City now accepting Grants in Aid applications

News Release from Office of the Mayor, Oct 10, 2022

HONOLULU – Mayor Rick Blangiardi today announced that qualified nonprofit organizations can now apply for grants available through the city’s Grants in Aid (GIA) program. GIA proposals must be submitted by 2 p.m. on November 22, 2022.  Last year more than $9.2 million in GIA were awarded to 61 nonprofits across O‘ahu. Please note this is the City’s annual Grants In Aid request for grant proposals, not the Non-Profit Relief Program that will be funded by the American Rescue Plan (ARPA). Applications for the Relief Program will forthcoming at a later date.

“The work of our non-profits are critical to keeping Honolulu a healthy, thriving city,” said Mayor Rick Blangiardi. “They continue to provide the services that make Honolulu a better, safer, healthier place to live, and we are proud to be part of their wonderful endeavors.”

The City Charter-mandated GIA fund administered by the Department of Community Services (DCS) was established by a voter initiative to serve economically and/or socially disadvantaged populations, or provide services for public benefit in the areas of arts, culture, economic development, or the environment. 

“It is not only our duty, it is our privilege to support O‘ahu non-profits,” said Department of Community Services Director Anton Krucky. “Our nonprofits provide many benefits to our community, providing critical funding to assist those struggling with homelessness, promote culture and the arts, youth engagement, kupuna programs, health, and other critical programs. I hope that all eligible nonprofits take advantage of these taxpayer-funded grants.”

Interested agencies please download the Request for Grant Proposals (RGP) from the State of Hawaii's Hawaii Awards & Notices Data System (HANDS) website at https://hands.ehawaii.gov/hands/opportunities.  Further information is available at http://bit.ly/honolulugia2024 about the grant application process.  For further assistance, agencies may contact the Division of Purchasing Help Desk at 808-768-5535.

All agencies must submit their sealed proposals to the Division of Purchasing by 2 p.m. Hawai’i Standard Time on Tuesday, November 22, 2022, as evidenced by a date and time stamp from the Division of Purchasing. The Division of Purchasing is located at Honolulu Hale, 530 South King Street, Room 115, Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96813.  

Additional Background

The city is mandated by a Charter Amendment to set aside one-half of one percent of general funds for Grants in Aid for the following two categories:

Public Services

Funds in this category must be used to support qualified public services and programs for the target populations deemed by the city to be most vulnerable, including but not limited to: seniors, persons with disabilities, children, victims of domestic violence, people experiencing homelessness, and those suffering from the effects of substance abuse or poor mental health.

Arts, Culture, and Community / Economic Development and the Environment

Funds in this category must be used to support the sustainable improvement in the well-being and quality of life of local communities, especially low- to moderate income areas. Projects could include but are not limited to: the creation, development and empowerment of community based organizations, providing planning, organizational support, and technical assistance to organizations, supporting financial literacy programs and services, supporting micro-enterprise and business training, and supporting programs that promote cultural or environmental enhancement, protection or awareness.

—PAU—