​

The state Legislature’s evaluation committee for Act 310 — Senate Bill 933 — has officially opened the
application process for
$50 million in nonprofit grants, offering relief to organizations affected by federal funding reductions across the state.

The grants, appropriated to the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations’ Office of Community Services for fiscal year 2025–2026, are intended to sustain critical community services in areas such as health care, human services, child care, education, homelessness and food security. To
administer the program, OCS has contracted Aloha United Way to manage the application and processing of submissions.

However, AUW will not play a role in selecting grant recipients or determining award amounts.

“A selection committee
of State Legislators will be making all determinations on the Act 310 Nonprofit Grants,” officials confirmed.

The funding comes at a time when many Hawaii nonprofits are grappling with significant reductions or
delays in federal grants.

In recent months, Hawaii nonprofits have increasingly felt the squeeze from looming federal cutbacks. According to a report by UHERO and the Hawaii Community Foundation, 74 federal grants worth $126 million awarded to 59 Hawaii nonprofits are now considered “politically vulnerable,” with a large share concentrated in health care, human services, education and Native Hawaiian programs.

Many organizations report delayed payments,
reduced renewals of grant awards and outright terminations of federal contracts. Some human services nonprofits rely on federal grants for 36% of their budgets — and for some, Washington funding accounts for over
20 % of total revenue. Meanwhile, cutbacks in federal safety-net programs — such as reductions in Medicaid, SNAP and program eliminations — are compounding the pressure on local service providers already trying to fill gaps.

State Sen. Donovan M. Dela Cruz (D, Mililani-
Wahiawa-Whitmore Village), chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, said that with federal funding becoming “increasingly unreliable, Act 310 ensures that we are stepping up to preserve essential services and serve the people who depend on them.”

“Numerous nonprofit organizations in Hawaii provide essential health and human services,” State Rep. Daniel Holt (D, Sand Island-Iwilei-Chinatown) added. “State-administered grants will play a critical role in addressing federal funding gaps, so that our community partners can continue delivering vital
services that our families and residents rely on.”

According to program guidelines, to be eligible, applicants must be nonprofits that existed before Jan. 1 and fall into one of two
categories:

>> Directly affected
providers: Organizations that have sustained a reduction or termination of federal funding since Jan. 20, including formal terminations, reductions in awarded funds or non-
renewals in federal programs. Applicants must provide documentation such as termination or rescission letters, current and prior year award notices or federal budget references showing the program’s omission.

>> Indirectly affected
providers: Organizations that are not direct federal funding recipients but primarily serve populations negatively impacted by funding cuts. Acceptable documentation includes client service data, third-party verification from affected programs or local impact reports, along with a narrative explaining how reduced federal support has affected the community served.

“Nonprofits are the backbone of our communities,” said Michelle Bartell, president and CEO of Aloha United Way. “Aloha United Way is proud to support the Office of Community Services in administering Act 310, ensuring Hawaii’s nonprofit sector has the resources it needs to keep vital services available for those who need them most.”

The application portal (808ne.ws/48wZmUH) opened Oct. 13 and the deadline to apply is Friday at 4:30 p.m.

Required documents include an IRS Determination Letter, proof of active status with the Attorney General’s Office, a Certificate of Good Standing from the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, a Hawaii Compliance Express Certificate (within six months),
by-laws or corporate resolutions and proof of funding impact.

No late applications will be accepted.