The Harold K.L. Castle Foundation builds on the strengths of vibrant Windward Oahu communities through investments that support the region’s rich cultural legacy, its youth and families, and its natural resources.
Like many Hawaii-based organizations, the Foundation is rooted in a strong sense of community and place. Prior to creating a family foundation in 1962, Harold K.L. Castle gave generously of his time, energy, and financial resources to the Windward Oahu community in which he lived and worked. With an eye toward the future and a vision of building civic and cultural resources, Mr. Castle in his lifetime made substantial gifts of land for Windward churches and schools, and for institutions such as Castle Medical Center and the Windward YMCA. Over its 44-year history, the Foundation has maintained a deep connection to its roots in Windward Oahu and a commitment to contributing to the vitality of communities from Kahuku to Waimanalo.
Our Purpose
The Harold K.L. Castle Foundation helps communities build assets in Windward Oʻahu by strengthening and supporting the region’s rich cultural legacy, its youth and families, and its natural resources. Investing in the unique history, traditions, people, and environment of Windward Oʻahu has important implications for the state as a whole, and is an important piece of the Foundation’s commitment to “Building Resources for Hawaiʻi’s Future.”
Our Goals
1) By 2027, to dramatically increase the number of Windward Oʻahu youth who earn a promising credential, secure a good job and contribute to their community; 2) By 2027, to ensure that all Windward Oʻahu students graduate high school with an ‘āina aloha mindset and the resiliency and civic skills needed to protect and restore the watersheds and fisheries of Koʻolauloa and Koʻolaupoko; and 3) To support other unique opportunities to strengthen the resilience of the region’s families and communities from Kahuku to Waimanalo.
Our Strategy
In 2017, Directors embarked on a 10 year journey to achieve three primary goals within Windward Oʻahu through four key strategies:
Our Priorities
Our approach to grant making over the past years has been consistent. We continue to look for organizations that can significantly leverage our grants with other sources of support, where our funds can play a catalytic role, where we can see the promise of significant impact on important public issues in Hawaii, and where there is strong leadership that can make the best use of the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation’s funds. In Windward O‘ahu, this means start-up for promising new organizations, innovation, and scaling good work when strategies align. The Foundation does not fund events, computers, endowments, and other items as listed here.
It is with these values in mind that we lift up the following priorities for funding in Windward Oʻahu:
- High quality organizations and/or programs based in the region or with a record of longstanding ties to the region and effective current or potential relationships with schools and/or community
- OR high performing potential partners from outside of the region that are uniquely qualified to address Foundation goal(s) within the region
- Highly collaborative organizations that exhibit authentic, reciprocal relationships with schools and communities
- Innovation, capacity building, and occasionally scaling of programs that align to the strategy – the Foundation does not support ongoing programs or operations
- Small preschool improvements are welcome throughout the year, but are restricted to $25,000 or less. Larger capital requests for Windward Oʻahu are considered once per year in the fall with inquiries for such requests due October 1.
Much of this work will focus on building capacity within existing people, places, and programs of the region – thereby amplifying the bright spots, accelerating progress, and realizing potential within Windward Oʻahu. This will primarily be accomplished by supporting networks, systems, and cohorts for deeper learning and impact. The intention is to ground this work deeply in community for lasting and sustainable change.
For inquiries or questions, contact Maria Quidez.