Frequently Asked Questions

Hauʻoli Mau Loa Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. We recognize the substantial amount of time and resources required to prepare and submit a grant proposal and believe that no organization should waste valuable time submitting a proposal that we will not be able to consider.

Rather than accepting unsolicited proposals, the Foundation develops a grantmaking strategy and then asks potential organizations who could help implement the strategy to consider partnering with them.

Hauʻoli Mau Loa Foundation provides funding to organizations that fall into six program areas: Environment, Field Building, First Generation Partners, Hope for Kids, Housing for Families and Humanitarian Relief. Please read our Grantmaking Guidelines for additional details.

Hauʻoli Mau Loa Foundation was founded by Helga Glaesel-Hollenback who, in her words, “found great happiness on the islands of Hawaiʻi” and wished “to return the generosity of the islands.” Originally from Germany, she moved to the United States and established a home in Honolulu. Helga was actively involved in Hauʻoli Mau Loa Foundation until her passing in 1997.

In Hawaiian, Hauʻoli Mau Loa means “eternal happiness.” Helga Glaesel-Hollenback selected the name to reflect her hopes for the Foundation's impact.

Two of the Foundation's founding board members knew the Foundation's benefactor well and worked with her on Foundation related matters. In 2011, the Foundation's executive director was asked to serve on the Board, given her role. The three-person Board then began a process to add additional members to the Board who added to the expertise and experience of the Board and whose work and values aligned with the Foundation's. Since November 2014 four new members have joined the board. The Founding board members have completed their tenure: Wayne Pitluck in late-2019 and Hans Bertram-Nothnagel in mid-2021. Board members, except the Foundation executive director, all serve terms and have term limits.

The Foundation concentrates its giving in Hawaiʻi, with some funding provided to organizations outside the state, working on issues internationally.

Please call us or email us with questions you might have about the Foundation. Our contact information is listed in the Contact Us section of the website.

The following are resources that we have found useful:

HANO is a nonprofit organization in Hawaiʻi that is committed to strengthening the nonprofit sector. Its website contains resources from Hawaiʻi and national sources and includes a job bank.

Blue Avocado is an online magazine for nonprofits that is full of interesting and useful articles. Its self-description says, “practical, provocative and fun food-for-thought for nonprofits.”

The Conservation Career Compass features jobs, internships, and volunteer positions for emerging and seasoned professionals.

ʻĀINAVIS is an artist-driven person-to-person collabortive engagement conecpt to physically map the success of grassroots groups in Hawaiʻi commonly called ʻAina Orgs.