HCF Announces 2016 FLEX Grant Awardees

More than 200 High-Performing Nonprofits Receive $4.8 million in Unrestricted Grants

News Release from HCF, December 22, 2016

HONOLULU — Hawai‘i’s nonprofits serve a vital function for the state by providing services and programs that impact the lives of many individuals across the islands. In 2013, the Hawai‘i Community Foundation (HCF) created the FLEX Grants Program, as part of its Advancing Nonprofit Excellence Initiative, to maximize donors and funding partners gifts in support of nonprofits that achieve successful results and have a strong impact on the community, these organizations are also known as high performing nonprofits. This year, HCF will be distributing $4.8 million of unrestricted funds to 216 Hawai‘i-based high-performing nonprofit organizations that can be used at their discretion to support operations, infrastructure, or programs.

“Hawai‘i’s high-performing nonprofits are making a huge impact in our community, from caring for our kūpuna to helping homeless families, to preserving and sustaining our environment,” Micah Kane, president and COO at HCF. “It’s our responsibility to show the trust we have in these organizations by providing flexible grants that allow nonprofits to decide how best to use it to support its mission. We are grateful to the donors who share in this thinking and are participating as funders in the FLEX Grants program.”

Based on over a decade of programs designed to help build the capacity of nonprofit organizations, HCF created guidelines to help identify high-performing organizations that are achieving results and are ultimately the fuel for creating lasting change in our communities. These high-performing nonprofits have a greater impact and can best be identified through the acronym CHANGE: Connected to Community, Healthy Finances, Accountable Results, Networked Relationships, Great Governance and Leadership, and Effective Programs.

Since 2013, the FLEX Grants program has grown to be supported by HCF and more than 45 donors have joined together with HCF, providing more than $16 million in grants to help sustain high-performing nonprofits across the state.

“We’re extremely privileged to receive a FLEX grant and to be recognized as a high-performing organization,” said Jack Kittinger, acting director of Conservation International. “Flexible funding for staffing, operations, and other core costs are critical for organizational effectiveness, and ultimately helps us be more effective in serving our community. It means so much to have the Community Foundation and donors entrust us to use the funds to where it is needed most.”

A full list of the 2016 FLEX grantees is attached and available at >>> LINK

For individuals or organizations interested in becoming a donor to support high-performing nonprofits, please call (888) 731-3863 or email flex@hcf-hawaii.org. For nonprofit organizations interested in applying for a 2017 FLEX grant, visit http://www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/grants/open-applications for deadlines and application guidelines.

About Hawai‘i Community Foundation

With 100 years of community service, the Hawai‘i Community Foundation (HCF) is the leading philanthropic institution in the state. HCF is a steward of more than 700 funds, including more than 200 scholarship funds, created by donors who desire to transform lives and improve communities. In 2015, HCF distributed more than $46 million in grants and contracts statewide, including $4.5 million in scholarships. HCF also serves as a resource on community issues and    trends in the nonprofit sector.

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