July 2026 – “The Kahua Cohort gave us the tools, knowledge and support to strengthen our organization and move important projects forward,” said Heidi Lea, executive director of Hāna Business Council. “The training on budgeting, board development and nonprofit management were invaluable, and the guidance we received helped position us to pursue major funding opportunities. As a growing nonprofit, that support has made a lasting impact on our ability to serve Hāna businesses.”
Lea’s experience reflects what 12 nonprofit organizations gained through Maui United Way’s inaugural Kahua Grants Cohort, a yearlong fundraising incubator designed to help emerging and grassroots nonprofits build stronger organizations and secure more sustainable funding.
The results were significant. Together, cohort participants increased the number of grants awarded by 86% and submitted 50% more grant applications than before entering the program. Hāna Business Council secured a $119,000 grant, one of its largest awards in recent years, while at least two participating organizations are now being considered for congressional earmark funding.
Managed by Maui United Way and funded in collaboration with Castle Foundation, Hawaiʻi Community Foundation and Kaiser Permanente, the Kahua Grants Cohort provides hands-on training, mentorship, technical assistance and grant writing support to nonprofits serving Maui, Molokai and Lānaʻi. The goal is simple: strengthen the organizations that strengthen our communities.
“Building the capacity of our nonprofit community is one of Maui United Way’s highest strategic priorities,” said CEO Jeeyun Lee. “When nonprofits have stronger foundations, they can compete for larger funding opportunities, expand their services and create lasting change for the people they serve.”
While funding outcomes were impressive, participants said one of the greatest benefits was something less measurable: the relationships they built. Through peer learning and collaboration, nonprofit leaders formed lasting connections that continue beyond the cohort, creating a stronger network of organizations working together to meet Maui Nui’s greatest needs.
To date, Maui United Way has provided grant writing and capacity-building resources to 56 nonprofit organizations, including the 12 organizations that completed the Kahua Grants Cohort. An additional 21 nonprofits received one-year memberships and nonprofit resource toolkits through the Hawaiʻi Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations. Maui United Way also partnered with SR Partners to develop a comprehensive grant writing handbook that will soon be available as a free resource on MauiUnitedWay.org.
The inaugural cohort included Boys & Girls Club of Maui, Catholic Charities Hawaiʻi, Grow Some Good, Habitat for Humanity Maui, Hāna Business Council, Hoʻōla iā Mauiakama Long Term Recovery Group, Maui Historical Society, Maui Roots Reborn, Our Kūpuna, Pacific Birth Collective, Piha Wellness & Healing and What Makes You Feel Beautiful. Together, these organizations support wildfire recovery and address critical community needs ranging from mental health and workforce development to youth services and family well-being.
Applications for the 2027 Kahua Grants Cohort open this August, continuing Maui United Way’s commitment to building a stronger, more resilient nonprofit sector across Maui, Molokai and Lānaʻi.
