The Samuel N. & Mary Castle Foundation supports organizations and initiatives that strengthen early childhood education, care, and well-being in Hawaiʻi.

The Foundation’s chief priority is early education for children ages 0–5, with particular emphasis on increasing access to high-quality early learning for low-income families, strengthening the early childhood teacher workforce, and supporting high-quality preschool programs throughout Hawaiʻi.

The Foundation welcomes innovative approaches, partnerships, and programs that address documented community needs and produce clear, measurable benefits for children, families, and early childhood educators.

The Foundation values diversity and affordable access as provided for in a complementary public-private preschool system. The Foundation values equity of educational opportunity throughout Hawaiʻi.

Our Grantmaking Priorities

Trustees especially welcome proposals that:

• Improve access to high-quality early education for low-income and underserved families.
• Strengthen the quality, availability, and affordability of early childhood education and care.
• Support infants and toddlers, who remain among the most underserved populations in Hawaiʻi’s early learning system.
• Provide pre-K and early childhood teacher education, training, and professional development.
• Strengthen the early childhood workforce and promote workforce development.
• Introduce innovative or demonstration programs that can improve early childhood outcomes.
• Make it easier for families and early childhood providers to access needed services and resources.
• Address a clearly documented community need rather than solely an organizational need.
• Support partnerships among organizations that reduce duplication and improve program efficiency.
• Improve access for families and communities that have traditionally been underserved.
• Extend effective programs and services throughout Hawaiʻi, particularly in underserved communities.
• Support the development of a high-quality public preschool system.
• Strengthen culturally responsive and community-based approaches to early childhood education.
• Demonstrate clear project or program outcomes and a thoughtful method for evaluating results.

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The Foundation also encourages collaboration among nonprofit, public-sector, educational, philanthropic, and community partners. Public-sector participation is encouraged when it strengthens an early childhood initiative; however, the fiscal agent for a grant must generally be a qualifying 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

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Geographic and Organizational Eligibility:

Applicants must:

• Be recognized by the IRS as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) charitable organization and be publicly supported.
• Demonstrate that the proposed program or project addresses a documented community need.
• In the case of preschool programs, demonstrate appropriate quality standards and accreditation or progress toward accreditation when applicable.
• Demonstrate multiple sources or earned and charitable income.

The Foundation generally works with the following accreditation agencies:

• WASC
• HAIS (Hawaiʻi Association of Independent Schools)
• NAEYC
• NECPA
• AMS/AMI (Montessori)

For preschool applicants, the Trustees strongly prefer NAEYC accreditation, and NAEYC-accredited applicants receive priority consideration.

What the Foundation Funds

The Foundation considers requests for:

• Program and project support for ongoing preschool programs
• Innovative and demonstration programs
• Start-up funding for projects and programs that benefit children and early learning
• Early childhood workforce development
• Teacher education and professional development
• Pre-K teacher training
• Programs that improve access to high-quality early education
• Preschool capital improvements and major equipment or furnishings
• Certain capital campaigns and facility improvements that advance early childhood education
• Projects that strengthen public preschool and early childhood systems
• Tuition assistance and other initiatives that directly improve access to early education

Program and project support generally does not exceed three years. Organizations must apply annually for continued program funding and provide an update on activities supported during the previous year.

Grant Amounts and Cost Sharing

Project and program grants will generally be in the range of $10,000 to $25,000, with $50,000 typically being the maximum grant award.

Major capital improvement grants generally range from $25,000 to $100,000.

The Foundation generally provides only partial funding and rarely serves as the sole funder of a program or project. Foundation support will generally not exceed 30–40% of the total program or project budget.

Applicants should demonstrate meaningful financial support from their board, the community they serve, and other foundations or funding sources.

The Foundation welcomes co-funding with other foundations and funding partners, provided that the Castle Foundation retains its own independent decision-making authority and does not participate in prohibited pooled or “braided” funding arrangements. Having an independent relationship with all our grantees is vital for our trustees.

Organizations seeking co-funding are asked to contact the Foundation office before preparing the proposal. If the proposal aligns with the tactical and strategic goals of the Foundation, organization will be encouraged to apply.

What the Foundation Generally Does Not Fund

The Foundation generally does not fund:

• Individuals (all grants are designated for non-profit organizations, recognized by the IRS)
• Public or private high schools, middle schools, or elementary schools
• Charter schools, except for pre-school teacher education
• Government entities as individual grant recipients
• Endowment funds
• Third-party regranting organizations
• Organizations outside Hawaiʻi that do not directly serve Hawaiʻi’s needs
• Video or film productions
• Publication and media projects
• Most conference travel
• Regular annual fund drives
• Sponsorships or special events
• Political events, campaigns, or sponsorships
• Teacher or student scholarships for travel or conference attendance
• Capital campaigns for facilities unrelated to early childhood education
• Regular operating expenses that are not directly connected to an eligible program or project
• Salaries for a specific named individual
• Projects that do not appropriately involve parents, the board of directors, and the community in planning and funding
• Programs that are not open to all racial and ethnic groups

The Foundation generally does not provide multiple grants to the same organization in a single calendar year.

