Skip to content
The Robert & Betty Wo Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

The Robert & Betty Wo Foundation

Its FY2025 filing reports that it accepted unsolicited grant applications.

$225k
Granted FY2025still arriving
12
Grants FY2025still arriving
3
States reached
$75k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
05Through PlinthRead
01What it funds
0199% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2025.

Education$655kHealth$249kReligion$195kArts & Culture$190kHuman Services$159kFood & Nutrition$94kPhilanthropy$60kInternational$30kOther$0
02FY2025 · 12 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k7 grants · $24k
  • $10k–50k3 grants · $76k
  • $50k–250k2 grants · $125k
$5,000
Median grant
3
States reached
$1.7M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII FOUNDATION$75,000
THE QUEEN'S HEALTH SYSTEMS$50,000
AMERICAN HOME FURNISHINGS HALL OF FAME FOUNDATION INC$40,000
VOLUNTEER ALLY$25,000
COMMUNITY CHURCH OF HONOLULU$11,000
AMERICAN RED CROSS$5,000
ALLIANCE FOR CHOICE IN EDUCATION$5,000
REHAB FOUNDATION$5,000
ASSETS SCHOOL$3,500
CENTRAL UNION CHURCH$3,000
IOLANI SCHOOL$1,500
THE PANTRY$1,000
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY17–25, $165k) land where the poverty rate runs at 15%, against an area that typically sits at 9%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 9%AMERICAN HOME FURNISHINGS HALL OF FAME FOUNDATION INC: $40k → 16%AMERICAN HOME FURNISHINGS HALL OF FAME FOUNDATION INC: $45k → 16%AMERICAN HOME FURNISHINGS HALL OF FAME FOUNDATION INC: $40k → 16%AMERICAN HOME FURNISHING HALL OF FAME FOUNDATION: $10k → 16%AMERICAN HOME FURNISHING HALL OF FAME FOUNDATION: $5k → 16%CATHOLIC CHARITIES: $1k → 9%NAVIAN HAWAII: $2k → 9%NAVIAN HAWAII: $1k → 9%HOSPICE HAWAII: $500 → 9%FEEDING HAWAII TOGETHER: $10k → 9%PALOLO CHINESE HOME: $5k → 9%PALOLO CHINESE HOME: $5k → 9%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

91%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$1.5M · 28 repeat orgs$140k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +34% since the first grant, against +24% for those funded once.

28 repeat relationships: 10 still active in FY2025, 18 since wound down; 2 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

28
24

Total granted

$1.5M
$132k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+34%
+24%

Still filing today

64%
58%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 96% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $8k went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
EducationHuman ServicesHealthInternationalArts & CulturePhilanthropyOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • UO
    UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII FOUNDATION
    7× · 2017–2025 · $291k · revenue +56%
  • TQ
    THE QUEEN'S HEALTH SYSTEMS
    3× · 2020–2025 · $150k · revenue +88%
  • AH
    AMERICAN HOME FURNISHINGS HALL OF FAME FOUNDATION INC
    5× · 2019–2025 · $140k · revenue +7%

Funded once

  • UO
    UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII CULINARY
    one grant, 2017 · $50k
  • FH
    FEEDING HAWAII TOGETHERgraduated
    one grant, 2021 · $10k · revenue +28%
  • KC
    KUNIA COUNTRY FARM EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH
    one grant, 2017 · $10k
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
Hawaii - American Nurses Association Foundation
Environment
2
Hawaii Education Institute
—
3
Hawaii Book and Music Festival
Arts & Culture
4
Hui Pohala

Palliative care is a win-win-win-win. expanding access to palliative care benefits all parts of the healthcare system. people living with serious illness are better able to manage physical and emotional symptoms and have peace of mind that…

Health
5
Hawaii Exemplary State Foundation
Community Improvement
6
Hawaii Association of Independent Schools

The hawai'i association of independent schools (hais) advocates on behalf of independent education in hawaii, provides services that strengthen individual schools and engages them to achieve educational quality and excellence for all…

Education
7
Hawaii Maritime Center
—
8
E Kupaku Ka Aina - the Hawaii Land Restoration Institute
Environment
9
Kapi'olani Medical Specialists

Kapi'olani medical specialists (dba hawai'i pacific health medical group) is a multispecialty provider group dedicated to providing world-class care for adults and children across hawai'i and the pacific region working in partnership with…

Health
10
Pali Momi Foundation

The mission of pali momi foundation is to create a healthier hawai'i.

