In 2025, the Maui Strong Fund is still committed to providing financial resources to support the immediate and long-term recovery needs for the people and places affected by the devastating Maui wildfires. Maui Strong Fund grants will align with HCF’s four-phase approach to disaster response.

Organizations Seeking Funding

As of January 2025, the Hawai‘i Community Foundation will be considering proposals that are submitted through the Maui Recovery Funders Collaborative, a pioneering philanthropic network designed to support communities impacted by the 2023 Maui wildfires. 

The collaborative effort includes a variety of funders, including American Red Cross, Harold K.L. Castle Foundation, The Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, HCF, Kaiser Permanente, Maui United Way, and Nuestro Futuro Foundation. This process will align to recovery efforts from government, nonprofit, and private sectors who are focusing on long-term recovery master planning and rebuilding. 

This open application process focuses on using one application that can be shared among the participating funders. Organizations interested in requesting funding from the Maui Strong Fund should only submit through the Maui Recovery Funders Collaborative. 

Update to Grant Process:
•    Anyone interested in requesting Maui Strong Funds must submit through the Maui Recovery Funders Collaborative. 
•    HCF staff review applications in the Maui Recovery Funders Collaborative submission pool
•    HCF staff find programs that are aligned to strategic activities focused on the immediate and long-term recovery needs, as informed by Maui’s affected community, available and relevant recovery data, and official recovery planning documents.
•    Applications that are in consideration for funding will go through the formal Maui Strong Fund evaluation process which includes up to three levels of review: Peer Review, Leadership Review, and the Special Oversight Committee (over $100,000)
•    General communication for all applications will come from the Maui Recovery Funders Collaborative. This includes denial letters.
•    Award letters will come from the Hawai‘i Community Foundation for any approved requests. 

Eligibility and Requirements:
•    501(c)(3) organizations in good standing are eligible to apply.
•    Non-501(c)(3) community organizations are encouraged to find an existing 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization to serve as fiscal sponsor, and submitted projects must be charitable in nature. 
•    Individuals are not eligible to apply.

HCF staff will review applications as provided access through the Maui Recovery Funders Collaborative administrators.

Any applications submitted in 2024 will be reviewed and provided a decision in Q1 of 2025. 

If you have any questions about the application process, please email us at mauistrong@hcf-hawaii.org.