OPENING LETTERS
As we celebrate four years of Funder Hui,
I am filled with optimism about our journey toward deeper relationships within Hawaiʻi’s philanthropic community. Our commitment to trust-based philanthropy has shifted power dynamics and created space for equitable partnerships, while our year-over-year membership growth has allowed us to diversify programming with events that promote community-centered approaches and resilience building. Our events have fostered meaningful conversations and connections that inspire action. Together, we are building a movement that values collaboration and shared leadership. Join us in this vital work as we continue to empower our community and drive positive change.
Ashley Lukens, PhD
Co-Founder and Consulting Director, Funder Hui
Executive Director, Frost Family Foundation
A message from an Advisory Board Member
Dear Friends,
Joining Funder Hui’s Advisory Board is a reflection of my own deep commitment to working in community for change. The recent Maui wildfires, and the rapid activation of the Maui Strong Fund and formation of the Maui Funders Collaborative, underscored the crucial need for a connected, responsive philanthropic community in Hawai’i. In times of crisis, relationships are key; they allow us to act quickly, mobilize resources, and support communities in real, lasting ways. Funder Hui is unique in its ability to bring funders together, fostering trust and understanding that go beyond financial contributions. Through initiatives like these, we’re not only addressing immediate needs but also shaping a resilient, community-centered approach to philanthropy. I am honored to be part of this movement and look forward to the work ahead.
Sheila Sarhangi Principal Strategist, Cause Consulting LLC
FUNDER HUI
serves Hawaiʻi’s philanthropic community, as its first association of funders and philanthropy-serving organization (PSO).
We’re innovating the PSO in 4 key ways: 1. 2.
We think about the equity implications of all that we do. We are committed to acknowledging power and working to transform the relationships in our sector.
We’re redefining what it means to be a “funder,” honoring the critical role social capital plays in impact and change making.
3.
We’ve removed the paywall for participation. In the spirit of inclusivity, membership is not a barrier to entry. Anyone who funds in Hawaiʻi can begin participating in Funder Hui at any time.
4.
We’re elevating the unique innovations our islands offer the world.
Philanthropy-serving organizations play a crucial role in fostering collaboration, sharing resources, and amplifying the voices of local initiatives. At Funder Hui, we are committed to bridging local work into larger national conversations, ensuring that the unique challenges and successes of Hawaiʻi’s communities are recognized and addressed on a broader scale.
By connecting our members with national trends and best practices, we empower local efforts to influence systemic change and inspire innovative solutions that resonate throughout the philanthropic landscape.
UPF
We are a member of United Philanthropy Forum and benchmark our growth and evolution against other regional PSOs in the network. Some highlights from their field report that track with our evolution are:
1. PSO Boards Are Growing More Diverse. Fifty-one (51) percent of PSO board members identify as people of color—up slightly from the prior year and up markedly from the 33 percent share reported as recently as 2018.
2. Most PSOs are positive about the near-term economic outlook for their organizations. Over two- thirds of all PSOs (69 percent) indicated that their budgets would be higher in 2023 compared to 2022.
3. PSOs report high renewal rates. National and regional PSOs both reported a median 93 percent membership renewal rate. Among their members at year’s end, 89 percent were renewals from the previous year, 1 percent were members that returned to membership, and 9 percent represented new members.
4. PSOs collaborate regularly with each other. Fully 98 percent of all PSOs indicated that they had collaborated with one or more PSOs in the past year.
DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONAL
Our Advisory Board
includes experienced philanthropic leaders in Hawaiʻi, who meet quarterly to advise on the direction and programming of the organization:
Funder Hui is a part of a national network of Philanthropy-Serving Organizations (PSOs).
Since launching, Funder Hui has established and achieved the following to develop a strong foundation as a new organization.
