Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Historic Hawaii Foundation

EIN 23-7441972 · Honolulu, HI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PRESERVE AND ENCOURAGE THE PRESERVATION OF HISTORIC BUILDINGS, OBJECTS, AND SITES RELATING TO THE HISTORY OF HAWAII; TO PROMOTE AN AWARENESS OF AND RESPECT FOR ALL THAT IS HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT AND ARCHITECTURALLY DISTINCTIVE IN OUR STATE; AND THROUGH THESE EFFORTS, TO KEEP ALIVE AND INTACT FOR THE ENRICHMENT OF PRESENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS THE INHERENT BEAUTY OF THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS AND THE UNIQUE HISTORIC ROLE OF THE ISLANDS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PACIFIC BASIN.

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$1.3 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
7.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 48%
Employees
5
Volunteers
131
Highest pay
$137,863, executive director

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: 90 out of 100. Higher than 78% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.7 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 2% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 3 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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    28 of 28 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a 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 (3)
  1. $846,664 spent. PRESERVATION PROJECTS AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE: FIELD SERVICES FOR ON-SITE PRESERVATION ASSISTANCE, INCLUDING INFORMATION ABOUT STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES, BEST PRACTICES, AND PROFESSIONAL AND FUNDING RESOURCES; REVIEW OF DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS TO RECOMMEND MEASURES TO AVOID, MINIMIZE AND MITIGATE ADVERSE EFFECTS TO HISTORIC PROPERTIES; INTEGRATING PRESERVATION INTO SIGNIFICANT URBAN PLANNING AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT LONG-RANGE PLANS. PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDED GRANT ADMINISTRATION FOR 16 PRESERVATION GRANTS TO OTHERS, RESPONDING TO 793 INQUIRIES AT 250 HISTORIC SITES STATEWIDE, ANNUAL MONITORING OF THREE PRESERVATION EASEMENTS, AND SERVING ON ADVISORY GROUPS.
  2. $208,334 spent. PUBLIC EDUCATION: DEVELOP A COMMUNITY ETHIC OF PRESERVATION THROUGH TOURS, LECTURES, SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS, PUBLICATIONS, AND HISTORIC SITE RESEARCH. PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDED 9 PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS AND WALKING TOURS; 4 VIRTUAL WEBINARS AND IN-PERSON TRAININGS ON PRESERVATION PROCESSES AND BEST PRACTICES; 1 FIELD SCHOOL FOR TRADITIONAL TRADES TRAINING FOR PRESERVING HISTORIC BUILDINGS; FILMS AND PUBLICATIONS ON HISTORIC SITES, ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN.
  3. $109,650 spent. PUBLIC OUTREACH AND ADVOCACY: PROMOTE PRESERVATION OF HAWAII'S HERITAGE THROUGH POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND ADVOCACY FOR FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS, ECONOMIC INCENTIVE PROGRAMS, PUBLIC PLANS, COMMISSIONS AND ADVISORY GROUPS; LEADING AND FACILITATING PUBLIC AWARENESS EFFORTS; AND BUILDING COALITIONS OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION ALLIANCES. PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDE MONITORING AND RESPONDING TO PROPOSED LEGISLATION RELATED TO PRESERVATION, PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND RELATED TOPICS, SUBMITTING TESTIMONY OR COMMENTS ON EFFECTS TO HISTORIC PROPERTIES FROM PROPOSED ACTIONS AND SIGNING AS A CONCURRING PARTY TO EIGHT (8) NATIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION ACT SECTION 106 AGREEMENTS.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since May 1975.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.