Hawaii 3rs
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
PURPOSES ARE TO FURTHER CHARITABLE, LITERARY, RELIGIOUS OR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES UNDER SECTION 501(C)(3), INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM OF THE LACK OF RESOURCES FOR HAWAII'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND MAKING DISTRIBUTIONS TO ORGANIZATIONS THAT QUALIFY AS TAX-EXEMPT ORGANIZATIONS.
- Income
- $13.4 million
- Spending
- $13.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 99%
- Reserves
- 0.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- government grants, 94%
- Employees
- 1
- Volunteers
- 70
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
Fair: 51 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.8 months of spending.
Debt
2 of 20It owes 96% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 53% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1599% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Good: 84 out of 100. Higher than 17% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 259 of 9 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports 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 (1)
- $12.9 million spent. 1. HAWAII 3RS AWARDS GRANTS TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE PROJECTS THAT MAY INCLUDE PAINTING, LANDSCAPING, TECHNICAL REPAIRS AND GENERAL CLEANUP, AS APPROVED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (DOE). HAWAII 3RS PROVIDES OVERSIGHT, PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION OF PROFESSIONAL, LICENSED VENDORS AND VOLUNTEERS FOR THE PROJECTS AS NEEDED. FUNDS ARE GENERATED FROM PRIVATE CONTRIBUTIONS, LEGISLATIVE APPROPRIATIONS AND A CHECK-OFF DESIGNATION FROM THE STATE TAX FORM. SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2001, HAWAII 3RS HAS CONDUCTED MORE THAN 500 PROJECTS AT SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE, SAVING THE STATE MORE THAN $40 MILLION.2. THE DOE PROVIDED MORE THAN $30 MILLION TO HAWAII 3RS TO INSTALL PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT IN EVERY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN THE STATE. EVENTUALLY, THE DOE HAS INDICATED IT WOULD ALSO EXPAND THE PROGRAM TO INCLUDE MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS.3. AT THE REQUEST OF THE DOE, HAWAII 3RS ASSISTED IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND RENOVATION OF CLASSROOM SPACE FOR A UNIQUE HEALTH ACADEMY DESIGNED TO PROVIDE HEALTHCARE TRAINING TO STUDENTS WHILE OFFERING HEALTH SERVICES TO STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY RESIDENTS. THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THIS PROJECT HAS ACTIVATED REQUESTS FOR SIMILAR PROJECTS AT OTHER SCHOOLS.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 2003.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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.
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.