Contribute to our Endowment Fund
To support a diversity of ecological management plans at the Refuge
After more than 35 years of hands-on conservation work, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and its many partners can take great pride in a host of exceptional accomplishments at Hakalau Forest NWR. Yet, the Refuge is faced with enormous challenges, such as shifting agency budget priorities, diverse predators, aggressive weeds and deteriorating infrastructure.
The Friends of Hakalau Forest (FOHF) created the Refuge Management Endowment in 2015 in conjunction with the Hawaii Community Foundation to help offset these ongoing challenges, and we invite you to join our efforts. The Hawaii Community Foundation is a tax exempt public charity under section 501(c)3 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code.
Purpose of the Endowment;
To support the Hakalau Forest NWR financially in their efforts to conserve the integrity, diversity and health of native species and ecosystems
Uses for the Endowment;
To support a diversity of ecological management projects including, but not limited to, invasive plant and animal control, fence construction and maintenance, and propagation and out-planting of native plant species.
Payout of the Endowment;
Endowed funds provide a sustainable level of resources in perpetuity. Each year, the Hawaii Community Foundation will pay out to the FOHF approximately 4% of the Endowment’s average market value, based on the payout policy at the time. The FOHF and the Refuge will jointly determine how these funds will be used to address Refuge management priorities.
As of January 2023 FOHF has raised over $1,000,000 in the Endowment Fund.
Please click HERE for Frequently Asked Questions about Hakalau Forest NWR and our Endowment Fund.
We welcome your contribution to the Endowment (you can donate anonymously if you wish) – please click on the button to access Hawaii Community Foundation’s secure website
Donors may also contribute by bequests in your estate planning
Required Minimum Distribution are withdrawals you have to make from most retirement plans (excluding Roth IRAs). If you are of an age that you must take required minimum distributions (RMDs) from your IRA, you may make a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) from your IRA. The money must go directly from your IRA financial institution to the charity. (Both the Friends and Hawaii Community Foundation are qualified 501c3s.) One tax advantaged way to donate is to make a QCD of part or all of your RMD. In doing this you will avoid paying income tax on the part of the RMD that you donated. Contact the financial company that manages your IRA to get the needed form. Then for the payee line use either:
Friends of Hakalau Forest NWR Endowment, PO Box 6065, Hilo, HI 96720
Or
Hawai‘i Community Foundation – Hakalau Forest Refuge Management, 827 Fort Street Mall, Honolulu, HI 96813-4317
The Hawai’i Community Foundation can also accept the following donations on behalf of Hakalau:
- Real Estate – donating real estate comes with a sizable tax benefit.
- Securities – donating appreciated securities like publicly held stocks offers some of the best relative tax benefit of all the types of charitable giving.
- Asset Donations – art, jewelry or vehicles may be donated and eligible for a deduction up to their value.
Please contact your attorney or CPA for details on these donation options.
