The Victoria S. and Bradley L. Geist Foundation offers the 2025 Family Strengthening and Prevention Programs funding opportunity to support efforts that aim to prevent family disintegration and reduce the need for foster care placements in Hawai‘i. This initiative is aligned with prevention strategies recognized by the CDC and the Family First Prevention Services Act, and seeks to bolster stable, thriving family environments through targeted, evidence-informed programming.

Organizations eligible to apply must be tax-exempt and based in Hawai‘i, serving primarily children aged 0 to 5. Eligible applicants include nonprofits, religious organizations exempt from taxation, and governmental units. Programs must showcase experience in managing grants and providing family-centered services, and are required to collaborate with other local service providers to address community needs effectively.

Funding priorities include addressing protective and risk factors associated with child abuse and neglect, supporting homeless or housing-insecure families with young children, assisting foster youth who are parenting or expecting, and delivering advocacy or navigation services to at-risk families. Proposals are evaluated based on program integrity and potential impact, including clear goals, measurable outcomes, and demonstrated ability to leverage additional resources.

Grants range from $10,000 to $50,000 per year and may be requested for up to two years. A cap of 15% is placed on administrative costs. Applications must be complete and submitted online by 4:00 p.m. HST on one of the three deadline dates in 2025: January 15, May 15, or September 15. Each deadline corresponds to review at a subsequent Board of Trustees meeting in March, July, or November respectively.

The application process is conducted through the Hawai‘i Community Foundation’s Grants Portal and involves detailed program and organizational information, including a certified organization profile and various required documents. Organizations may apply using a fiscal sponsor if they do not hold their own tax-exempt status, subject to specific documentation requirements.

For inquiries, applicants should contact Jarissa Lum at jlum@hcf-hawaii.org or call (808) 566-5522. Technical support for the online application system is also available through the Foundation's website.