Preschool Facilities and Capital Improvement Projects

Because of the often prohibitive cost of constructing new preschools, the Foundation generally prefers to support existing schools and the strategic use of existing facilities and structures.

For organizations requesting funds to renovate or alter leased facilities:

• The organization must generally have a current lease of at least five years. Longer lease terms are preferred.
• Capital requests of up to $100,000 are generally considered at the December Trustees’ meeting.
• The annual capital requests are considered at the last trustee meeting of the year.

For major capital projects:

• The Trustees define large capital projects as requests of up to $100,000 for construction, renovation, acquisition of buildings, or major equipment and furnishings.
• Capital applicants should demonstrate substantial financial support from their board, community, and other foundations.
• Capital campaign requests for new facilities generally will not be considered unless at least 50% of the campaign has already been pledged or received.
• Organizations receiving a capital grant of $100,000 or more generally will not be considered for additional grants during the same period.
• Organizations receiving pledge payments generally will not be considered for another funding request while those payments are being made.
• Pledge commitments, which are rarely made, generally will not exceed three years.
• Colleges and universities requesting capital support must demonstrate that the project advances early childhood education, care, or well-being in Hawaiʻi.

Accredited private preschools may be considered for capital support when they serve a substantial number of low-income children, demonstrate high developmentally appropriate standards, and have a broad base of philanthropic support.

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Application Format

Applications for capital improvement, project, and program grants should include:

1. Cover Letter
   A letter signed by the organization’s executive director and the chairman or president of its board of directors. The letter should briefly describe the organization, explain its connection to the Foundation’s mission and priorities, and state the amount requested.
2. Executive Summary
   A one-page summary of the organization and the proposed project or program.
3. Project or Program Description
   A detailed description including:
   • Purpose and objectives
   • Timeline
   • How the project or program will be evaluated
   • Staff responsible for implementation
   • Evidence establishing the need
   • Amount already raised
   • Amount still needed
   • Other relevant sources of support
4. Project Budget
   Include a complete project or program budget and identify:
   • Foundations that will be approached
   • Foundations that have committed funding
   • Pending applications
   • Other sources of financial support
5. Organizational Budget
   Include the organization’s complete annual budget as approved by its board of directors.
6. Financial Information
   Include the organization’s most recent audited financial statement, or a basic unaudited financial statement if a full audit is not available.

First-Time Applicants

Organizations applying to the Foundation for the first time should also provide:

• IRS tax-exempt determination letter
• Organizational bylaws
• Organizational charter

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Application and Review Process

All proposals must be screened by Foundation staff before formal submission. The Foundation generally does not accept unsolicited “over-the-transom” applications.

Applicants should contact the Foundation office before preparing a proposal as staff screening and discussion is required.

Applications may be:

• Submitted electronically
• Mailed by regular mail
• Hand delivered

Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. on the day of the announced deadline.

Grant deadlines are typically scheduled in winter, early summer, and early fall and are announced in advance.
If additional information is required because an application is incomplete, the proposal may be deferred to a subsequent meeting of the Trustees.

Grant Period and Reporting

Program and project grants generally may be supported for up to three years for outstanding applicants and programs.

Organizations receiving continuing program or project support must submit a new proposal each year and provide an update on the previous year’s activities.

After completing a three-year period of program or project support, an organization generally should not apply for additional support for at least one calendar year.

All funded organizations must submit a final grant report within one year of the grant award date.

The final report should include:

• A financial statement covering the period in which grant funds were spent
• A brief narrative describing the activities and outcomes of the funded program or project

Organizations that fail to submit required grant reports will generally be disqualified from consideration for future funding. Additional information is found here: Final Report

A Note on Public-Sector Partnerships

The Foundation recognizes that public agencies have important responsibilities in early childhood education and are essential partners in developing effective programs and systems.

Although proposals submitted directly by government entities, including public and charter schools, will rarely be considered, projects that include public-sector partners are encouraged, particularly initiatives addressing early childhood systems and public preschool development. For such projects, a qualifying 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization must generally serve as the fiscal agent.

Community Advisory Committee

The Foundation periodically consults an informed community advisory committee to assist with its grantmaking priorities. Committee members include representatives from universities, the preschool provider community, philanthropy, child advocacy, and the policy community. Their expertise helps inform the Foundation’s understanding of early childhood current needs and opportunities in Hawaiʻi.

Before You Apply

Before preparing a proposal, prospective applicants should determine that:

• Their organization qualifies as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
• The proposed project directly advances early childhood education, care, or well-being in Hawaiʻi.
• The proposal addresses a documented community need.
• The project has clear goals and measurable outcomes.
• The organization has other sources of financial support.
• The requested Foundation contribution generally represents no more than 30–40% of the total project cost.
• The organization has considered appropriate partnerships and community involvement.
• The proposal has been discussed with Foundation staff when staff screening or advance consultation is required.

The Foundation seeks proposals that demonstrate clear community need, strong partnerships, measurable outcomes, innovation, responsible financial planning, and meaningful benefit to young children and families in Hawaiʻi.