The Hawai‘i Community Foundation is accepting applications for its Family Literacy Funds.
Donor Name: Hawai‘i Community Foundation
State: Hawaii
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 04/24/2026
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
The purpose of the Hawai‘i Community Foundation (HCF) Family Literacy funds is to increase the English literacy of Hawai‘i residents. Programs are funded through the Public-Private Partners for Literacy Fund, Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Fund for Family Literacy, and the George J. Henritzy Memorial Fund, each of which is a donor-directed fund of HCF. The Family Literacy Advisory Committee reviews applications and makes recommendations for grants that are most consistent with the purpose and priorities of the funds.
This program aims to expand access to high-quality literacy programs for Hawaiʻi’s residents. The Family Literacy Program focuses on families with young children (ages 0–8), engaging parents and caregivers as a child’s first teacher and providing them with tools, resources, and strategies to support learning and language development at home.
Funds must be used to support family literacy efforts that strengthen the capacity of parents and caregivers to serve as their child’s first and most important teacher. Proposed projects should focus on families with young children, from birth through age eight, and “equip caregivers with the tools, resources, and strategies to guide children’s learning activities and language experiences at home.” 5 Priority will be given to applications that:
- Serve under-resourced communities, including families experiencing economic hardship, immigrant or refugee families, rural communities, and others with limited access to high-quality literacy supports
- Implement evidence-based family literacy practices or programs, including nationally recognized models adapted to reflect local cultures, languages, and community contexts
All funded projects must also:
- Include an assessment or evaluation component to monitor implementation and measure progress toward family literacy outcomes
- Describe how project staff and partners will be prepared to implement family literacy effectively, which may include professional learning or training for educators, family engagement staff, or community partners
- Engage community-based partnerships to build trust, increase participation, and ensure programming is responsive to families’ cultural and linguistic backgrounds
Funding Information
- Grants will be for two years and may range from $5,000 to $30,000 per year. HCF will award up to $100,000 each year. Individual awards are expected to average $18,000.
Eligibility Criteria
Hawai‘i nonprofit organizations that are 501(c)(3) IRS tax exempt organizations and programs with a fiscal sponsor with 501(c)(3) status, are eligible to apply. Organizations currently funded by HCF with overdue final reports are not eligible to apply.
For more information, visit HCF.