Dawn Mahi Anne Swayne Suzanne Geary
Summer Keli’ipio Kaipo Kukahiko
Lisa Maruyama
Abigail Perrin
Meli James Sheila Sarhangi
Consuelo Foundation
Next Gen Donor Hui & Swayne Family Fund
Healy Foundation
ʻAʻaliʻi Alliance Islander Institute LTM Consulting
Nuestro Futuro Foundation Hawaii Venture Capital Association and Mana Up Hawaii Community Foundation
Developed and supported four working groups in the following sectors, facilitated by member organizations:
Food Systems Funders
Working Group
• Co-facilitated by: Marisa Hayase (Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation) and Abigail Perrin (Nuestro Futuro Foundation).
• This working group has 57 funder members plus dozens of community stakeholders that are invited to participate.
Housing Working Group
• Facilitated by: Xan Avendano (Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation).
• This working group has 29 funder members plus dozens of community stakeholders that are invited to participate.
We have grown our public newsletter from 1,150 subscribers last year to 1,374 this year with an excellent open rate of nearly 60% per campaign, well above the national average for nonprofits. Our newsletters feature information about upcoming events as well as recaps on our past events, with recordings shared when they are available. We also share community news and events from Kūkulu and other key partners to provide additional outreach about our members’ work and programming.
Additionally, we have a listserv for funders to share opportunities, resources, and ask questions to each other. This listserv now has 57 subscribers, and it allows funders to communicate with one another directly.
We also continue to develop content and resources for funderhui.org including the very popular recordings of our Maui briefings and all other virtual event and all other virtual events.
We have assembled a diverse team of five wāhine to lead all aspects of the organization including a Consulting Director, Program Manager, Membership Manager, Program Assistant, and Accountant to strengthen our operations.
Education Working Group
• Co-facilitated by: Josh Reppun (What School Could Be) and Evan Reppun Beachy (Kamehameha Schools).
• This working group has 45 funder members plus over a dozen community stakeholders that are invited to participate.
Capacity Building Working Group
• Now co-convened by: Dawn Mahi (Consuelo Foundation), Summer Keliipio (ʻAʻaliʻi Alliance), and Lisa Maruyama (LTM Consulting).
LISTERV HERE:
SECTORWIDE LEARNING CALLS
Our monthly learning calls have grown to reflect the diverse interest of our members and community partners, shifting between the HOW of philanthropy and innovative examples of trust-based philanthropy in action. In this way, our educational programming has emerged as a toolkit for our members and partners to leverage.
EVENTS 2024
Our events are a key pillar to our work. Since Funder Hui’s launch in 2020, we’ve hosted over 150 gatherings, including learning calls, events, and collaborative meetings with sector and government leaders. In 2024, we had over 900 people attend our in-person and virtual events.
Our offerings included sessions on Maui’s recovery, Journalism & Philanthropy, Fresh Water Solutions in Hawaiʻi, Mothers & Unconditional Cash, and more. Recordings of all our virtual events are featured on our website for easy access and reference by our community.
PARTNERSHIP EVENTS
We continually partner with key organizations across Hawaiʻi to grow the impact and reach of our work at Funder Hui. Our regular partners for events and programming include Hawaiʻi Venture Capital Association (HVCA), Hawaiʻi Community Foundation (HCF), Kūkulu Switchboard, University of Hawaiʻi Better Tomorrow Speaker Series, and more.
In the summer of 2024, Funder Hui launched “The Waiverse: Hawaiʻi’s Fresh Water Learning Circle” a four-part webinar series focused on Fresh Water in Hawaiʻi. Developed by HCF’s Natural Environment Team in partnership with Kamehameha Schools ‘Āina Pauahi and co-hosted by Funder Hui, the series aims to elevate local community water stories, deepen understanding of Hawaiʻi’s water (wai) systems, and identify philanthropic strategies for impactful support. The series began with a session providing a comprehensive overview of Hawaiʻi’s water systems, addressing key challenges related to potable water supply and infrastructure, and reviewing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which allocates $50 million for upgrades to Hawaiʻi’s drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure.
