HCF announces 2016 FLEX Grant awardees January 5, 2017
Lahaina News
HONOLULU - Hawaii's non-profits serve a vital function for the state by providing services and programs that impact the lives of many individuals across the islands. In 2013, the Hawaii Community Foundation (HCF) created the FLEX Grants Program, as part of its Advancing Nonprofit Excellence Initiative, to maximize donors' and funding partners' gifts in support of non-profits that achieve successful results and have a strong impact on the community. These organizations are also known as highperforming nonprofits. This year, HCF will be distributing $4.8 million of unrestricted funds to 216 Hawaii-based, high-performing nonprofit organizations that can be used at their discretion to support operations, infrastructure or programs. "Hawaii's high-performing non-profits are making a huge impact in our community, from caring for our kupuna to helping homeless families, to preserving and sustaining our environment," said Micah Kane, president and COO at HCF. "It's our responsibility to show the trust we have in these organizations by providing flexible grants that allow nonprofits to decide how best to use it to support its mission. We are grateful to the donors who share in this thinking and are participating as funders in the FLEX Grants Program." Based on over a decade of programs designed to help build the capacity of nonprofit organizations, HCF created guidelines to help identify high-performing organizations that are achieving results and are ultimately the fuel for creating lasting change in our communities. These high-performing groups have a greater impact and can best be identified through the acronym CHANGE: Connected to Community, Healthy Finances, Accountable Results, Networked Relationships, Great Governance and Leadership, and Effective Programs. Since 2013, the FLEX Grants Program has grown to be supported by HCF, and more than 45 donors have joined together with the foundation, providing more than $16 million in grants to help sustain high-performing non-profits across the state. "We're extremely privileged to receive a FLEX Grant and to be recognized as a high-performing organization," said Art Vento, president and CEO of the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. "The grant allows us to be nimble to the needs of our organization, and ultimately helps us to be more effective in serving our community. It means so much to have the community foundation and donors entrust us to use the funds to where it's needed the most." Individuals or organizations interested in becoming a donor to support high-performing non-profits can call (888) 731-3863 or e-mail flex@hcf-hawaii.org. Nonprofit organizations interested in applying for a 2017 FLEX Grant can visit www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/grants/open-applications for deadlines and application guidelines.