100 years

Hawai‘i Community Foundation
Maui Strong Fund Frequently Asked Questions

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

How can I support communities affected by the wildfires on Maui?
Monetary donations can be made to the Maui Strong Fund of HCF.

What is the Maui Strong Fund?
The Maui Strong Fund includes donations from across the world. The funding supports grantmaking to nonprofit 501(c)3 organizations providing programs and services to the people and places affected by the devastating 2023 Maui wildfires. HCF does not take fees from donations to the Maui Strong Fund.

What is the Maui Recovery Effort and how does it work with the Maui Strong Fund?
The Maui Recovery Effort is a team of Hawaiʻi Community Foundation staff focused on supporting recovery and resiliency efforts for Maui. HCF is grateful for the generous donors who are intentionally contributing support toward the staff and operating costs of the Maui Strong Fund.

Where does the money go?
The Maui Strong Fund awards funding to nonprofit 501(c)3 organizations providing programs and services to the people and places affected by the devastating 2023 Maui wildfires. During open application periods, grant requests may be submitted and every grant request must meet the application requirements. Each grant request undergoes a thorough review process focused on Fund and recovery alignment, community impact, organizational capacity, and clear deliverables.

Is Hawai‘i Community Foundation a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization?
Yes, Hawai‘i Community Foundation is a nonprofit, tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) organization. Contributions are tax deductible as allowable by the law and your tax situation. HCF’s EIN is 99-0261283.

Is there a fee to contribute?
No, HCF is not collecting a fee for donating to the Maui Strong Fund. Note: There is a $0.30 transaction fee and 2.5-3.5% processing fee charged by the credit card processor for online contributions.

What is HCF doing with the interest earned on its Maui Strong Fund balance?
Investment earnings derived from the Maui Strong Fund assets are being reinvested into MSF to carry out the fund’s purpose.

My organization is interested in resources from this fund. Can we be considered?
If you are a nonprofit organization interested in resources from the Maui Strong Fund, please visit this webpage to learn about our existing process for grant proposals.

Can I specify a nonprofit or specific purpose for my donation?
No. The Maui Strong Fund is a pooled fund that will be used for evolving needs. We cannot allocate resources based on specific requests.

Where can I find out more about available recovery resources?
Visit Stronger Hawai‘i for information about recovery resources, data, and news related to the recovery efforts on Maui.

Can I post on social media about donating to your fund, or give proceeds from my business to your fund?
Yes. Please access the Maui Strong Fund communications toolkit here with sample language, a social media toolkit, and more.

Does HCF accept material donations like clothes and supplies, or in-kind donations like volunteer hours?
HCF accepts monetary donations only. To donate goods or in-kind services, contact mauistrongassist@hawaii.gov, (808) 733-4300, ext.548. To volunteer, contact All Hands and Hearts.

Where can I find information and resources for those displaced by the Maui wildfires?
If you want to learn more about the resources available to residents, businesses, and visitors to Maui, please visit the County of Maui’s website, Maui Nui Strong.

Will I be able to contribute to the fund using my Donor Advised Fund?
Yes, you may reach us by email or phone during regular working hours, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. HST. To request a grant from your fund to Maui Strong, please contact your HCF Staff Advisor or Kevin Rapp at krapp@hcf-hawaii.org or (808) 566-5552. You can also access your account in DonorSphere.

Can I use other assets to make a gift to the Maui Strong Fund?
Yes. For more information, please contact Malia Peters at MPeters@hcf-hawaii.org.

Can donations be made via check?
Yes. Make checks payable to “Hawai‘i Community Foundation” and note “Maui Strong Fund” clearly in the memo. Please do not write anything else on your check, especially in the memo section. If “Maui Strong Fund” is not clearly identified in the memo of your check, we will use our best judgment to determine how you intended your donation to be allocated. Checks should be mailed to:

Hawai‘i Community Foundation
827 Fort Street Mall
Honolulu, HI 96813

What steps can I take to ensure that my Maui Strong Fund donation is correctly submitted?

• Checks – Please refer to the previous FAQ.

• Online Donations – Hawai‘i Community Foundation administers more than one thousand funds. Please be sure to select the correct fund when making your online donation. Donations to the Maui Strong Fund can be made here. If you select another fund from our general website drop-down menu, your donation will be made to that chosen fund. You will receive an email confirmation of your online donation.

Can I support the Maui Strong Fund by hosting a fundraiser, sale, etc. and do I need HCF’s consent to use its name for the promotion?
If you are interested in raising funds for the Maui Strong Fund by hosting a fundraiser, charitable sales promotion, round-up campaign, donation collection, or similar campaign please send an email to CharitableSalesPromotion@hcf-hawaii.org with the following information:

  • Your name and contact information;
  • The name of your business;
  • A description of your proposed campaign including the time period it will occur and your fundraising goal amount;
  • An image of any product(s) you desire to sell;
  • The location of your event/sale/fundraiser (physical location, web, or social media).

While we so appreciate your support, please be aware that using Hawai‘i Community Foundation’s name or logo or the Maui Strong Fund name without our written consent is not permissible. Our staff will respond to your inquiry as soon as possible.

How can I confirm that a business doing a charitable sales promotion in Hawai‘i in support of the Maui Strong Fund has been approved by HCF?
Please use this link to see a list of businesses, who have been approved by HCF and the Hawai‘i Attorney General, Tax & Charities Division to hold a charitable sales promotion to benefit HCF and the Maui Strong Fund. 

Before donating to support communities affected by the Maui fires, what should I do to verify that a charity or fundraising event is legitimate?
The Hawai‘i Attorney General issued the following News Releases: 2023-35 and 2023-38 with helpful information.