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Hawaii Childrens Action Network

EIN 94-3257650 · Honolulu, HI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood75 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

HCAN MOBILIZES ACTIONS FOR HAWAII'S CHILDREN THROUGH COLLABORATIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS STATEWIDE SO OUR CHILDREN ARE SAFE, HEALTHY AND READY TO SUCCEED.

Income
$4.0 million
Spending
$3.8 million
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
5.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 57%
Employees
34
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$112,103, vice president

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: 75 out of 100. Higher than 58% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 39% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 4% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 13% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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 47% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 10 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 (4)
  1. $1.4 million spent. PUBLIC EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT - HCAN PARENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT PUBLIC POLICY AND SYSTEMS CHANGE THROUGH THE PARENT LEADERSHIP TRAINING INSTITUTE AND OTHER TRAINING SESSIONS. THROUGH EVENTS, CAMPAIGNS, EMAIL NEWSLETTERS, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND THE PRESS, THE ORGANIZATION EDUCATES AND MOBILIZES THE PUBLIC ON CHILDREN'S ISSUES, INCLUDING EARLY LEARNING, HEALTH, SAFETY, AND ECONOMIC SECURITY.
  2. $369,986 spent. FISCAL SPONSOR - HCAN'S FISCAL SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM SUPPORTS FIVE UNINCORPORATED COMMUNITY-BASED ENTITIES AND START-UP EFFORTS THAT ALIGN WITH THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL OVERSIGHT, ENABLING THESE ENTITIES TO FOCUS ON THEIR CORE INITIATIVES WHILE BENEFITING FROM THE ORGANIZATION'S TAX-EXEMPT STATUS. THE ORGANIZATION'S SUPPORT INCLUDES FINANCIAL AND HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, GRANT ADMINISTRATION, COMPLIANCE MONITORING, AND OPERATIONAL GUIDANCE TO ENSURE ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY. EACH SPONSORED ENTITY UNDERGOES A THOROUGH REVIEW PROCESS TO CONFIRM ALIGNMENT WITH THE ORGANIZATION'S CHARITABLE OBJECTIVES, AND THE ORGANIZATION MAINTAINS ONGOING OVERSIGHT TO ENSURE PROPER USE OF FUNDS IN ACCORDANCE WITH IRS REGULATIONS. THIS PROGRAM SUPPORTS THE INCUBATION OF NEW PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN HAWAII BY ALLOWING THESE ORGANIZATIONS TO ACCESS CRITICAL FUNDING AND RESOURCES THEY COULD NOT OTHERWISE OBTAIN INDEPENDENTLY.
  3. $1.5 million spent. COLLABORATIVE ADVOCACY - HCAN BUILDS AND SUPPORTS COALITIONS OF INDIVIDUALS, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES THAT SERVE HAWAI'I'S CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES. THESE COALITIONS COLLECTIVELY ADVOCATE TO IMPROVE SYSTEMS AND CHANGE POLICIES TO BETTER SERVE CHILDREN. THE ORGANIZATION ASSISTS COALITIONS WITH STRATEGY AND PLANNING, ORGANIZING EVENTS AND MEETINGS, DRAFTING BILLS AND TESTIMONY, AND REACHING TARGET AUDIENCES THROUGH THE PRESS, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND OTHER METHODS.
  4. $381,639 spent. GENERAL POLICY - HCAN COORDINATES GENERAL POLICY EFFORTS AND CAMPAIGNS ON CHILDREN'S ISSUES INCLUDING EARLY LEARNING, HEALTH, SAFETY, AND ECONOMIC SECURITY.DATA AND RESEARCH - HCAN ANALYZES DATA THAT TRACKS THE HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELL-BEING OF CHILDREN IN HAWAI'I. USING ITS DATA ANALYSIS, THE ORGANIZATION PUBLISHES REPORTS TO EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY AND INFLUENCE PUBLIC POLICY AND SYSTEM CHANGE. IT IS THE HAWAI'I STATE PARTNER FOR KIDS COUNT, A NATIONWIDE DATA ANALYSIS NETWORK.

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 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 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 October 1997.

    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.