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Big Island Mediation

EIN 99-0343488 · Kamuela, HI

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood72 out of 100GovernanceGood83 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

WEST HAWAII MEDIATION CENTER'S MISSION IS TO PROVIDE DISPUTE RESOLUTION AND EDUCATION SERVICES TO EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS AND BUILD COMMUNITIES THAT VIEW CONFLICT RESOLUTION AS A CATALYST FOR POSITIVE CHANGE. THROUGH OUR MEDIATION AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS, WHMC PROVIDES TOOLS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO RESOLVE THEIR DIFFERENCES IN A SAFE AND NEUTRAL ENVIRONMENT.

Income
$341,094
Spending
$378,693
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
6.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 62%
Employees
6
Volunteers
64
Highest pay
$62,252, executive di

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: 72 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (human services, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 6.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 11% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 17% 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 June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 66% of charities in its peer group (human services, $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

    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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 (3)
  1. $195,653 spent. GENERAL MEDIATION PROGRAM. IN FISCAL YEAR 2024-2025, WHMC PROVIDED MEDIATION SERVICES FOR 256 CASES (IN 116 OTHER-REFERRED AND 140 COURT- REFERRED CASES). WE SERVED 566 UNDUPLICATED CLIENTS USING 39 VOLUNTEER MEDIATORS. ALL OF WHMCS COMMUNITY MEDIATION SERVICES ARE OFFERED ON A SLIDING SCALE FEE STRUCTURE, AND NO ONE IS TURNED AWAY DUE TO AN INABILITY TO PAY.
  2. $41,926 spent. WHMC'S PEER MEDIATION PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO TRAIN STUDENTS OF THE SAME AGE GROUP TO USE MEDIATION TECHNIQUES TO RESOLVE DISPUTES BETWEEN THEIR PEERS. THE GOAL IS TO PROVIDE A SAFE SPACE WHERE STUDENTS CAN TALK ABOUT THEIR ISSUES AND, HOPEFULLY, WORK TOWARDS A WIN-WIN SOLUTION FOR BOTH DISPUTANTS. THE PROGRAM EMPOWERS PARTICIPANTS BY IMPROVING THEIR SELF-ESTEEM, LEADERSHIP AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION SKILLS WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY HELPING TO DECREASE VIOLENCE AND CREATE A GREATER SENSE OF PEACE AND SECURITY WITHIN THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY. FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2025, OUR PEER MEDIATION PROGRAM HELD TRAINING 6 SCHOOLS. WE TRAINED 177 STUDENTS TO BE PEER MEDIATORS WHO CONDUCTED 87 MEDIATIONS. 52% OF STUDENTS REPORT USING CONFLICT RESOLUTION SKILLS OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM SETTING, WHILE 81% OF MEDIATION REFERRALS CAME FROM THE STUDENTS THEMSELVES. WHMC'S PEER MEDIATION PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO TRAIN STUDENTS OF THE SAME AGE GROUP TO USE MEDIATION TECHNIQUES TO RESOLVE DISPUTES BETWEEN THEIR PEERS. THE GOAL IS TO PROVIDE A SAFE SPACE WHERE STUDENTS CAN TALK ABOUT THEIR ISSUES AND, HOPEFULLY, WORK TOWARDS A WIN-WIN SOLUTION FOR BOTH DISPUTANTS. THE PROGRAM EMPOWERS PARTICIPANTS BY IMPROVING THEIR SELF-ESTEEM, LEADERSHIP AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION SKILLS WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY HELPING TO DECREASE VIOLENCE AND CREATE A GREATER SENSE OF PEACE AND SECURITY WITHIN THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY. FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2025, OUR PEER MEDIATION PROGRAM HELD TRAINING 6 SCHOOLS. WE TRAINED 177 STUDENTS TO BE PEER MEDIATORS WHO CONDUCTED 87 MEDIATIONS. 52% OF STUDENTS REPORT USING CONFLICT RESOLUTION SKILLS OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM SETTING, WHILE 81% OF MEDIATION REFERRALS CAME FROM THE STUDENTS THEMSELVES.
  3. $41,926 spent. WEST HAWAII MEDIATION CENTER OFFERS VICTIM OFFENDER CONFERENCING OPTIONS TO JUVENILES AND ADULTS CAUGHT IN THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM. VOC PROCESSES BRING VICTIMS AND OFFENDERS OF CRIME OR HARM TOGETHER IN A UNIQUE FACE-TO-FACE MEETING. THESE CONFERENCES ARE LED BY TRAINED VOLUNTEERS THAT FOCUS ON VICTIMS NEEDS AND OFFENDER RESPONSIBILITIES. VOC REPRESENTS A COMMUNITY DRIVEN RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PROCESS IN WHICH THOSE MOST HARMED BY AN ACT MAY EXPRESS THEIR FEELINGS, THE IMPACT, SEEK ANSWERS, AND GIVE INPUT TO A RESTITUTION AND ACCOUNTABILITY PROCESS. VOC ACTS AS A DIVERSIONARY PROGRAM THAT HELPS UNCLOG AN OVERFLOW OF CASES IN THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM (THUS AIDING THE COURTS), GIVES VOICE TO VICTIMS WHO MAY NOT HAVE A CHANCE TO BE HEARD, AND CREATES APPROPRIATE LEVELS OF ACCOUNTABILITY FOR ADULT AND YOUTH OFFENDERS. WEST HAWAII MEDIATION CENTER OFFERS VICTIM OFFENDER CONFERENCING OPTIONS TO JUVENILES AND ADULTS CAUGHT IN THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM. VOC PROCESSES BRING VICTIMS AND OFFENDERS OF CRIME OR HARM TOGETHER IN A UNIQUE FACE-TO-FACE MEETING. THESE CONFERENCES ARE LED BY TRAINED VOLUNTEERS THAT FOCUS ON VICTIMS NEEDS AND OFFENDER RESPONSIBILITIES. VOC REPRESENTS A COMMUNITY DRIVEN RESTORATIVE JUSTICE PROCESS IN WHICH THOSE MOST HARMED BY AN ACT MAY EXPRESS THEIR FEELINGS, THE IMPACT, SEEK ANSWERS, AND GIVE INPUT TO A RESTITUTION AND ACCOUNTABILITY PROCESS. VOC ACTS AS A DIVERSIONARY PROGRAM THAT HELPS UNCLOG AN OVERFLOW OF CASES IN THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM (THUS AIDING THE COURTS), GIVES VOICE TO VICTIMS WHO MAY NOT HAVE A CHANCE TO BE HEARD, AND CREATES APPROPRIATE LEVELS OF ACCOUNTABILITY FOR ADULT AND YOUTH OFFENDERS.

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 February 2000.

    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.