America250 Grant Program

The America250 $25,000 Grant for Hawaiʻi Veterans is a one-time funding opportunity administered by the Hawaiʻi State Foundation on Culture and the Arts (SFCA) in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). This initiative commemorates the United States of America’s 250th anniversary by supporting arts-based projects that engage and honor veterans within the state of Hawaiʻi. SFCA, founded in 1967 as the state’s official arts agency, functions under the Department of Accounting and General Services and serves as the primary conduit for public arts funding in Hawaiʻi. In this capacity, SFCA distributes federal and state funds to cultivate artistic expression and cultural engagement across communities. Funded by the NEA as part of a national initiative to celebrate America's artistic legacy, this grant targets nonprofit organizations working with veterans and military communities. The program’s scope emphasizes not just patriotic celebration but also community healing, wellness, and cultural remembrance through the arts. Proposed projects must be arts-based and directly address or benefit Hawaiʻi veterans. Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, visual and performing arts, spoken word, StoryCorps-style oral histories, exhibitions, healing arts programs, and heritage interpretation projects. The funding is designated as a single $25,000 award. All activities funded by the grant must take place in Hawaiʻi and be executed by nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations incorporated in the state. Eligible applicants include veteran and military service organizations, community service nonprofits, cultural organizations, and arts organizations. Fiscal sponsorship is not mentioned, implying that applying entities must be fully incorporated as 501(c)(3)s within the state to qualify. Applicants are required to submit their proposals through Hawaiʻi’s official procurement portal, HIePro. To locate the grant, users must enter the Solicitation #P26001370 on the HIePro website. Registration on the portal is required but free of charge. While the original deadline was January 21, 2026, the application deadline has been formally extended to February 6, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. HST. Application guidelines, eligibility documentation, and program requirements are included with the official solicitation, accessible through the HIePro platform. No specific pre-application steps such as letters of intent or concept papers are required. There is also no mention of cost-sharing or matching fund requirements. The program does not explicitly state its recurrence, indicating it is likely a one-time grant tied to the America250 initiative. For questions or support, applicants may contact SFCA via email at [email protected]. Given the limited scope of awards and thematic focus, applicants are encouraged to propose projects that are both innovative and deeply rooted in Hawaiʻi’s veteran communities. Evaluation criteria are not detailed publicly but will likely emphasize project alignment with the bicentennial theme, impact on veteran populations, artistic merit, and feasibility.