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Elepaio Social Services

EIN 87-1098803 · Waianae, HI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak42 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • It owes more than it owns.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF `ELEPAIO SOCIAL SERVICES IS TO PROVIDE COMMUNITIES WITH COORDINATED CULTURALLY PROFICIENT SOCIAL SERVICES IN A MANNER THAT PROMOTES COMMUNITY SELF-DIRECTION AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY, WITH A GOAL OF ESTABLISHING HEALTH AND ECONOMIC EQUITY.

Income
$2.6 million
Spending
$2.6 million
Spent on programs
90%
Reserves
-2.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 50%
Employees
21
Volunteers
324
Highest pay
$385,765, finance director

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

Weak: 42 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    0 of 20

    It owes 118% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 47% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    90% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (human services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 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 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 (1)
  1. $2.3 million spent. `ELEPAIO SOCIAL SERVICES (ESS), IS A WHOLLY OWNED NONPROFIT CORPORATION OF THE WAIANAE DISTRICT COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH AND HOSPITAL BOARD, INC., THAT FUNCTIONS AS A COUNTERPART TO THE WAIANAE COAST COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH CENTER (WCCHC) IN PROVIDING MUCH NEEDED SOCIAL SERVICES TO THE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITY OF WAIANAE AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES LOCATED ON THE WEST COAST OF THE ISLAND OF OAHU IN THE STATE OF HAWAII. ESTABLISHED IN NOVEMBER 2020, ESS HAS WORKED ALONGSIDE WCCHC IN RESPONDING TO THE CRITICAL COMMUNITY NEED FOR ACCESS TO VITAL WRAP AROUND SOCIAL SERVICES AND FOOD.ALTHOUGH `ELEPAIO SOCIAL SERVICES WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2020, THE AFOREMENTIONED SERVICES WERE BEING PROVIDED UNDER THE HEALTH CENTER FOR YEARS PRIOR. THESE SERVICES WERE QUICKLY RAMPED UP IN RESPONSE TO COMMUNITY NEED.APPROXIMATELY 50,000 PEOPLE LIVE IN THE REGION AND ARE IMPACTED AS FOLLOWS: - NUTRITION RELATED DISPARITIES: THE WAIANAE COAST POPULATION RANKS THE HIGHEST FOR DEBILITATING HEALTH CONDITIONS SUCH AS DIABETES AND OBESITY. - FOOD INSECURITY. - OVER 65% OF THE HEALTH CENTER'S PATIENTS LIVE AT OR BELOW THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL. SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP) AND FOOD ACCESS:- THE SNAP PROGRAM IS A FEDERALLY FUNDED PROGRAM ADMINISTERED TO THE STATES VIA THE FOOD AND NUTRITION SERVICE AND PROVIDES FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS. - THE SNAP PROGRAM ALLOWS CUSTOMERS TO PURCHASE FRESH LOCAL PRODUCE AND PROTEIN AT REDUCED PRICES AT THE HEALTH CENTER'S FARMER'S MARKET.ELEPAIO SOCIAL SERVICES OPERATES KEIKI PANTRIES AT SCHOOLS ON THE WAIANAE COAST,SERVING 5,000 KEIKI EACH WEEK AND PROVIDING 15,000 HEALTHY SNACKS/LOCAL FRUITS PER WEEK. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HAWAII FOODBANK, ELEPAIO SOCIAL SERVICES OPERATES KUPUNA PANTRIES THAT SERVICE OVER 1,200 KUPUNA EACH WEEK WITH FRESH LOCAL ORGANIZE PRODUCE, SHELF STABLE FOODS/OTHER PANTRY ITEMS. COMMUNITY FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS: ELEPAIO SOCIAL SERVICES ALSO PROVIDES COMMUNITY FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS AND FOOD PRESCRIPTION PROGRAMS. STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY FOOD SYSTEMS AND DECREASING FOOD INSECURITY IS A PRIORITY GIVEN THE GEOGRAPHIC ISOLATION AND THE NUMBER OF SMALL FARMERS IN THE AREA.

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 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 June 2025.

    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 February 2022.

    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.

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.