Kosasa Foundation
Accepts applications
Kosasa Foundation is a private foundation in Honolulu, Hawaii. In tax year 2024 it gave $5.2 million in 84 grants; the typical grant was $45,000 and the largest $500,000. It accepts applications; its filing gives the instructions below.
From its IRS Form 990-PF for tax year 2024.
- Grants paid, 2024$5.2 million
- Number of grants84
- Typical grant$45,000
- Largest grant$500,000
- Assets$183 million
- New grantees95%
Giving in 2024 was down from $7.1 million the year before.
95% of its 2024 grantees had not received a grant from it the year before, a sign it is open to new organizations.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Number of grants | Assets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $6.1 million | 83 | $156 million |
| 2023 | $7.1 million | 47 | $153 million |
| 2024 | $5.2 million | 84 | $183 million |
How to apply
| Contact | Christine van Bergeijk - Kosasa Fou 3610 Waialae Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96816 |
|---|---|
| Phone or email | (808) 591-2550 |
| What to submit | Letter or online application at www.kosasafoundation.org |
| Restrictions | For charitable, educational, literary, scientific and religious purposes either directly or by contributions to organizations under irc section 501(c)(3) of 1986, or corresponding provisions of any subsequent federal tax law. Grants limited to organizations exempt under irc section 501(c)(3) with a focus of work in the state of Hawaii that do not have a current working grant with the foundation. |
Foundation website IRS filings on ProPublica
What Kosasa Foundation funds
Where it gives
Its grants went to recipients in 3 states, the most to Hawaii.
| State | Grants | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 82 | $4.9 million |
| Minnesota | 1 | $250,000 |
| California | 1 | $75,000 |
Grants paid in 2024
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaiian Community Assets | Capital support for the development of the maui hub which will house community serving organizations | $500,000 |
| Hawaiian Islands Land Trust | Renovation of the cultural education center at waihe`e ridge on maui | $250,000 |
| Social Finance Inc | Program support for student support for underserved uh engineering students in their junior and senior years | $250,000 |
| Feed the Hunger Fund | Support shift to environmentally focused loans for small food producers | $200,000 |
| Hawaii Community Foundation | Support for cofa medicaid enrollment project | $200,000 |
| Institute for Native Pacific Education and Culture | Land acquisition for community hub in nanakuli | $200,000 |
| Adult Friends for Youth | Program support for at-risk youth in urban honolulu | $100,000 |
| Bishop Museum | Increase accessibility of museum's collection to broader environmental field | $100,000 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Maui | Programming for at-risk youth | $100,000 |
| Hoola NA Pua | Programming for at-risk youth | $100,000 |
| Huimau | Place-based educational initiatives and ina-centered practices | $100,000 |
| Kokua Kalihi Valley | Programming for at-risk youth | $100,000 |
| Kupu | Program support for at-risk youth services and workforce training | $100,000 |
| Malama Maunalua | Community engagement to restore health of maunalua bay | $100,000 |
| Maui Hui Malama | Programming for at-risk youth | $100,000 |
| Pu'a Foundation | Acquisition of property to develop seed bank and biodiversity restoration | $100,000 |
| Residential Youth Services and Empowerment | Financial literacy education for homeless youth | $100,000 |
| Re-Use Hawai'i | Support for moving location and building out new site | $100,000 |
| The Kohala Center | 2-year mentorship program for `aina practitioners | $100,000 |
| The Nature Conservancy | Reduction of conifer fuels on maui | $100,000 |
| Wai'anae Community Redevelopment Corp | Programming for at-risk youth | $99,857 |
| Purple Maia Foundation | Programming for at-risk youth | $82,821 |
| Coral Reef Alliance | Develop water quality data to drive coral protection actions | $75,000 |
| The Food Basket Inc | Support for double up food bucks program | $75,000 |
| Epic Ohana Inc | Programming for at-risk youth | $74,786 |
| Sustainable Coastlines Hawai'i | Cleanups and community engagement for coastlines and beaches | $72,500 |
| Hawaii Theatre Center | Build htc donor development office, staff, and capacity | $65,000 |
| Partners in Development Foundation | Programming for at-risk youth | $62,995 |
| Hui O Ko'olaupoko | Community action teams to address little fire ant invasion | $55,000 |
| 808 Cleanups | Community stewardship of conservation and restoration sites | $50,000 |
| Big Island Resource Conservation and Development Council | Plant pono landscaping education program | $50,000 |
| Friends of Amy BH Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden | Indigenous plant species protection and env education | $50,000 |
| Hawai'i Foodbank | General operating support | $50,000 |
| Kristi Yamaguchi Always Dream Foundation | Program support for early childhood reading program expansion on hawai`i island | $50,000 |
| Ma Ka Hana Ka Ike Building Program | K-12 ag education programs at mahele farms | $50,000 |
| Project Vision Hawaii | Child vision, hearing, dental screening at title 1 schools | $50,000 |
| Teach for America | Corps member and alumni leadership for tfa members | $50,000 |
| The Mediation Center of the Pacific Inc | Support for public mediation services | $50,000 |
| The Trust for Public Lands | Operating funds for land preservation work | $50,000 |
| National Tropical Botanical Garden | Biocultural conservation of coastal hala forest in e. Maui | $49,388 |
Officers and trustees
- Gloria Gainsley
- Paul J Kosasa
- Susan M Kosasa
- Thomas S Kosasa
- Christine van Bergeijk
- Lindsay Kosasa
- Ian Kosasa
- Lisa Gainsley
- Christian Gainsley
- Riki Morimoto
- Tracy Ide
Questions people ask
Does Kosasa Foundation accept grant applications?
Yes. Its latest IRS filing says it accepts applications.
How much does Kosasa Foundation give?
$5.2 million in tax year 2024, across 84 grants, with a typical grant of $45,000.
Who runs Kosasa Foundation?
Its 2024 filing lists Gloria Gainsley (Director), Paul J Kosasa (Pres/Treas/Director), Susan M Kosasa (Vp/Sec/Director) and Thomas S Kosasa (Director) among 11 officers and trustees.
What does Kosasa Foundation fund?
Based on its grants, mainly education, youth programs and environment and conservation.