Health
11
Hawaii Medical Association

Hawaii medical association is dedicated to serving physicians, their patients and community through representation, advocacy, and public service. core activities: advocacy, education

—
12
Hawaii Pacific University

Hawaii pacific university is an international learning community set in the rich cultural context of hawaii. students from around the world join us for an american education built on a liberal arts foundation. our innovative undergraduate…

Education
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Kahala Nui Senior Living Foundation Inc; the most unlike its peers is Grove Farm Company Foundation. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

39 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 39 of the 57 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

1
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
5
Early backer (in before they grew)
36/39
Grantees still filing
29/39
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

COMMUNITY CHURCH OF HONOLULU: $185,870 · OtherCOMMUNITY CHURCH OF HONOLULUDIAMOND HEAD THEATRE: $88,550 · OtherDIAMOND HEAD THEATREUNIVERSITY OF IOWA: $75,000 · OtherUNIVERSITY OF IOWAUNIVERSITY OF HAWAII CULINARY: $50,000 · OtherUNIVERSITY OF HAWAII CULINARYMILLS COLLEGE: $41,675 · OtherMILLS COLLEGEAMERICAN RED CROSS: $27,500 · OtherASSET SCHOOL: $22,492 · OtherPacific & Asian Affairs Council: $22,000 · Other+25 more: $126,500 · Other+25 moreUNIVERSITY OF HAWAII FOUNDATION: $291,000 · EducationUNIVERSITY OF HAWAII FOUNDATIONPUNAHOU SCHOOL: $80,000 · EducationPUNAHOU SCHOOL'IOLANI SCHOOL: $50,000 · Education'IOLANI SCHOOLTHE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK: $30,000 · EducationTHE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSI…ASSETS SCHOOL: $23,500 · Education+4 more: $26,500 · EducationTHE QUEEN'S HEALTH SYSTEMS: $150,000 · HealthTHE QUEEN'S HEA…THE QUEEN'S MEDICAL CENTER: $50,000 · HealthTHE QUEEN'S MED…Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific Foundation: $20,000 · HealthRehabilitation …+1 more: $5,000 · HealthAMERICAN HOME FURNISHINGS HALL OF FAME FOUNDATION INC: $140,000 · Human ServicesAMERICAN H…PALOLO CHINESE HOME: $10,000 · Human ServicesPALOLO CHI…FEEDING HAWAII TOGETHER: $10,000 · Human ServicesFEEDING HA…+2 more: $4,500 · Human ServicesVOLUNTEER ALLY: $80,000 · Arts & CultureHONOLULU MUSEUM OF ART: $17,000 · Arts & CultureALOHA UNITED WAY INC: $40,000 · PhilanthropyHAWAII COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $16,000 · PhilanthropyFRIENDS OF HAWAII CHARITIES INC: $2,500 · PhilanthropyHAWAIIAN HUMANE SOCIETY: $12,000 · Animals
Other$639,587Education$501,000Health$225,000Human Services$164,500Arts & Culture$97,000Philanthropy$58,500Animals$12,000

