Generally, trustees especially welcome the following:

• Accurate needs assessment and clear project or program outcomes.
• Innovative methods of delivering programs so that families and/or early childhood providers have easy access to support.
• Partnerships between several agencies so as to avoid duplication and to maximize program efficiencies.
• Methods which support access for families who have traditionally been underserved.
• Coverage throughout the state, particularly in underserved communities.

Project and program grants will generally be in the range of $10,000 to $25,000, with $50,000 being a maximum grant award. Funding for up to three years is available for projects. However, organizations must submit a proposal each year for funding, giving an update on the previous years activities. Grants for major capital improvements typically range from $25,000 to $100,000.

Grant requests will be considered only from organizations that are classified by the IRS as 501(c)(3), tax exempt agencies, and not private foundations. Proposals submitted by government entities, such as public and charter schools, will not be considered. However, projects that include a public sector partner are encouraged, as it is recognized that public agencies have responsibilities in these areas and are important partners in developing early childhood programs, particularly at the system level. The fiscal agent for such projects, however, must be a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization.

Generally, We Do Not Fund the following:

• Public or private high schools, middle schools, or elementary schools
• Charter Schools, except for pre-school teacher education
• Endowments
• Regular operating costs such as salaries, rents, or maintenance
• More than 30-40% of a total project cost
• Programs not open to all racial and ethnic groups
• Projects in which parents and the community have not been appropriately involved in planning and funding
• Publication and media projects
• Organizations outside Hawai‘i which do not serve Hawaii’s needs
• Teacher and student scholarships for travel, or conference attendance
• Video projects
• Regular annual fund drives, sponsorships, or special events
• Capital campaigns to build facilities not related to early education
• Individuals
• Political events, campaigns and sponsorships

• A popular means of funding major programs or projects is “braided funding.” While the strategy is often a good way for many funders to pool resources in a common fund and make payments from that fund for a project of common popularity, the Samuel N. and Mary Castle Foundation does not finance large projects in this way. The bylaws of the Castle Foundation disallow participating in this mechanism. However, the Foundation does frequently co-fund with partner foundations. The co-funding arrangement respects individual foundation sovereignty and encourages direct relationships with grantees. The Castle Foundation welcomes co-funded projects and may also co-fund with “braided” projects. Co-funding with national and regional funders where the Foundation’s trustees retain decision-making, the Foundation’s values, strategies, and fiscal responsibility are welcomed and sought after.

All organizations submitting a proposal for co-funding should contact the Foundation office to discuss the request before the proposal is prepared. All proposals of any kind must be screened by staff before formal submission.

The Advisory Committee:
To assist the Foundation in its grant making priorities, a community advisory committee is consulted periodically for their expert opinions and knowledge of early education. Members of the committee come from universities, the pre-school provider community, philanthropy, child advocacy and the policy community.