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Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice

EIN 76-0748976 · Honolulu, HI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE HAWAII APPLESEED CENTER FOR LAW AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE (HAWAII APPLESEED) IS WORKING TO BUILD A HAWAII WHERE EVERYONE HAS GENUINE OPPORTUNITIES TO ACHIEVE ECONOMIC SECURITY AND FULFILL THEIR POTENTIAL. WE CHANGE SYSTEMS THAT PERPETUATE INEQUALITY THROUGH RESEARCH, POLICY DEVELOPMENT, EDUCATION, COALITION BUILDING, AND ADVOCACY.

Income
$2.1 million
Spending
$1.8 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 91%
Employees
17
Volunteers
30
Highest pay
$120,575, executive director, till 12/31/24

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 7.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 56% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 19% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 42% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    7 of 7 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

    0 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 June 30, 2025, 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. $373,077 spent. AFFORDABLE HOUSING - HAWAII APPLESEED CONDUCTS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPS POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS ON WAYS TO IMPROVE SYSTEMS AND POLICIES TO ADDRESS HAWAII'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS AND HOMELESSNESS. WE HAVE PUBLISHED A NUMBER OF POLICY PAPERS, AND WE WORK WITH STATE AND COUNTY LEADERS AND LOCAL COALITIONS TO ADVOCATE FOR AND IMPLMENT IDENTIFIED SOLUTIONS.
  2. $473,460 spent. HUNGER - HAWAII APPLESEED CONDUCTS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPS POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS ON WAYS TO IMPROVE SYSTEMS AND POLICIES TO ADDRESS HUNGER IN HAWAII. WE HAVE PUBLISHED A NUMBER OF POLICY PAPERS, AND WE WORK WITH STATE AND COUNTY LEADERS AND LOCAL COALITIONS TO ADVOCATE FOR AND IMPLEMENT IDENTIFIED SOLUTIONS.
  3. $601,764 spent. ECONOMIC JUSTICE - HAWAII APPLESEED CONDUCTS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPS POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS ON WAYS TO IMPROVE SYSTEMS AND POLICIES TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR GREATER ECONOMIC STABILITY TO HAWAII'S LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS, PARTICULARLY IN THE AREAS OF TAXATION AND WAGES. WE HAVE PUBLISHED A NUMBER OF POLICY PAPERS, AND WE WORK WITH STATE AND COUNTY LEADERS AND LOCAL COALITIONS TO ADVOCATE FOR AND IMPLEMENT IDENTIFIED SOLUTIONS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 June 2025.

    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 January 2008.

    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.

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