The Strong Foundation
Honolulu, HI · EIN 99-0090807. Reported 84 grants totalling $7,502,671 to 77 recipients across tax years 2020-2024. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.
Does this foundation accept applications?
Yes -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation whether it makes grants only to organizations it selects itself. Of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered, 78% said yes -- and applying to those is wasted effort. The Strong Foundation did not check that box on its most recent filing, which puts it in the minority that is at least open to being approached.
How big are its grants?
The median grant is $100,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $92,290 and $100,000; the smallest was $25,000 and the largest $200,000. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Recipients are grouped by name and state as they were written on the returns, so an organization entered under two different names appears twice. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which that name received money.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maui Health Foundation | Wailuku, HI | $300,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Dynamic Community Solutions | Waianae, HI | $200,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Hawaii Theatre Center | Honolulu, HI | $200,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Kapiolani Health Foundation | Honolulu, HI | $200,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Manoa Heritage Center | Honolulu, HI | $200,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Maui Youth Rodeo Organization | Kula, HI | $200,000 | 2 | 1 | 2024 |
| Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific Foundation | Honolulu, HI | $200,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Teach for America-Hawaii | Honolulu, HI | $200,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Assistance Dogs of Hawaii | Makawao, HI | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawaii | Honolulu, HI | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Book Trust Hawaii Chapter | Denver, CO | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Maui | Kahului, HI | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Carden Academy of Maui | Pukalani, HI | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Chaminade University | Honolulu, HI | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Child & Family Services | Ewa Beach, HI | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Feeding Hawaii Together | Honolulu, HI | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Girl Scouts of Hawaii | Honolulu, HI | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Haku Baldwin Center | Makawao, HI | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Halau Ku Mana Pcs | Honolulu, HI | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Haleakala Conservancy | Pukalani, HI | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Hawaii Opera Theatre | Honolulu, HI | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Hawaii Pacific University | Honolulu, HI | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Hawaiian Humane Society | Honolulu, HI | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Hawaiian Islands Land Trust | Wailuku, HI | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Hawaiian Mission Children's Society | Honolulu, HI | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Historic Hawaii Foundation | Honolulu, HI | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Hui Ho'oleimaluo | Hilo, HI | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Hui No'eau | Makawao, HI | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Imua Family Services | Kahului, HI | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Island School | Lihue, HI | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Kimokeo Foundation | Wailuku, HI | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Kokua Hawaii Foundation | Haleiwa, HI | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Kokua Kalihi Valley Comprehensive Family Services | Hilo, HI | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Kona Historical Society | Captain Cook, HI | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Lahaina Restoration Foundation | Lahaina, HI | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Lana'i Culture & Heritage Center | Lanai City, HI | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Living Pono Project | Paia, HI | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Ma Ka Hana Ka Ike Building Program | Hana, HI | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Malama Na Makua a Keiki | Paia, HI | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Maryknoll School | Honolulu, HI | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Maui Academy of Performing Arts | Wailuku, HI | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Molokai Land Trust | Kaunakakai, HI | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Na Koa Manu Conservation Inc | Pukalani, HI | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Pacific Cancer Foundation | Wailuku, HI | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Parker School | Waimea, HI | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Pono Academy | Kahului, HI | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Real Ongoing Opportunities to Soar Inc | Haiku, HI | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Seabury Hall | Makawao, HI | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Straub Foundation | Honolulu, HI | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Sustainable Molokai | Kaunakakai, HI | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The Maui Farm | Makawao, HI | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| The Nature Conservancy | Honolulu, HI | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| University of Hawaii Foundation | Honolulu, HI | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Variety School of Hawaii | Honolulu, HI | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| YWCA of Kauai | Lihue, HI | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Awaiaulu Inc | Honolulu, HI | $92,290 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Kauai Planning & Action Alliance | Lihue, HI | $90,221 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| National Tropical Botanical Garden | Kalaheo, HI | $75,160 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Akaka Foundation for Tropical Forests | Hilo, HI | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Aloha Medical Mission | Honolulu, HI | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Bishop Museum | Honolulu, HI | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii | Honolulu, HI | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Hawaii Community Foundation | Honolulu, HI | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Hoola Na Pua | Honolulu, HI | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Hui O Wa'a Kaulua | Lahaina, HI | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Hui O Waa Kaulua | Kahului, HI | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Lyman House Memorial Museum | Hilo, HI | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Mental Health Association in Hawaii Dba Mental Health America of Hawaii | Honolulu, HI | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Mid-Pacific Institute | Honolulu, HI | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Montessori School of Maui | Makawao, HI | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Naaikane O Maui | Makawao, HI | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Special Olympics Hawaii | Ewa Beach, HI | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Kula Elementary School | Kula, HI | $45,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Ballet Hawaii | Honolulu, HI | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Moanalua Gardens Foundation | Honolulu, HI | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Parents and Children Together | Honolulu, HI | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Rotary District 5000 Foundation | Honolulu, HI | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
6 of 77 (8%) received money in more than one year over the 5 years we hold.
Measured the way we measure every foundation -- what share of one year's grantees are funded again the next -- this one retains 0%, across 4 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is less consistent than most. This measures how often it paid the same organizations again. It says nothing about whether it would consider a new one.
What the money was for
Taken verbatim from the purpose field of its filings. This is the closest thing to a statement of what this foundation cares about, in its own words.
- Maui Health Foundation
MAUI HEALTH REGIONAL CHEST PAIN CENTER - Dynamic Community Solutions
PUUHONUA O WAIANAE FARMING VILLAGE - Assistance Dogs of Hawaii
ASSISTANCE DOGS OF HAWAII HONOLULU OFFICE - Boys & Girls Club of Maui
REBUILDING PROMISING FUTURES IN PAUKUKALO - Child & Family Services
FROM HOPE TO STRENGTH: A PLACE OF FAMILIES AND YOUTH IN CRISIS - Feeding Hawaii Together
WALK-IN REFRIGERATOR AND FREEZER REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT
What kind of organizations it funds
By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 64 grants where we could match the recipient to a registered organization. The categories are the IRS's. The match, made from the name and address on the return, is ours.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 13 | $1,265,381 | $100,000 |
| 2021 | 16 | $1,492,290 | $100,000 |
| 2022 | 23 | $1,595,000 | $50,000 |
| 2023 | 16 | $1,500,000 | $100,000 |
| 2024 | 16 | $1,650,000 | $100,000 |
Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- filings arrive about a year late, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a foundation winding down.
Where its money goes
99% of its giving went to organizations in Hawaii. If your organization is based elsewhere, look in the recipient list for grants to your area before writing.
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Funders that support the same organizations
These funders gave to organizations this one also funded -- some private foundations, some community foundations and other grantmaking charities. Shared grantees are a sign of overlapping priorities and nothing more: they do not show that any of these funders would consider a new organization. Each page says what its filings show.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $100,000. A request many times that size asks for something it has rarely or never given.
- Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in Hawaii.
- Read the recipient list above for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer, and a cheap one to get.
- Look up the current filing before writing. The 990-PF names the foundation's officers and, where one exists, its application procedure. We link it below.
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from The Strong Foundation's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 5 returns (tax years 2020-2024). Grant figures are from its returns. Matching recipients to registered organizations, their IRS classifications, the retention rate and the funders that support the same organizations are our own calculations, described in how we build this.
Address of record on the latest return: Co Bank of Hawaii P O Box 3170, Honolulu, HI, 96802. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS; many small foundations file through an accountant or a bank trust department, so it may not be where post to a programme officer should go.
EIN 99-0090807 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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