Victoria S. and Bradley L. Geist Foundation: Supporting Transitioning Foster Youth
Issuer: Hawaiʻi Community Foundation / Victoria S. and Bradley L. Geist Foundation
Deadline: September 15, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. HST
Funding: Grants usually range from $10,000 to $75,000 per year. Requests for up to three years may be considered, contingent on satisfactory progress reports.
Eligible applicants: 501(c)(3) public charities. Organizations without qualifying 501(c)(3) status may apply through an eligible 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor. Programs must preferentially and primarily, meaning more than 50%, serve current or former foster youth ages 14-24 who were in a state child welfare or mental health system after their 14th birthday.
Funding priorities
- Youth engagement and leadership
- Education and employment outcomes
- Safe, stable housing and transportation access
- Physical and mental health access
- Permanence, social capital, and financial capability
Key exclusions and requirements: Capital requests and endowments are not funded. Administrative fees are generally capped at 5% unless the organization’s clientele is solely legally recognized current or former foster youth up to age 24. Applications are submitted through the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation Grants Portal, and the organization profile must be certified before submission.
Atlas assessment
Atlas Opportunity Score: 99/100
N9+ Fit Score: 8/100 — physical and mental health access is an eligible outcome, but capital is excluded and the program is primarily a foster-youth transition grant, so N9+ should not be forced.
QC Healthcare Fit: 28/100 — potentially relevant only for legitimate health-access, training, evaluation, or program-support work selected by an eligible grantee.
Dr. Miltie direct applicant: No — Dr. Miltie, LLC is not a qualifying 501(c)(3) public charity.
Strong Hawaiʻi applicant example: EPIC ʻOhana / HI H.O.P.E.S., whose statewide initiative works with youth with foster-care experience and aligns directly with the Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative outcomes reflected in this funding opportunity.
Official source: Hawaiʻi Community Foundation funding opportunity