Partner Testimonials
“Relationships create the foundation for a thriving philanthropic community, where shared vision and coordinated efforts can drive meaningful, long-term change. Funder Hui’s role as convener and facilitator fosters relationships among funders and community partners that move us from shared purpose to shared action. The Zilber Family Foundation appreciates Funder Hui’s willingness to introduce innovative solutions to the sector by hosting collaborative sessions, workshops, and discussions. In September, the Foundation was able to engage with Funder Hui partners to share information about our recent grant to the Bridge Project, which is providing unconditional cash transfers to 100 moms in Milwaukee, WI.
The session has already led to several follow-on discussions with both philanthropy and the public sector. By encouraging crosssector partnerships and creative approaches, the Hui plays a pivotal role in fostering a culture of collaboration, learning, and shared vision among Hawaiʻi’s funders.
Funder Hui stands out as a critical space for strengthening relationships and driving positive change across the state’s philanthropic community.”
Gina Stilp Executive Director
Zilber Family Foundation
Maui Testimonials
“Funder Hui played a pivotal role in the early development and establishment of the Lahaina Community Land Trust (LCLT). Invited to participate in the Funder Hui calls from the outset, LCLT gained crucial initial support and exposure beyond the immediate Lahaina community. These calls facilitated meaningful connections and relationships with funders across Hawai’i and the continental U.S., providing LCLT with a broader platform and the opportunity to engage with a wide network of potential supporters.
The legitimacy and understanding brought by Funder Hui were vital to the work of LCLT, particularly in the challenging period following the fire. These calls allowed LCLT to have real conversations with funders while simultaneously dealing with the acute day-today crisis on the ground in Lahaina. The relationships formed through Funder Hui and its members have been instrumental in LCLT’s ability to raise sufficient operational funding for 2024 and 2025. This secured funding ensures that every dollar raised separately, and for the foreseeable future, can be directed entirely to the Lahaina Land Fund, dedicated to securing lands in Lahaina for community ownership.
By facilitating connections and providing a platform for collaboration, Funder Hui significantly contributed to the LCLT’s ability to show up for the Lahaina community, addressing a need that the County and State government are not equipped to deal with, with the speed necessary to make a real difference. One year after the fire, we are established, trusted and supported in our mission of keeping Lahaina lands in community hands. LCLT is about to close on the purchase of its first property, is in contract with the County of Maui who is going to donate one more residential parcel, and is working with a $15 million dollar land acquisition package in the County of Maui budget.
LCLT has established a 10 year vision that 20% of Lahaina’s residential property will be protected from investor-driven purchase, changing the course of history for Lahaina’s future generations.
As the effects of climate change continue to impact our island communities, how we respond to crises will start to define our future. We must collectively respond to acute crises while also building new systems that will replace the extractive ones we have so heavily relied on. Swift emergency response that also serves as long term systemic change can only be possible with established networks of support, trust and collaboration. We are grateful for Funder Hui’s work in establishing that network.”
Autumn Ness Executive Director Lahaina Community Land Trust
Much like our inception during the COVID-19 pandemic, Funder Hui sprung into action in August 2023 after the Lahaina Fires. Beginning just a few days after the fire, our Maui Fire Briefings were held weekly and featured a variety of topics from environmental toxins to the impact of school closures on children. Through these conversations, we heard about current struggles from kupaʻāina on the ground in Lahaina every week and learned how to best serve the community based on the most current needs.
In 2024, we continued a series of public briefings focusing on the road to recovery. We covered the topics shared in this timeline.
Recordings for all of the Maui Fire Briefing series are housed on our Past Events Page on our website.
