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Movers and Shakas

EIN 88-3665280 · Honolulu, HI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood88 out of 100GovernanceGood76 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MISSION OF MOVERS AND SHAKAS IS TO INTEGRATE AND RETAIN KEY TALENT, ESPECIALLY RETURNING KAMAAINA, TO TACKLE BRAIN DRAIN, GROW THE ECONOMY, AND BUILD COMMUNITY. OUR HITOP PROGRAM CREATES AN IMMERSIVE HAWAII 101 EXPERIENCE, ENABLING OUR PARTICIPANTS TO THRIVE IN HAWAII WHILE BENEFITING OTHER KEY STAKEHOLDERS, SUCH AS LOCAL EMPLOYERS AND THE STATE OF HAWAII AT LARGE.

Income
$366,694
Spending
$291,917
Spent on programs
75%
Reserves
8.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 67%
Employees
1
Volunteers
9
Highest pay
$162,210, 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

Good: 88 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 20% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 4% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 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: 76 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • 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

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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 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)
  1. $217,467 spent. MOVERS AND SHAKAS MAIN PROGRAM IS HAWAII TALENT ONBOARDING PROGRAM (HITOP), WHICH IS A SIX-WEEK INITIATIVE DESIGNED TO HELP NEW AND RETURNING RESIDENTS ADJUST AND SUCCEED IN HAWAII. MOVERS AND SHAKAS ALSO AID LOCAL BUSINESSES IN KEEPING THEIR TOP TALENT. THROUGH ENGAGING ACTIVITIES SUCH AS CULTURAL EDUCATION, COMMUNITY SERVICE, AND NETWORKING, PARTICIPANTS GET A DEEP DIVE INTO WHAT IT MEANS TO LIVE AND WORK IN HAWAII. THEY ENHANCE THEIR JOB PERFORMANCE, FORGE MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS, AND DEVELOP A STRONG SENSE OF BELONGING AND RESPONSIBILITY TOWARD THEIR NEW HOME. THIS PROGRAM STANDS OUT BECAUSE, UNLIKE TYPICAL WORKPLACE ORIENTATIONS THAT FOCUS SOLELY ON COMPANY CULTURE, HITOP EMPHASIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF UNDERSTANDING AND INTEGRATING INTO THE BROADER COMMUNITY OF HAWAII. IT ENABLES LEADERS FROM VARIOUS FIELDS TO COME TOGETHER IN GROUPS OF 30-50, HELPING THEM BUILD RELATIONSHIPS ACROSS DIFFERENT SECTORS AND DEEPEN THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF HAWAII'S UNIQUE CULTURAL AND SOCIAL DYNAMICS. WHILE THE PROGRAM IS CURRENTLY PRINCIPALLY BASED IN O`AHU, HITOP IS PROACTIVELY EXTENDING ITS REACH THROUGH ONE-DAY PILOT INITIATIVES AND VISITS TO NEIGHBORING ISLANDS, ENSURING THE INCLUSION OF A WIDER AUDIENCE DESPITE GEOGRAPHICAL CHALLENGES. HITOP IS COMMITTED TO ENHANCING LEADERSHIP WITHIN THE NONPROFIT SECTOR IN HAWAII. WITH THE CONCLUSION OF COHORT SIX BY THE END OF 2024, HITOP SUCCESSFULLY ACCULTURATED 157 LEADERS (OVER 45 PARTICIPANTS IN 2024) FROM OVER 25 ORGANIZATIONS, GARNERING STELLAR FEEDBACK. SURVEY RESULTS INDICATE SIGNIFICANT ENHANCEMENTS IN PARTICIPANTS' UNDERSTANDING OF LOCAL CULTURE, SENSE OF HOME IN HAWAII, WORK EFFECTIVENESS, AND SENSE OF BELONGING. MOVERS AND SHAKAS ASPIRE TO SERVE AS A CRITICAL HR TALENT ONBOARDING RESOURCE FOR THE STATE OF HAWAII, STRIVING TO ESTABLISH OUR PROGRAM AND HAWAII AS PIONEERS IN PLACE-BASED TALENT ACCULTURATION AND RETENTION. MOVERS AND SHAKAS ALSO PILOTED A ONE-DAY PROGRAM IN THE SPRING 2024 TO ACCULTURATE LEADERS SERVING HAWAII BUT BASED ON THE CONTINENT.

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 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 December 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 October 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.