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Waianae Economic Development Council

EIN 47-1646700 · Waianae, HI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair56 out of 100GovernanceStrong91 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

INCREASE OPPORTUNITIES FOR WAIANAE COAST RESIDENTS BY DEVELOPING THE COMMUNITY'S RICH NATURAL, CULTURAL AND HUMAN RESOURCES.

Income
$898,437
Spending
$868,708
Spent on programs
68%
Reserves
2.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 72%
Employees
11
Volunteers
24
Highest pay
$90,044, ceo/presiden

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 56 out of 100. Higher than 26% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 27% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 3% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 35% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    68% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 6 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (community improvement, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 6 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

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed 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 September 30, 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. $330,501 spent. MAOLIPRENEUR IS A 3-MONTH COHORT AIMED TO ASSIST NATIVE HAWAIIAN BUSINESS OWNERS LIVING ON THE WEST COAST OF O'AHU, BUILD SUSTAINABLE AND PROFITABLE BUSINESSES. THE PROGRAM CONSISTS OF 8 WORKSHOPS, AN ACCOUNTABILITY GROUP, AND 1:1 BUSINESS COACHING. THE PROGRAM IS STRATEGICALLY STRUCTURED SO THAT THE PARTICIPANTS HAVE TIME TO ACTIVELY IMPLEMENT CONCEPTS LEARNED THROUGH THE WORKSHOPS AND COACHING SESSIONS. EVERY WORKSHOP IS TAUGHT WITH A PROVEN BUSINESS CONCEPT THAT IS CONNECTED TO A HAWAIIAN CULTURAL PRINCIPLE, THROUGH MO'OLELO (HAWAIIAN STORIES). WITH ALL CONCEPTS LEARNED IN THE PROGRAM, BUSINESS OWNERS INCREASE THEIR SKILLS OF OPERATING A BUSINESS THAT CAN THRIVE EVEN THROUGH TIMES OF DISASTER. AFTER THE PROGRAM, BUSINESS OWNERS WILL EXPERIENCE A HIGHER PROFIT MARGIN AND AN INCREASE IN REVENUE. ACCOMPLISHMENTS: CONVENED 2 COHORTS, 35 PARTICIPANTS TOTAL. MAOLIPRENEUR IS A 3-MONTH COHORT AIMED TO ASSIST NATIVE HAWAIIAN BUSINESS OWNERS LIVING ON THE WEST COAST OF O'AHU, BUILD SUSTAINABLE AND PROFITABLE BUSINESSES. THE PROGRAM CONSISTS OF 8 WORKSHOPS, AN ACCOUNTABILITY GROUP, AND 1:1 BUSINESS COACHING. THE PROGRAM IS STRATEGICALLY STRUCTURED SO THAT THE PARTICIPANTS HAVE TIME TO ACTIVELY IMPLEMENT CONCEPTS LEARNED THROUGH THE WORKSHOPS AND COACHING SESSIONS. EVERY WORKSHOP IS TAUGHT WITH A PROVEN BUSINESS CONCEPT THAT IS CONNECTED TO A HAWAIIAN CULTURAL PRINCIPLE, THROUGH MO'OLELO (HAWAIIAN STORIES). WITH ALL CONCEPTS LEARNED IN THE PROGRAM, BUSINESS OWNERS INCREASE THEIR SKILLS OF OPERATING A BUSINESS THAT CAN THRIVE EVEN THROUGH TIMES OF DISASTER. AFTER THE PROGRAM, BUSINESS OWNERS WILL EXPERIENCE A HIGHER PROFIT MARGIN AND AN INCREASE IN REVENUE. ACCOMPLISHMENTS: CONVENED 2 COHORTS, 35 PARTICIPANTS TOTAL.
  2. $212,998 spent. E MAU KE A'O IS A HAWAIIAN CULTURE-BASED ENTREPRENEURSHIP WORKSHOP SERIES FOR CULTURAL PRACTITIONERS. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES THEM WITH THE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE NEEDED TO CREATE ONLINE LEARNING CONTENT. THIS RESULTS IN BUILDING PRACTITIONER CAPACITY TO CREATE A SELF-SUSTAINING BUSINESS THROUGH THEIR CULTURAL PRACTICE WHILE ALSO INCREASING PUBLIC ACCESS TO CULTURAL KNOWLEDGE THROUGH ONLINE PLATFORMS. AT THE COMPLETION OF THE PROGRAM, PARTICIPANTS WILL: SET UP A LEGAL ENTITY, PREPARE CULTURAL CONTENT FOR AN IN-PERSON AND ONLINE AUDIENCE, BUILD CONTENT FOR ONLINE MODULES, PERPETUATE THEIR KNOWLEDGE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS, AND BUILD NEW REVENUE STREAMS THROUGH THEIR PRACTICE. ACCOMPLISHMENTS: CONVENED 1 COHORT, WITH 27 PARTICIPANTS TOTAL.
  3. $45,406 spent. FINANCIAL LO'I IS OUR FINANCIAL LITERACY PROGRAM. IT CONTAINS A WORKSHOP SERIES THAT WAS CREATED TO HELP NATIVE HAWAIIAN FAMILIES CONNECT TO PERSONAL FINANCES THROUGH CULTURAL CONCEPTS AND MO'OLELO, OR STORIES. DELIVERING FINANCIAL AND BUSINESS CONCEPTS THROUGH A CULTURAL LENS, IMPROVES RETENTION AND IMPACT OF DIFFICULT AND OFTEN NEW MATERIAL. PARTICIPANTS CAN CONNECT TO THE CONTENT AND APPLY THE CURRICULUM IN A WAY THAT WILL AFFECT BEHAVIOR AND PERSPECTIVE IN A POSITIVE MANNER. ACCOMPLISHMENTS: CONVENED 6 WORKSHOP SERIES, WITH 113 PARTICIPANTS TOTAL.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2019 for not filing returns for three years, and reinstated on May 15, 2019.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 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 September 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 October 2019.

    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 November 4, 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.