MARCH 8
Mālama Mau I Nā Mamo O Lele: A Dialogue About the Ongoing Needs of Impacted ‘Ohana from a Mental Health Perspective: Councilmember Keani RawlinsFernandez, Amy Petersen, Jennifer Monaghan, Tina Boteilho, Keala Kaopuiki-Santos, Lawrie Ignacio, Graham Taylor, Justina Acevedo-Cross, Jeeyun Lee
FEBRUARY 9
Public Briefing on Long Term Recovery Efforts: Keanu LauHee
Lauren Nahme, Naʻalehu Anthony, Amanda Ree, Nicholas Winfrey, Makalapua Kanuha, Alfy Basurto
APRIL 5
Ho’i I Ka Pono: ‘Āina Restoration as an Act of Reclamation and Kānaka Empowerment: Diane Peters-Nguyen, Carolyn Auweloa Kapali Keahi, Councilmember Tamara Paltin, Mikey Burke, Autumn Ness, Sara Tekula
MAY 3
AUGUST 2
Hoʻolei Ka ‘Upena: Elevating Maui’s Narratives of Resiliency and Healing: Councilmember Tamara Paltin, Councilmember Keani Rawlins-Fernandez, Autumn Rae Ness, Bill Coy, Amy Carol Dominguez, Michele Navarro
Ishiki, Keala E. Kaopuiki-Santos, Noelani Ahia, Nettie Aquino
Kīpuka ‘Ohana: Updates on Housing for Displaced Maui Families: Kimo Carvalho, Darrah Kauhane, Melinda Sweany, Todd Apo, Amanda ReeSaumalu Mataafa, Ashley Kelly
HAWAI’I UPENA ALLIANCE HUA
As part of our ongoing efforts to evolve our organizational offerings and better serve our community, Funder Hui launched the Hawaiʻi ’Upena Alliance (HUA) to guide our responsive programming. HUA is envisioned as a statewide network of networks that maps key individuals and organizations critical during crises. Comprised of community leaders from across the islands who are embedded in the philanthropic and impact ecosystem, the board will meet as needed to ensure Funder Hui addresses the right problems and solutions in the wake of disasters. By fostering collaboration between local communities and government programs, HUA aims to build a more resilient, community-driven approach to disaster recovery, ensuring that communities lead their own response and have access to timely resources.
OUR WORKING GROUPS
Our four working groups meet regularly outside of our events. They provide a key pillar of member participation within Funder Hui that have blossomed into a crucial platform of collaboration. These working groups are only organized and facilitated by Funder Hui members, providing a platform for leadership and impact for leading foundations.
Working groups also provide a place for community groups, non-profits, and community experts to work together around shared priority areas.
The Food Systems Funders Working Group hosts Zoom meetings, often with a guest speaker in the field of agriculture or food systems, along with those who can speak on government funding and other relevant issues. The activities of this working group have led to increased collaboration, learning, and funding in the area of food systems in Hawaiʻi.
The Education Working Group gathers bimonthly in a hybrid format, with speakers ranging from school representatives, education funders, innovative education voices, and more. This robust and active working group keeps Hawaiʻi funders and those in the education sector connected and plugged in.
FOOD SYSTEM FUNDERS
EDUCATION
TESTIMONIALS
The Housing Working Group meets bimonthly to explore solutions around housing access and affordability in Hawaiʻi. Members learn from guest speakers about current projects and issues around housing and what funders can do to tackle this critical issue in Hawaiʻi. Meetings are offered in a hybrid format.
The Capacity Building Working Group was newly relaunched this year after a hiatus. The group meets bimonthly on Zoom to discuss key priorities and solutions when it comes to capacity building for the nonprofit sector.
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Having continued opportunities to learn, connect with others, and stay updated on what’s happening in the community is invaluable. Maui updates are especially important to me.
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As co-convener of the Education Working Group and someone who works at Kamehameha Schools, it has been good to highlight the elements of the education field to the funder community. The working group network didn’t realize that education is one of the few domains that hasn’t been updated with brain deveclopment and science. The reality of what education should look like is far from what they experienced and perceived, which further cements the value of the Education Working Group and maximizing communication and collaboration between key stakeholders and funders.
