Hawaii Island United Way

What Hawaii Island United Way does

Hawaii Island United Way (HIUW) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization founded circa 1966 and headquartered at 688 Kinoʻole St., Suite #201 in Hilo, Hawaiʻi. Operating as the island-specific affiliate of the national United Way federation, HIUW functions as a community resource-mobilization platform that connects individual donors, corporate partners, and volunteers with vetted local nonprofit agencies. In 2025 the organization funded 25 partner nonprofits supporting more than 30 programs across Hawaiʻi Island, spanning food security, substance abuse prevention, disability services, youth development, workforce development, legal aid, and emergency relief.

The organization's core products are program-oriented rather than technology-oriented. They include the Community Impact Grant and the federally-administered Emergency Food & Shelter Program (EFSP), the annual HIUW General Campaign with a tiered Leadership Giving component, and direct-service programs such as the Hawaiʻi Island Furniture Bank (launched 2025) and the Natural Disaster Recovery Fund / Community Relief Fund. HIUW also operates the Hawaiʻi Island Nonprofit Network, a sector-coordination initiative launched in 2025, and runs two flagship fundraising events — the annual Luck of the Irish Golf Tournament (23rd annual in 2026) and the Givers Gala featuring the Ripple Effect Awards. Technology infrastructure is intentionally lightweight: a standard nonprofit website (hiuw.org) with cookies-based analytics, third-party donation and ticketing via Zeffy, and the e-Cimpact partner agency portal. No proprietary technology, AI/ML capability, or application is disclosed.

Revenue is generated entirely through charitable contributions: individual donations, corporate workplace giving campaigns (payroll deduction), leadership/major gifts, and event-based fundraising. As a federated nonprofit, HIUW passes the majority of raised funds through to partner agencies rather than retaining them as commercial revenue. The customer base is multi-sided: donors (individuals and corporate partners), funded partner agencies (25+), and ultimate beneficiaries (Hawaiʻi Island residents). Operations are geographically concentrated on Hawaiʻi Island, with statewide coordination maintained through mutual relationships with Aloha, Maui, and Kauai United Way affiliates.

Name

Hawaii Island United Way

Legal name

Hawaii Island United Way, Inc.

Website

https://hiuw.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Hawaii Island United Way is a Hilo-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that mobilizes donations and workplace giving to fund a network of 25+ local partner agencies delivering food, health, youth, disability, and emergency services across Hawai'i Island.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Community Impact Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219)

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

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG), Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

Keywords

• Community impact grants
• Workplace giving campaigns
• Emergency relief funds
• Nonprofit federation services
• Donor mobilization programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Hilo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The organization raises funds through individual donations, corporate giving campaigns, workplace giving programs, and special event fundraising including the Luck of the Irish Golf Tournament and Givers Gala.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Hawaii Island United Way is a nonprofit charitable organization that mobilizes donations from individuals and corporate partners through workplace giving campaigns and fundraising events, then redistributes those funds as grants to a network of vetted local partner agencies delivering health, human, and social services across Hawaii Island. It also operates direct-service programs such as the Hawaii Island Furniture Bank and emergency relief funds for disaster response.

Product overview

Hawaiʻi Island United Way operates as a nonprofit federation that connects people, organizations, and resources to build a healthier community. The organization functions as a single unified offering centered on community impact through grant-making and fundraising. Its core programs include the Community Impact Grant and Emergency Food & Shelter Program that fund partner agencies; the HIUW General Campaign with Leadership Giving for donor engagement; and the Hawaiʻi Island Furniture Bank providing furniture assistance. Additional programs include the Natural Disaster Recovery Fund for emergency response and the Ripple Effect Awards recognizing nonprofit excellence. Fundraising events like the annual Luck of the Irish Golf Tournament and Givers Gala support these initiatives. The organization manages a network of partner agencies and corporate partners across Hawaiʻi Island.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Hawai'i Island Furniture Bank: A furniture bank program providing furniture assistance to those in need on Hawai'i Island.
• Hawai'i Island Nonprofit Network
• Ripple Effect Awards
• Luck of the Irish Golf Tournament

Products and services

• Community Impact Grant Grant program that funds local nonprofit partner agencies delivering community programs and services across Hawaii Island.
• Emergency Food & Shelter Program (EFSP) Federal pass-through program providing emergency food and shelter resources to individuals and families in crisis on Hawaii Island.
• HIUW General Campaign Annual fundraising campaign mobilizing workplace giving and community donations to support local programs across Hawaii Island.
• Hawaii Island Furniture Bank Direct-service program providing furniture and household items to families and individuals in need across Hawaii Island.
• Natural Disaster Recovery Fund Emergency fund activated to support community relief and recovery efforts following natural disasters on Hawaii Island.
• Luck of the Irish Golf Tournament Annual flagship fundraising event featuring two days of golf at Mauna Lani Golf with food, prizes, and community networking in support of HIUW programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Funded 25 nonprofits supporting 30+ programs in 2025
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

