What Maui United Way does

Maui United Way is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization founded in 1945 that serves Maui County, Hawaiʻi — specifically the islands of Maui, Molokai, and Lānaʻi. Its mission centers on three traditional United Way pillars (education, income/financial security, and health), operationalized through four named impact areas: Olakino (Healthy Community), Kulia (Youth Opportunity), Waiwai Hoʻopāʻā (Financial Security), and Hoʻomau (Community Resiliency). The organization functions as a community backbone intermediary: it raises charitable funds from individuals, workplaces, and institutional partners and redistributes them to vetted nonprofit recipients across the county, while also directly operating a 211 information and referral line that connects residents to over 4,000 community services across the State of Hawaiʻi. The organization holds United Way Worldwide affiliate status, a 99% Charity Navigator 4-star rating, and Candid/GuideStar Platinum transparency status, and is independently governed by a local Board of Directors (EIN 99-0086524).

The service portfolio spans disaster response, direct financial assistance, grantmaking, and nonprofit capacity building. Core programs include the Maui Nui Resilience and Emergency Response Fund (activated during crises), the Maui Emergency Feeding Taskforce (MEFT), the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) administered by the local board, the Community Impact Grant, the Kahua Grants Initiative, the Maona Food Security Grant, the Ohana Mental Health Grant, and a $7.8 million direct cash assistance program that paid $1,000 to each of 7,800+ fire survivors in Lahaina and Kula (capped at $5,000 per household). A two-year Brownfields Environmental Recovery Initiative, funded by the U.S. EPA and executed with Environmental Science International, extends the portfolio into environmental site assessment. Supporting infrastructure includes a Grantee Portal for online applications and reporting, free financial training workshops for nonprofits in partnership with the Hawaiʻi Alliance for Nonprofit Organizations, and the annual ʻUlana Gala.

Revenue mechanics rely on individual donations via a Givebutter-powered digital platform with fees waived (accepting credit card, Apple/Google Pay, PayPal, Venmo, Cash App, ACH, and Donor Advised Funds), corporate workplace giving campaigns with payroll deductions and matching gifts, direct corporate contributions, and event revenue (ʻUlana Gala tickets at $300; tables of eight from $2,000). 2024 reported outputs include 87,396 service touchpoints, 67,465 residents served, and over $5.9 million in grants to local social service agencies, plus $5.5 million in recovery funding deployed post-2023 wildfires. Leadership includes CEO Jeeyun Lee, appointed December 2025, alongside Manager of Community Impact Makana Rosete and Impact Grants Administrator Jane Leek.

Name

Maui United Way

Legal name

Maui United Way

Website

https://mauiunitedway.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1945

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Maui United Way is a Maui County, Hawaiʻi 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1945 that mobilizes donations and grantmaking to support disaster relief, financial security, health, youth opportunity, and community resilience across Maui, Molokai, and Lānaʻi.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community and Social Services Nonprofits

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Federated Giving Organizations (e.g., United Way-type) (BPAGAKAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Capacity Building & Nonprofit Infrastructure Funders (BPAGAKAO), Humanitarian Health & Emergency Medical Relief NGOs (HLAJAKAE), Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD)

Keywords

• Community fundraising services
• Disaster relief funding
• Nonprofit grantmaking
• Workplace giving campaigns
• Social services coordination

Headquarters

HQ city

Wailuku

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute directly through the organization's website, with various giving options including one-time and recurring donations. The organization offers multiple payment methods including credit cards and digital wallets.
2. Workplace Giving: Corporate workplace giving campaigns allow employees to make payroll deductions or one-time contributions to support community programs.
3. Corporate Contributions: Direct company contributions to annual giving campaigns, matching employee gifts, hosting fundraising events, and customer round-up programs.
4. Event Revenue: Gala events and golf tournaments generate revenue through ticket sales, table sponsorships, and event sponsorships. Individual gala tickets are $300, tables for eight start at $2,000.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Maui United Way mobilizes donations and grants to fund community programs across Maui, Molokai, and Lāna'i, with focus on education, financial security, health, and disaster recovery. It channels resources to vetted local nonprofit partners through competitive grant cycles and operates direct assistance funds (such as the Maui Nui Resilience and Emergency Response Fund) for wildfire and disaster survivors.

Product overview

Maui United Way is a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of community programs, grant initiatives, and fundraising platforms rather than a single unified technology product. Its core offerings span disaster relief and emergency response (Maui Nui Resilience and Emergency Response Fund, Emergency Feeding Taskforce), financial security assistance (direct cash assistance, gas cards, emergency financial aid to wildfire survivors), community grantmaking (Community Impact Grant, Kahua Grants, Maona Food Security Grant, EFSP), and workforce and community capacity building (Workplace Giving, Grantee Portal, Grant Resources). These programs are organized around four Pillars of Impact: Olakino (Healthy Community), Kulia (Youth Opportunity), Waiwai Hoʻopaʻa (Financial Security), and Hoʻomau (Community Resiliency). Supporting infrastructure includes the 211 referral service, a Grantee Portal for online grant applications and reporting, financial training workshops for nonprofits, and the ʻUlana Gala as an annual fundraising event. The organization does not offer a technology product with an API, integrations, or AI capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Maui Nui Resilience and Emergency Response Fund: Maui United Way's emergency response and resilience fund supporting residents impacted by disasters on Maui, Molokai, and Lānaʻi.
• Maui Emergency Feeding Taskforce (MEFT)
• Environmental Recovery Initiative
• Sentry Malama Na Keiki Initiative

