Maui United Way is accepting applications for its FY2027 Ola Maui Nui Grant, a competitive Maui County funding program supporting community recovery and stabilization, financial security, food resiliency, and healthy communities across Maui, Molokaʻi, and Lānaʻi.
Funding
Maui United Way anticipates investing up to $2.7 million through the Ola Maui Nui Grant in FY2027. Eligible applicants may request up to $100,000 per application. An organization may submit one application per review cycle and may receive only one Ola Maui Nui award during FY2027. Organizations not selected may reapply in a later review cycle.
Administrative and indirect costs may not exceed 15% of the total grant request. Maui United Way may award less than the amount requested, and all awards remain subject to available funds.
Eligibility
Eligible applicants are 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and fiscally sponsored organizations serving Maui, Molokaʻi, and/or Lānaʻi. Previously funded organizations must be in good standing with Maui United Way. Fiscally sponsored applicants must submit a current executed sponsorship agreement plus required sponsor board authorization.
Funding priorities
The RFP identifies four focus areas: Community Recovery & Stabilization, Financial Security, Food Resiliency, and Healthy Community. Healthy Community examples include mental and behavioral health services, healthcare access, prevention, education and wellness programs, domestic violence services, substance use treatment and recovery, culturally grounded healing, and other community well-being activities.
Eligible and ineligible costs
Eligible uses include program materials and direct-service costs, personnel and contracted services directly tied to delivery, equipment and technology necessary for program delivery, training and professional development, organizational capacity building, evaluation and data collection, emergency or direct financial assistance, community events aligned to a focus area, and administrative or indirect costs up to the 15% cap.
Ineligible uses include lobbying or partisan activity, land or real-property acquisition, new construction or major capital improvements, organizational debt or penalties, fundraising, endowments or reserve funds, religious instruction or proselytizing, alcohol and personal expenses, costs outside the approved grant period, and costs already paid by another funding source. Minor repairs, facility modifications, or equipment purchases directly related to the proposed work may be considered with prior Maui United Way approval.
Application cycles and deadline
Cycle 1: September 1–October 31, 2026, with award decisions in December 2026 and a January 1–December 31, 2027 grant period.
Cycle 2: November 1, 2026–January 31, 2027, with award decisions in March 2027 and an April 1, 2027–March 31, 2028 grant period.
Cycle 3: February 1–March 31, 2027, with award decisions in May 2027 and a June 1, 2027–May 31, 2028 grant period.
The official RFP lists the closing dates but does not state a closing clock time or time zone. Atlas will not infer either. Complete and timely applications must be submitted online through Maui United Way’s Grants Portal.
Required documents
The RFP requires the applicant’s 501(c)(3) determination letter, most recent audited financial statements, current IRS Form 990 with schedules, current Hawaiʻi Certificate of Vendor Compliance, board list, agency-wide operating budget, program budget proposal, and agency logo, with additional fiscal-sponsorship documents when applicable.
Atlas analysis
Atlas Opportunity Score: 96/100. This is a strong current Maui Nui opportunity because it combines a meaningful $100,000 request ceiling with direct support for healthcare access, behavioral health, food security, disaster recovery, and community resilience. N9+ Fit: 70/100 conditional when a proposed healthcare-access project has a defensible need for remote physical examinations, guided exams, vitals, or telehealth-enabled clinical encounters and the equipment/technology cost is directly necessary for program delivery. N9+ should not be forced into unrelated projects. QC Healthcare Fit: 20/100 conditional pending independent verification of applicant eligibility, Maui Nui service footprint, nonprofit or qualifying fiscal-sponsor structure, and a credible program design.
Official sources: Maui United Way Ola Maui Nui Grant page; FY27 Request for Proposals.