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Makai Foundation

EIN 88-4166944 · Kihei, HI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair63 out of 100GovernanceGood83 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE MAKAI FOUNDATION IS ROOTED IN THE POWER OF COMMUNITY-HELPING-COMMUNITY. WE ARE COMMITTED TO ENSURING NO ONE SLIPS THROUGH THE CRACKS IN THE SYSTEM. DRIVEN BY THE POWER OF COMPASSION AND COMMUNITY, WE STAND AS BEACONS OF HOPE. WE UPLIFT THOSE IN NEED, MEETING THEM EXACTLY WHERE THEY ARE- BRIDGING GAPS AND BREAKING BARRIERS TO ENSURE NO ONE IS FORGOTTEN. WE ARE COMMITTED TO PUTTING THE "RELIEF" INTO "DISASTER-RELIEF,- AND IMPROVING THE SYSTEM-DESIGN FOR DISASTER RECOVERY IN THE FUTURE. WE INSPIRE RESILIENCE, FOSTERING SUSTAINABLE RECOVERY THROUGH EFFECTIVE COLLABORATION AND UNWAVERING DEDICATION.

Income
$324,895
Spending
$432,243
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
8 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 94%
Employees
0
Volunteers
183

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: 63 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 33% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 43% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    95% 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: 83 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (animals, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 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

    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.

  • 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. $408,794 spent. THE MAKAI FOUNDATION IS DEDICATED TO HELPING THOSE AFFECTED BY THE MAUI WILDFIRES. WE OPERATE WITH A DUAL PERSPECTIVE: FOCUSING ON SHORT-TERM DIRECT AID AND RECOVERY SERVICES (WHICH CAN SPAN DAYS TO WEEKS), AND LONG- TERM SUSTAINABLE RECOVERY MEASURES THAT STRETCH MONTHS TO YEARS. OUR PRIMARY AREAS OF INTEREST ENCOMPASS DISASTER RECOVERY, DISASTER ADVOCACY AND CASE-MANAGEMENT, CAPACITY BUILDING, COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT, HOUSING SOLUTIONS (BOTH EMERGENCY HOUSING, INTERIM HOUSING AND LONG TERM HOUSING), BUSINESS REVITALIZATION, AND HEALTH AND WELL-BEING SUPPORT. WITHIN THIS FRAMEWORK, A SIGNIFICANT COMPONENT OF OUR MISSION IS ENSURING THAT RESOURCES, LIKE TOOLS VITAL FOR TRADESPEOPLE, ARE DISTRIBUTED TO THOSE IN NEED. OUR ACTIONS ARE DEEPLY ROOTED IN THE COMMUNITIES OF MAUI, NOTABLY IN THE LAHAINA AND KULA REGIONS, AS WE AIM TO REBUILD, REVITALIZE, AND REINFORCE THE RESILIENCE OF THESE AREAS. CURRENT PROGRAM AREAS INCLUDE: 1. DISASTER RECOVERY SESSIONS- "ALOHA NAVIGATOR SESSIONS" (LIKE DISASTER COACHING WHICH HELPS TO OPEN UP ADDITIONAL LONGER TERM FUNDING THROUGH GOVERNMENT AND PARTNER AGENCIES. 2. EMERGENCY HOUSING. 3. BUILDING HOMES AND CREATING LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY/RESILIENCY ON THE ISLAND BY CREATING MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING LONG TERM. 4. FURNISHING HOMES FOR OUR DISPLACED FAMILIES ONCE THEY ARE FINALLY ABLE TO MOVE INTO THEIR TRANSITIONAL HOME (FLIPPING HOUSES THAT ARE IN BAD SHAPE). 5. REPLACING VEHICLES-FIXING CARS, REPLACING CARS AND TRUCKS BURNED IN THE FIRE. 6. REBUILDING SMALL BUSINESSES-REPLACING ITEMS THAT PEOPLE NEED IN ORDER TO BEGIN WORKING AGAIN. 7. DIRECT-AID-MATCHING THOSE IN NEED WITH DIRECT DONORS/GRANTS. 8. WELLNESS SUPPORT (BOTH MEDICINE AND MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT). 9. VITAL RECORDS REPLACED (ID CARDS/ PASSPORTS/GREENCARDS). THE MAKAI FOUNDATION IS DEDICATED TO HELPING THOSE AFFECTED BY THE MAUI WILDFIRES. WE OPERATE WITH A DUAL PERSPECTIVE: FOCUSING ON SHORT-TERM DIRECT AID AND RECOVERY SERVICES (WHICH CAN SPAN DAYS TO WEEKS), AND LONG- TERM SUSTAINABLE RECOVERY MEASURES THAT STRETCH MONTHS TO YEARS. OUR PRIMARY AREAS OF INTEREST ENCOMPASS DISASTER RECOVERY, DISASTER ADVOCACY AND CASE-MANAGEMENT, CAPACITY BUILDING, COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT, HOUSING SOLUTIONS (BOTH EMERGENCY HOUSING, INTERIM HOUSING AND LONG TERM HOUSING), BUSINESS REVITALIZATION, AND HEALTH AND WELL-BEING SUPPORT. WITHIN THIS FRAMEWORK, A SIGNIFICANT COMPONENT OF OUR MISSION IS ENSURING THAT RESOURCES, LIKE TOOLS VITAL FOR TRADESPEOPLE, ARE DISTRIBUTED TO THOSE IN NEED. OUR ACTIONS ARE DEEPLY ROOTED IN THE COMMUNITIES OF MAUI, NOTABLY IN THE LAHAINA AND KULA REGIONS, AS WE AIM TO REBUILD, REVITALIZE, AND REINFORCE THE RESILIENCE OF THESE AREAS. CURRENT PROGRAM AREAS INCLUDE: 1. DISASTER RECOVERY SESSIONS- "ALOHA NAVIGATOR SESSIONS" (LIKE DISASTER COACHING WHICH HELPS TO OPEN UP ADDITIONAL LONGER TERM FUNDING THROUGH GOVERNMENT AND PARTNER AGENCIES. 2. EMERGENCY HOUSING. 3. BUILDING HOMES AND CREATING LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY/RESILIENCY ON THE ISLAND BY CREATING MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING LONG TERM. 4. FURNISHING HOMES FOR OUR DISPLACED FAMILIES ONCE THEY ARE FINALLY ABLE TO MOVE INTO THEIR TRANSITIONAL HOME (FLIPPING HOUSES THAT ARE IN BAD SHAPE). 5. REPLACING VEHICLES-FIXING CARS, REPLACING CARS AND TRUCKS BURNED IN THE FIRE. 6. REBUILDING SMALL BUSINESSES-REPLACING ITEMS THAT PEOPLE NEED IN ORDER TO BEGIN WORKING AGAIN. 7. DIRECT-AID-MATCHING THOSE IN NEED WITH DIRECT DONORS/GRANTS. 8. WELLNESS SUPPORT (BOTH MEDICINE AND MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT). 9. VITAL RECORDS REPLACED (ID CARDS/ PASSPORTS/GREENCARDS).

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 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 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.