Ben Treviño Network Coordinator
Hawaiʻi
Leadership Forum
HOUSING CAPACITY BUILDING
Evan Beachy Senior Education Consultant Kamehameha Schools
“
Funder Hui’s ability to quickly and strategically convene stakeholders for collaboration and community support is truly impactful. We want to express our gratitude for how Funder Hui brought everyone together for disaster relief funding. They skillfully navigated the complex emotional landscape during the Maui fires, centering around culture and connection. Meeting people on the ground and in the community is so valuable and has been essential for identifying where support is needed.
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Natalie McKinney Chief Program Officer
Kōkua Hawai’i Foundation
Understanding the benefits of our Funder Hui community
Admittedly, Funder Hui has used many terms to describe our community! “Members”, “supporters”, and “participants” are often used interchangeably to describe our network participants. Funder Hui is a unique PSO in that we do not have a paywall to participation. While we encourage sustaining donations and membership dues, we do not require them as a prerequisite to engage in our programming and events. Equity necessitates the spirit of inclusivity and accessibility.
Donations versus Dues
Over the past 4 years we’ve been asking for donations and dues. Most PSO’s operate on a dues model. We offer a similar dues framework for participants who would like to formally join the Funder Hui community with an annual contribution. These “dues” help cover the cost of our programming which include our small part time staff, event costs, and our network’s IT infrastructure. Our suggested dues are below:
To create our vision, we offer our community the following benefits and services:
$500-$2,500 ...........................................
$2,500-$10,000 .....................................
$10,000-$25,000 ..................................
$25,000-$50,000 ..................................
Individuals and Small Organizations
Small to Medium Foundations
Medium to Large Foundations Sustaining Members
When calculating your contribution we ask that you consider either your annual grantmaking portfolio and/or your staff size. As of 2024 this is an honor-system.
For certain events, attendees will pay a fee to cover the cost of their participation. For most, we offer them freely. While we understand this can be a cause for confusion, we feel the size of our sector and our commitment to equity require that we evolve the PSO revenue model.
Organizations who offer larger donations to Funder Hui do so because they see our mission to build the community and connection required for impact as intertwined with or central to their grantmaking priorities.
In-person and virtual events
From pau hanas to panels, we host several in-person and virtual events in Hawaiʻi each year which offer intentional spaces for networking, learning, and fostering innovation in the philanthropic and nonprofit sectors. As a co-created space, we encourage our members and participants to come to us with ideas and requests for events so that we can remain nimble and creative in the programming we offer to our community. Our semi-annual pau hanas feature food, drinks, and entertainment.
Working groups
Our Housing, Education, Capacity Building, and Food & Farmers Working Groups are major pillars of Funder Hui. Working groups meet regularly, both virtually and in-person, allowing funders in those interest areas to connect, learn from expert speakers, and collaborate to solve problems and address needs. Working Group events often include light meals and refreshments.
Newsletter
Our regular newsletters feature our events, relevant partner materials, and opportunities to help guide FH programming. You can subscribe here.
Website
Listserv
We continuously add new content and resources to our website funderhui.org. All videos of our online events can be found on our website. For disaster response, we provide links to meeting chats with contact information upon request. Our listserv facilitates a space for those in our network to connect with one another directly. Whether you want to share resources, ask questions, or distribute opportunities, our listserv is a way for the philanthropic sector in Hawaiʻi to have a direct line to each other.
Since 2020, Funder Hui has grown our community to include the following participating organizations:
OUR GROWING COMMUNITY
As we look to the future, Funder Hui is energized by the opportunities that lie ahead. Our plans include hosting events on neighbor islands, deepening connections across communities, and expanding our ‘Upena Network to strengthen collaboration and support for funders across the state.
LOOKING FORWARD
Our working groups will continue to serve as a key forum for sharing insights, building knowledge, and creating actionable solutions.
With this momentum, we are committed to keeping these spaces accessible and impactful. To achieve this, we rely on the support of our paying members, whose contributions allow us to maintain a low barrier to entry and keep our programming open to all.
We thank all of our members and community participants for your contributions to the Funder Hui network along with your manaʻo and work in the philanthropic sector and beyond.