anchor donors at $250,000, along with supporters at $100,000, $50,000, and $25,000 levels to fully fund this effort by mid-October 2025. Gifts to the fund after that date will fund other response strategies. Donors at the $250,000 and $100,000 levels will receive quarterly briefings, access to due diligence and reporting materials, and opportunities to help shape the learning agenda.

Join Us! Support a Resilient Hawaiʻi

The challenge is real, but the opportunity is immense. Imagine a Hawaiʻi where nonprofits don’t just weather this crisis, they emerge stronger, more adaptable, and more effective. The Hawai‘i Resilience Fund offers a strategic, community-informed path forward. Your support enables vital services to continue, strengthens our state’s safety net, and helps Hawai‘i’s nonprofits transform uncertainty into resilience. Together, we can create a stronger, thriving Hawai‘i for all.

We welcome your support. The time to act is now. Mahalo nui loa!

Resources

UHERO Report: The Vulnerability of Hawai‘i’s Nonprofit Sector to Cuts in Federal Funding