29 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• American Red CrosscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency receiving grants and coordination support from HIUW. The Red Cross provides disaster relief services on Hawaii Island.
• Arc of KonacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency serving individuals with developmental disabilities in the Kona region.
• Big Island Substance Abuse CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency providing substance abuse counseling and prevention programs.
• Bridge HousecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency providing recovery and transitional housing services.
• Child and Family ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency providing family support and child welfare services.
• Family Support HawaiicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency offering family support services.
• Food BasketcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency addressing food insecurity on Hawaii Island through food distribution programs.
• Full LifecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency providing services for individuals with developmental disabilities.
• Girl Scouts of HawaiicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency providing youth development programs for girls.
• Hamakua Youth CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency serving youth in the Hamakua region.
• Hawaii Care ChoicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency providing hospice and palliative care services.
• Hawaii Island Adult CarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency providing adult day care and respite services.
• Hawaii Literacy / Kona Literacy CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency promoting literacy across Hawaii Island.
• HIHR (Hawaii Island Human Resources/Recovery)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency involved in workforce development and recovery services.
• Ku'ikahi Mediation CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency providing conflict resolution and mediation services.
• Kumukahi Health and WellnesscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency providing health and wellness programs.
• Legal Aid Society of Hawai'icoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency providing free legal services to underserved populations.
• Mental Health KokuacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency providing mental health support services.
• PATCH (People Attentive to Children)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency focused on child welfare and early childhood services.
• Salvation Army Hilo & KonacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency providing emergency assistance, social services, and disaster relief.
• Special Olympics HawaiicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency providing year-round sports training and athletic competition for individuals with intellectual disabilities.
• West Hawaii Mediation CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency providing mediation services on the west side of Hawaii Island.
• YMCA Hawaii IslandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency providing youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility programs.
• YWCA Hawaii IslandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner agency dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.
• Maui United WayminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated United Way organization in Hawaii serving as part of the statewide network.
• Aloha United WayminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated United Way organization in Hawaii serving as part of the statewide network.
• Kauai United WayminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated United Way organization in Hawaii serving as part of the statewide network.
• Hawaii Island Furniture BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHIUW-operated program providing furniture and household essentials to community members in need.
• Arc of HilominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner hosting the Givers Gala event.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Hawaii Community Foundation: Hawaii-based community foundation with a similar donor mobilization and grantmaking mission across the islands. Different legal structure (community foundation vs. United Way) but overlapping beneficiary geography and grant recipients.

Broad incumbents

• United Way of Greater Los Angeles: Large urban United Way affiliate with the same federated workplace-giving model, partner-agency grantmaking approach, and community impact focus — but operating at substantially larger scale in a metro market.
• United Way Worldwide: National parent network of which HIUW is an affiliate. Operates globally across thousands of local United Ways with overlapping brand, donor infrastructure, and federated-giving framework.
• United Way of New York City: Major metropolitan United Way affiliate using the same brand and federated giving infrastructure, with significantly greater scale and a broader portfolio of community programs.
• United Way of Central Indiana: Regional United Way affiliate operating with a comparable workplace-giving, partner-agency funding, and community impact model — but at a much larger regional scale.

Others

• Council on Foundations: National membership organization supporting foundations and corporate giving programs — thematically related to HIUW's grantmaking and community philanthropy activities rather than a direct competitor.

Direct peers

• Kauai United Way: Island-level United Way affiliate serving Kauai — directly comparable federated-giving model and community impact focus, but serving a separate Hawaiian island rather than Hawaii Island.
• Maui United Way: Island-level United Way affiliate serving Maui County — same federated giving model, donor mobilization approach, and partner-agency grantmaking structure, but operating in a different Hawaiian island geography.
• Aloha United Way: Statewide Hawaii United Way affiliate that overlaps with HIUW geographically and shares the same United Way brand, federated workplace-giving model, and grantmaking approach to community nonprofits.

Regional players

• Salvation Army Hawaiian & Pacific Islands Division: Federated social-services and emergency-relief organization operating in Hawaii with overlapping beneficiary programs (emergency assistance, disaster relief) — but a separate brand and direct-service model rather than federated grantmaking.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCuFwx3dclqOcrE2Rgc2Jl5w
• Facebookfacebook.com/hawaiiislandunitedway
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hawaii-island-united-way
• Instagraminstagram.com/unitedwayhawaiiisland

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Hawaii Island United Way