WHAT WE OFFER
Providing a comprehensive suite of support services
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1:1 Consultation
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Hands-On Workshops
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Nonprofit Cohorts
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Bridge Funding Opportunities
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Fiscal Sponsorship Services
Whether you’re in the idea stage or looking to take your organization to the next level, WEDC is here to walk alongside you on your journey.
Get grant ready
We equip all cohort members with a Grant Ready Checklist, a practical tool that guides organizations through the key registrations and filings required for public and private funding opportunities.
Fiscal Sponsorships
For organizations not yet ready to establish their own 501(c)(3), WEDC offers fiscal sponsorship as a bridge to help emerging leaders bring their visions to life while maintaining compliance with funding and reporting requirements. Through this partnership, your project can access grants and donations under WEDC’s nonprofit status, while receiving administrative support and financial oversight. Our culturally grounded approach ensures that community-based initiatives are supported with integrity, accountability, and alignment to Native Hawaiian values. Fiscal sponsorship is ideal for grassroots efforts, pilot programs, or time-bound projects that need a trusted home to grow.
HOW IT WORKS
At the Waiʻanae Economic Development Council (WEDC), we believe that thriving nonprofits are essential to building a strong, resilient, and culturally rooted community. Our Nonprofit Development Program is designed to support new and existing organizations—whether they are nonprofit or social enterprises.
Our Nonprofit Development Cohort program follows a structured three-phase curriculum that reflects both best practices in the sector and the wisdom of our kūpuna:
Phase 1: mindset, model, & marketing
Develop a strong foundation rooted in purpose and people. In this phase, participants:
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Clarify their organization’s mission and cultural grounding
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Explore sustainable business models for community impact
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Build compelling messaging to attract supporters and funders
Phase 2: FOCUS, FILING, FUNDING, & FINANCES
Lay the legal and financial groundwork to thrive. In this phase, participants:
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Establish essential business and nonprofit registrations
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Learn financial management practices and funding strategies
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Use our Grant Ready Checklist to become fully prepared to apply for grants
Phase 3: PROGRAM, PROJECT, & BOARD DEVELOPMENT
Strengthen leadership and deepen impact. In this phase, participants:
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Design effective programs and community-based projects
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Learn about program evaluation and reporting
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Develop and activate a high-functioning, mission-aligned board
ROOTED IN HAWAIIAN VALUES
This uniquely Native Hawaiian curriculum was created to help mission-driven organizations thrive while aligning with ancestral values. Our team integrates moʻolelo (stories), ʻōlelo noʻeau (proverbs), and Hawaiian analogies to ground western business and financial concepts in Hawaiian cultural understanding.
By anchoring our practices in pono, kuleana, and lōkahi, we ensure that the work emerging from our cohorts is both impactful and culturally respectful.
GROUNDED IN HAWAIIAN CULTURE
Join Us
If you're a grassroots organizer, emerging nonprofit, or social enterprise committed to uplifting our lāhui and community, we invite you to join our next nonprofit development opportunity.
Let’s build a future where every organization has the tools, knowledge, and cultural guidance to serve with purpose, integrity, and sustainability.
Next cohort will be announced soon! Subscribe for updates!
