This grant funding opportunity is a component of the County of Hawai‘i’s Improving Community Food Security Program, which is being administered by The Food Basket. The goals of this program are to:

1. Better understand community food security in Hawai’i County

2. Support the identification of community-based solutions, current projects, and programs that contribute to food security

3. Support areas for investment that actively increase community food security and economic resilience within the County of Hawai'i.  

There is a total of $500,000 available, please see the Request for Application (RFA) document for full description of grant.

Applications are due by Wednesday, October 15th, 2025 at 11:59 PM HST

The following entities are considered eligible beneficiaries to receive grant funding:

Nonprofit organizations

• Must have been active since at least March 1, 2020.

• For collaborative applications involving more than one non-profit, only the lead non-profit must have been in operation before March 1, 2020.

NOTE: Certain tax-exempt entities that are not required to obtain an official IRS tax-exempt determination (e.g., churches, religious organizations, etc.) are eligible for grant funding, as long as all other eligibility requirements are met. In this case, eligibility will be verified on a case-by-case basis.

Unincorporated organizations, community associations, or other entities.

• Must be fiscally sponsored by an existing non-profit that meets the following criteria:

• Has 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19) status

• Has been active since at least March 1, 2020.

Households

• Must be fiscally sponsored by an existing non-profit that meets the following criteria:

• Has 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19) status

• Has been active since at least March 1, 2020.

See the Eligibility Documentation tab of the Request for Application (RFA) document for the necessary documents based on entity type.

My organization conducts a food pantry once a month, and we would like to use the grant funds to buy a coolbot for produce refrigeration and a chest freezer, which will enable us to provide fresh and frozen foods to those we serve. Is this allowable?

Yes

My organization conducts a food pantry once a month, and we would like to use the grant funds to buy a fridge and build a pantry for a friendly fridge and pantry program to increase accessibility of food to the community during the weeks of the month that the pantry is not open. Is this allowable?

Yes

What about a vehicle attachment, such as a trailer or refrigerated trailer?

Yes, vehicle attachments are considered an eligible item to apply for.

Is food preservation included in approved requests for funds?

Yes, if it contributes to existing programming and the applicant demonstrate that it serves a long term impact

My organization conducts a food pantry once a month, and we would like to use the grant funds to buy extra food for distribution and to pay for gas for our volunteers who use their cars to deliver food to homebound individuals. Is this allowable?

No, these funds are only intended for assets or supplies that deliver long-term benefit to the grantee and community.

I want to start a food pantry, am I eligible to apply for funds?

No, these funds are only intended for existing food security programs and services. 

My organization needs a vehicle. Is this something we can apply for?

No, vehicles are not eligible for funding under this grant opportunity.

I am a farmer interested in applying for funds to improve or expand my operation, is this grant for me?

No, although farmers contribute enormously to community food security, this grant opportunity isn’t focused on the betterment of individual operations.

Why does an organization have to be active since March 1, 2020?

The funding from this program originated from the federally authorized State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) program as part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) in 2021, which is a federal funding package intended to respond to the negative public health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

My religious organization may not have all the eligibility documentation you listed, can we still apply?

If you are unsure whether your religious organization has the proper documentation to apply, please reach out to the Project Coordinator at audrey@hawaiifoodbasket.org or 808-933-6030. If you are a Food Basket partner agent, we can see what documents we have on file for you and if those will suffice.  

My community association has an existing program or service related to community food security, but we are not a registered non-profit. Are we eligible to apply?

Yes, if you operate a program or service related to community food security, you are eligible to apply. However, you must be fiscally sponsored by an existing non-profit with 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19) status that has been active since at least March 1, 2020. In this case, the fiscal sponsor applies for the grant to fund the association’s program(s) or service(s).

I am a household. Am I eligible to apply?

Yes, if you operate a program or service related to community food security. However, you must be fiscally sponsored by an existing non-profit with 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19) status that has been active since at least March 1, 2020. In this case, the fiscal sponsor applies for the grant to fund the household's program(s) or service(s).

My organization is an established 501(c)3 with an existing food security program, and we support Kaukau for Keiki in the summer, which involves multiple partners to administer the program. We want to apply for funding for a larger fridge and freezer that will allow us to increase the amount of fresh and frozen products offered during the Kaukau for Keiki program and our other programs throughout the year. Can we apply as partnering organizations?

Yes

My organization is an established 501(c)3 with an existing food security program. We want to apply for funding for a freezer. Another local organization would benefit from using this freezer for an annual fundraising event. Can we apply as partnering organizations?

No, the purchased asset must demonstrate a substantial partnership and be shared to enhance the ongoing capacity and program activities of both partnering organizations.

My organization is an established 501(c)3 with an existing food security program, and we partner with our local HDOE school complex to provide an afterschool snack program. We want to apply to expand our services to establish a school pantry program by building a mobile school pantry. Can we apply as partnering organizations?

Yes

Can my fiscal sponsor and my organization apply as a partnership, rather than as a single entity with a fiscal sponsor?

If both entities have existing programs or services related to community food security that will benefit from the proposed project, then yes, you may apply as a partnership with the established non-profit as the lead partnering entity. However, if the partnership does not substantially contribute to existing food security programs and services of both entities, then no, you may not apply as a partnership.

Based on the eligibility criteria, I will need a fiscal sponsor for my project. How does this work?

The fiscal sponsor must be an eligible entity to receive grant funds. Additionally, the fiscal sponsor is the one that submits the application, receives and spends grant funds, and is responsible for reporting / compliance.

Do we need to have matching funds in order to apply for this grant?

No, there are no matching requirements. However, in the case that an applicant proposes a project that requires additional funding, applicants should demonstrate the source and probability of external funding.