The Chamber of Commerce Hawaii Public Health Fund is accepting applications from qualifying Oahu nonprofit organizations for public health programs, projects, and services. The official application deadline is December 18, 2026. The Chamber does not publish a specific clock time for the deadline.
Funding
The Chamber reports that the Public Health Fund awards more than $100,000 in grants each year. The official application packet states that individual grants generally range from about $1,000 to $25,000, while larger and smaller requests may also be considered and awards may provide partial funding. Because the program does not publish a hard per applicant maximum, applicants should build requests around documented project needs rather than treating $25,000 as an absolute ceiling.
Who May Apply
The Fund supports qualified nonprofit organizations with public health projects serving the island of Oahu and the City and County of Honolulu. Applicants must attach a Board of Directors list and confirmation of nonprofit status.
Program Priorities
Public Health Fund projects may include public health education, research, and legislation where other funding is not readily available. The Fund gives priority to visible community results and commonly uses funding as seed money for worthwhile start up programs. Review factors include public health education or research, lack of other available funding, one time start up need, likelihood of success, population affected, present or potential danger, community benefit, benefits for underprivileged populations, relevance to the business community, and collaboration with other agencies.
The Committee may give higher priority to projects that improve community health, address social determinants of health, improve health outcomes through behavior change, or establish strong collaborations. Where appropriate, proposals should build in ways to share medical information with regular medical providers.
Important Budget Guidance
Projects generally should be capable of completion within one year. The Fund discourages purchases of equipment that can be used beyond the specific grant project, salary and benefit costs for staff not assigned exclusively to the project, new capital facilities, and travel expenses. The application also asks applicants to identify other funding requested or received.
Application Requirements
A complete application must include the official application forms, a brief one page project summary, a description of how the project addresses the Fund criteria, a project timetable, an evaluation method, any absolute need by date for funding, other funding sources, the budget sheet, and the Evaluation of Project Objectives form. Incomplete applications are not considered.
How to Submit
Applicants must submit an original and one copy, for a total of two hard copies, to the Public Health Fund Committee, Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, 733 Bishop Street, Suite 1200, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813, Attn: Kawena Haugh. Applications must be postmarked by December 18, 2026. A complete electronic copy must also be emailed to phf@cochawaii.org.
Official program source: Chamber of Commerce Hawaii Public Health Fund.
Official 2026 application packet: Public Health Fund Grant Application.