About the Fund
About the Fund
Women’s Fund of Hawai’i helps the most vulnerable women and girls realize their potential, promotes women’s financial security and girls’ leadership, addresses the factors that stand in the way of women’s success, and promotes their well-being. We are dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls statewide.
Since 2005, we have awarded over $2,000,000 in grants to 200+ community-based organizations to support over 380 programs across the state of Hawai’i.
Meaningful change is possible when a community invests in itself. The funds we raise go back into our island communities in the form of grants to organizations doing essential work on behalf of women and girls. Women’s Fund of Hawai’i is committed to helping women and girls overcome social and economic barriers, because when women are safe, healthy, and economically secure, then families and communities are too.
When Hawai’i’s women thrive, Hawai’i thrives.
Grants Process
Women’s Fund of Hawai‘i issues a Request for Proposal twice annually, in the spring and fall. Applications are accepted online via our web site for one month, after which they are thoroughly vetted by our Grants Committee. This Committee consists of up to 11 women community members from a variety of backgrounds, including our Executive Director and Grants Chair – a WFH Board member; certain WFH Board members; women who work or have worked with non-profits and/or grantmaking and writing in Hawai‘i, nationally, and internationally; women who hold advanced degrees in public health and social work and law, to name a few. Members change on a rotating basis.
Community Support
In 2024, thanks to our many wonderful donors, Women’s Fund of Hawai‘i was thrilled and honored to provide more than $227,158 in grant funding to:
Spring 2024 Grantee Partner Programs:
* ALA Hawaii Girls State
* Embracing Resilience: A Hui for Mothers of Daughters Experiencing Trauma
* Empower Her
* Entrepreneurial Support for Maui’s Women Farmers
* Girls Circle Program
* Girls Court Empowerment Project
* Hānau Hou Ka Hula Kiʻi! Rebirth Hula Kiʻi!
* Haumana Kukakuka
* Ho’omana Wahine
* Ka La Hiki Ola
* Naiwa Wahine (Clean Energy) Builders
* Native Hawaiian Women Buddhists
* Story Quilt Youth Arts
* Wāhine Freelance Alliance Virtual Headquarters: A Metaverse for Wāhine Productivity and Innovation
* Wāhine in Circus Arts 12 Week Fall Program
Fall 2024 Grantee Partner Programs:
* Adams State University Correspondence Courses for Incarcerated Women
* BEYOND BARS
* Empowering Bereaved Women on Maui
* Equity and Access Project
* Hina Project
* Housing and Supportive Services for Homeless and At-Risk Females
* Let’s Talk About Body Positivity: A Program for Girls and Parents
* Nā Wāhine: East Maui Support for Girls & Women
* Women of Wonders Film Fest
* Women’s Mental Health Support group, peer mentoring, fitness class with peer mentoring, yoga, pickle ball
* Women’s Wellness Clinic
* YouthBuild Honolulu / Pre-Apprenticeship Construction Training “Building Skills to Build Lives, Targeting Native Hawaiian Women and Girls”
Women & Girls’ Philanthropy
We are committed to inspiring women to donate on behalf of other women and girls. Women’s equality leads to progress in our community as a whole, and investing in women and girls offers an incredible return on investment.
History
Women’s Fund of Hawai’i was first envisioned in 1989 by then-CEO of Hawaii Community Foundation Jane Renfro Smith. Ms. Smith and the Fund’s original supporters shared a vision to create an expanding resource permanently dedicated to women and girls. Only 1.9% of U.S. philanthropic dollars goes to women and girls. Our founders intended to decrease the gender gap in funding and were firm in their belief that women’s equality leads to societal progress.
In 2005, Women’s Fund of Hawai’i was granted its own 501(c)(3) status, elected a dynamic board of directors, and hired its first Executive Director. Since then, the Fund has been guided by prominent Hawaii women from a diverse array of fields who are deeply committed to achieving social change.
In 2005, Women’s Fund of Hawai’i made a grant in the amount of $5,000. In 2022, the Fund was able to increase the grant award to $10,000 for each non-profit organization with programs dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls across the state of Hawaii.