Affordable housing nonprofits across Hawaiʻi have a new pool of money to chase, and the clock is already ticking. The Nareit Foundation is now taking applications from local organizations that build or operate affordable housing, with grant proposals due by Friday, June 19, 2026, at 5 p.m. Selected nonprofits will get awards later in 2026 to push projects out of the planning phase and into actual construction or day to day operation.
According to Maui Now, the grant money comes from donations made by real estate investment trusts that do business in Hawaiʻi. The grants will be presented later this year through the Nareit Hawaiʻi Community Giving Initiative.
Per Nareit Hawaiʻi, the Nareit Foundation has already awarded more than $2.8 million in grants to nonprofits statewide since the initiative launched in November 2018. “Expanding the availability of quality affordable housing is one of Hawaiʻi’s top priorities,” Nareit Hawaiʻi executive director Gladys Quinto Marrone said in the announcement.
Who can apply and how to submit
Nonprofits proposing affordable housing projects for sale or for rent in Hawaiʻi are eligible to seek funding. Groups with “shovel ready” projects will be moved to the front of the line, since the grants are meant to get work going on the ground, not to pay for early stage planning.
All applicants must complete the official grant application through Nareit’s Submittable portal. The portal is linked in the Nareit Hawaiʻi announcement, and can also be accessed directly here.
Why it matters
The awards are modest compared with large government housing programs, but they have helped keep actual roofs over people’s heads. Previous grants have covered practical fixes like concrete repairs, community amenities and capacity building that keep units livable and residents stable. Nareit has highlighted recent grants to Kunia Village and Kahauiki Village as examples of how the funding can make a visible difference in local communities.