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$100k$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetUNIVERSITY OF HAWAII FOUNDATION: $291,000 over 7y, 0.1% of budgetTHE QUEEN'S HEALTH SYSTEMS: $150,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetAMERICAN HOME FURNISHINGS HALL OF FAME FOUNDATION INC: $140,000 over 5y, 1.5% of budgetDIAMOND HEAD THEATRE: $88,550 over 6y, 0.4% of budgetVOLUNTEER ALLY: $80,000 over 3y, 37% of budgetPUNAHOU SCHOOL: $80,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetTHE QUEEN'S MEDICAL CENTER: $50,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budget'IOLANI SCHOOL: $50,000 over 7y, 0.0% of budgetMILLS COLLEGE: $41,675 over 6y, 0.0% of budgetALOHA UNITED WAY INC: $40,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetTHE TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK: $30,000 over 4y, 0.0% of budgetASSETS SCHOOL: $23,500 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetPacific & Asian Affairs Council: $22,000 over 5y, 1.3% of budgetRehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific Foundation: $20,000 over 4y, 0.3% of budgetHAWAII LITERACY INC: $18,000 over 2y, 1.5% of budgetHONOLULU MUSEUM OF ART: $17,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetHAWAII COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: $16,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetTHE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY: $15,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetHAWAIIAN HUMANE SOCIETY: $12,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetPALOLO CHINESE HOME: $10,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetFEEDING HAWAII TOGETHER: $10,000 over 1y, 0.8% of budgetKAHALA NUI SENIOR LIVING FOUNDATION INC: $7,500 over 1y, 1.0% of budgetBOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA -- ALOHA COUNCIL: $7,000 over 3y, 6.5% of budgetHAWAII FOODBANK INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetPROJECT HAWAII INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetAMERICAN WOMEN FOR INTERNATIONAL UNDERSTANDING: $5,000 over 1y, 2.5% of budgetALLIANCE FOR CHOICE IN EDUCATION: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetHawai'i Pacific Health: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCOMMON GRACE: $4,000 over 1y, 1.6% of budgetHOSPICE HAWAII INC: $3,500 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetHawaii Architectural Foundation: $2,500 over 1y, 3.2% of budgetBALLET HAWAII: $2,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetJAPAN-AMERICA SOCIETY OF HAWAII: $2,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetCATHOLIC CHARITIES HAWAII: $1,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetHAWAII ACADEMY OF SCIENCE: $1,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

J Watumull FundTradewind Group Found…Aloha United Way IncMcInerny Foundation--Chung Kun Ai Foundati…First Insurance Compa…Bank of Hawaii Charit…The Harry and Jeanett…Ben & Miriam Lau Foun…Central Pacific Bank …Atherton Family Found…The James and Juanita…
J Watumull FundHI38.7× affinity16 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: J Watumull Fund · Tradewind Group Foundation · Aloha United Way Inc · McInerny Foundation-- · Chung Kun Ai Foundation · First Insurance Company of Hawaii Charitable Foundation · Bank of Hawaii Charitable Fdn · The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation Inc · Ben & Miriam Lau Foundation · Central Pacific Bank Foundation · Atherton Family Foundation · The James and Juanita Wo Foundation

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization The Robert & Betty Wo Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from The Robert & Betty Wo Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%3%10%23%40%funder's share of their income ↑0%25%50%75%100%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    4report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    typical government reliance, FY20–25
    How this is measured
    Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.
    05Through Plinth

    Warm introductions · Powered by PlinthPlus

    How do I get to The Robert & Betty Wo Foundation?

    Find your warmest path to The Robert & Betty Wo Foundation through trustees and officers whose names appear on both boards. Search for your organization and Plinth traces the shortest route it can evidence.

    Each link is a name appearing on two organizations’ public IRS 990 filings, matched on that name and, where the filings support it, on location. A same-state match has geographic support, which is a second matching feature rather than confirmation that the two are one person; a cross-state one is the likeliest to be two people who share a name. Every hop shows its tier, low-confidence and distant paths are held back rather than guessed, and it is worth confirming the person before you use the introduction.

    On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 57 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

    How this is measured
    Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

    Generated from the IRS Form 990-PF e-file return for fiscal year 2025, released 2025. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on Robert & Betty Wo’s filings →

    More from the funding graph

    The unnamed billions
    grants reported with no recipient in the public record
    The regranting layer
    51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
    The DAF merry-go-round
    $9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
    The endowment market
    who holds foundation money, and what just moved
    The camps
    funders cluster by geography, not ideology
    By state
    where grant money is based, and what stays home