Products and services

• Maui Nui Resilience and Emergency Response Fund Emergency disaster relief fund providing direct financial assistance and resources to wildfire and disaster survivors across Maui Nui; serves Maui County residents impacted by declared disasters.
• Maui Emergency Feeding Taskforce Emergency food distribution and feeding coordination for displaced residents and disaster survivors; serves Maui County individuals and families in crisis.
• Find Help / 211 Referral Service Free community resource referral service connecting Maui County residents to local health, financial, and social services via phone and online directory.
• Workplace Giving Campaign Corporate employee giving program that enables businesses and their employees to make recurring donations via payroll deduction; serves Hawaii-based employers and CSR programs.
• Community Impact Grant Program (Kahua Grants) Competitive grant program awarding funding to vetted local 501(c)(3) nonprofits operating programs in education, financial security, health, and disaster recovery; serves Maui County nonprofit organizations.
• Maona Food Security Grant Targeted grant program funding local organizations working to alleviate food insecurity and expand access to nutritious food; serves Maui County food security nonprofits.
• Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) Federally supported program providing emergency food, shelter, and basic needs assistance to Maui County residents in crisis.
• Sentry Mālama Nā Keiki Initiative Initiative supporting children and family services across Maui, Molokai, and Lāna'i through grant funding and partner programs; serves local youth-serving nonprofits.
• Kilohana Internet Initiative Initiative supporting digital access and connectivity for Maui County residents, particularly disaster-impacted communities.
• Environmental Recovery Initiative

Quantifiable outcome

• 87,396 service touchpoints provided in 2024
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• World Central KitchencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Partnership to distribute meals to residents in hard-to-reach areas like Hana and Molokai, as well as kupuna across the county. Distributed over 1,300 meals.
• Maui Emergency Feeding Taskforce (MEFT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMEFT operates in partnership with Maui United Way to coordinate stakeholders across government, nonprofit, and community sectors to improve food resource management during emergencies and support long-term food security.
• Hā SustainabilitysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founder Hannah Shipman-Peila serves as Principal Consultant for the Environmental Recovery Initiative, providing expertise in community-centered environmental planning.
• Environmental Science International (ESI)supportingTechnology or IntegrationESI is collaborating with Maui United Way on the Brownfields Environmental Recovery Initiative to conduct Phase I and II environmental assessments of potentially contaminated sites.
• Hawai'i Alliance for Nonprofit OrganizationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to deliver a finance workshop series for nonprofits serving Maui, Molokai, and Lānaʻi. Sessions include Full Cost 101, Budgeting 101, Financial Oversight 101, and Making Financial Decisions in Times of Uncertainty.
• Maui Emergency Management Agency (MEMA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordination with MEMA to identify urgent needs, strengthen communication, and mobilize support in real time during disaster response.
• Maui COAD (Community Organizations Active in Disasters)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordination with COAD for disaster response planning, resource distribution, and community partnership during emergencies.
• County of MauicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with County government for emergency coordination, CDBG-DR translation services for disaster recovery planning, and community engagement.
• Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset FoundationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdministered the $240,000 gas card distribution program for wildfire survivors commuting between Lahaina and other parts of Maui.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Hawaiʻi Community Foundation: Major Hawaii grantmaking foundation managing philanthropic assets and deploying disaster recovery and community grants. Closely comparable as a Hawaii-focused grantmaker and convener of community resources.
• Aloha United Way: Hawaii-based United Way affiliate serving Honolulu and statewide needs. Direct peer operating the same United Way federation model with comparable grantmaking, workplace giving, and 211 referral services across Hawaii.
• Catholic Charities Hawaii: Hawaii-wide social services nonprofit providing emergency assistance, immigration support, and disaster relief. Comparable model of multi-island social services delivery, donor mobilization, and direct cash/case management.

Emerging players

• Center for Disaster Philanthropy: Specialized intermediary that channels philanthropic dollars to disaster recovery, including Maui wildfire recovery. Comparable in deploying funds through vetted local partners during Maui recovery; operates nationally rather than as a single-region org.
• Hawaiʻi Alliance for Nonprofit Organizations (HANO): Statewide capacity-building association for Hawaii nonprofits. Comparable on the nonprofit infrastructure and capacity-building axis (Maui United Way partners with HANO on finance training), though HANO focuses on sector support rather than grantmaking.

Broad incumbents

• American Red Cross (Hawaii Region): National humanitarian organization with significant Hawaii disaster response presence. Overlaps with Maui United Way on emergency shelter, relief funding, and disaster coordination, but operates at a much larger national scale.
• United Way Worldwide: National federation of which Maui United Way is a member affiliate. Provides network standards, branding, and shared fundraising tools, making it a structural peer rather than a direct competitor.
• Salvation Army Hawaiian & Pacific Islands Division: National faith-based social services and disaster relief organization with active operations in Hawaii. Competes for similar disaster-recovery dollars and provides overlapping feeding, shelter, and emergency financial assistance programs.

Regional players

• Maui Food Bank: Maui County's primary food distribution nonprofit and a Maui United Way grantee. Comparable as a Maui-focused community resources organization operating in the same geography, though specialized in food rather than multi-pillar grantmaking.

Others

• Kaiser Permanente Community Health (Hawaii): Healthcare funder actively seeding Maui recovery efforts. Comparable as a programmatic grantmaking entity focused on health and resilience in the same geography; not a direct competitor but a major funding counterpart.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@mauiunitedway398
• Facebookfacebook.com/MauiUnitedWay
• Instagraminstagram.com/mauiunitedway

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Maui United Way