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Hawaii Justice Foundation

EIN 23-7047345 · Honolulu, HI

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong92 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO FACILITATE THE PUBLIC'S KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE LAW, PROVIDE LEGAL AID TO THE POOR AND IMPROVE THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE.

Income
$7.0 million
Spending
$3.7 million
Spent on programs
94%
Reserves
38.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 94%
Employees
0
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$125,654, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 38.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 47% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    94% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 46 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 92 out of 100. Higher than 46% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    23 of 23 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (2)
  1. $3.4 million spent. INTEREST ON LAWYERS' TRUST ACCOUNT (IOLTA) PROGRAM AND INDIGENT LEGAL ASSISTANCE FUND (ILAF) PROGRAM: UNDER THE IOLTA PROGRAM, INTEREST EARNED ON FUNDS RETAINED BY LAWYERS IN TRUST FOR THEIR CLIENTS IS USED BY THE FOUNDATION FOR LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO THE POOR, IMPROVING THE PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE, AND OTHER PROGRAMS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC AS SPECIFICALLY APPROVED BY THE SUPREME COURT OF HAWAII FOR EXCLUSIVE PUBLIC PURPOSES. EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 1991, SUPREME COURT RULE 11 REQUIRED MANDATORY PARTICIPATION IN THE IOLTA PROGRAM BY ALL ATTORNEYS LICENSED TO PRACTICE IN THE STATE OF HAWAII. UNDER THE ILAF PROGRAM, THE FOUNDATION SERVES AS THE ILAF ADMINSTRATOR AND OVERSEES THE PROCESS WHERE SURCHARGES ARE COLLECTED ON CERTAIN FILING FEES IN THE STATE OF HAWAII JUDICIAL SYSTEM. THESE FUNDS ARE RETAINED BY THE JUDICIARY FOR DISTRIBUTION TO QUALIFIED LOW-INCOME SERVICE PROVIDERS UNDER THE STATUTORY FORMULA. INTEREST ON LAWYERS' TRUST ACCOUNT (IOLTA) PROGRAM AND INDIGENT LEGAL ASSISTANCE FUND (ILAF) PROGRAM: UNDER THE IOLTA PROGRAM, INTEREST EARNED ON FUNDS RETAINED BY LAWYERS IN TRUST FOR THEIR CLIENTS IS USED BY THE FOUNDATION FOR LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO THE POOR, IMPROVING THE PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE, AND OTHER PROGRAMS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC AS SPECIFICALLY APPROVED BY THE SUPREME COURT OF HAWAII FOR EXCLUSIVE PUBLIC PURPOSES. EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 1991, SUPREME COURT RULE 11 REQUIRED MANDATORY PARTICIPATION IN THE IOLTA PROGRAM BY ALL ATTORNEYS LICENSED TO PRACTICE IN THE STATE OF HAWAII. UNDER THE ILAF PROGRAM, THE FOUNDATION SERVES AS THE ILAF ADMINSTRATOR AND OVERSEES THE PROCESS WHERE SURCHARGES ARE COLLECTED ON CERTAIN FILING FEES IN THE STATE OF HAWAII JUDICIAL SYSTEM. THESE FUNDS ARE RETAINED BY THE JUDICIARY FOR DISTRIBUTION TO QUALIFIED LOW-INCOME SERVICE PROVIDERS UNDER THE STATUTORY FORMULA.
  2. $135,000 spent. GRANTEES FOR THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF HELPING CHILDREN IN HAWAII WHO ARE LOW-INCOME AND IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since December 1969.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

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