Destination Hilo Foundation
Nonprofit profile at a glance
- EIN
- 994998227
- IRS 990-EZ coverage
- 2024–2024
- Forms available
- Form 990-EZ 2024
- Location
- Hilo, HI, USA
- Phone
- 8089635091
- Rating
- 79
- Verdict
- SUPPORTED
- Rating confidence
- Moderate
- Sector
- Arts, Culture, and Humanities N.E.C.
Reported finances
- Revenue
- $23,950
- Expenses
- $13,228
- Assets
- $10,722
- Liabilities
- $0
Source: IRS Form 990-EZ. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Amounts in USD.
Leadership & pay
7 people listed
Source: IRS Form 990-EZ. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Names and roles reflect this filing, not necessarily current officeholders.
Overview
Mission
Destination Hilo Foundation is a charitable organization that promotes sustainable, responsible tourism on the island of Hawaii and perpetuates authentic Hawaiian culture at the same time benefiting the community of Hawaii Island. Its mission is to support the activities of the Hilo Hawaii Visitor Industry Association, Inc. which funds programs with cultural practitioners who promote the Hawaiian culture, and they provide assistance to visitors, enhancing their experience with information, maps, and access to unique cultural experiences. The Foundation is organized to accept and disburse funds as may from time to time be contributed to the Foundation to advance its mission. There are no paid employees. The Directors are volunteers.
What it reported doing in 2024
Hilo Pier Greetings Program received grant funds from Hawaii County during the period totalling $20,000. A portion of the funds was provided to Hilo Hawaii Visitor Industry Association, Inc. to carry on its Hilo Pier Greetings program that included an Information Center for every cruise ship arrival as well as an hour of music and hula to welcome the passengers. 54 cruise ships arrived in Hilo from January through June. Cruise ships also arrived in 2024, but the grant funds were provided for April through December 2025. The information center manned by volunteer Aloha Ambassadors was available every morning that a cruise ship was in port. Hula Halau (musicians and dancers) entertained at the pier for select ships as funds were available. Cruise ship passengers arriving in Hilo from January through June 2025 totalled 111,261. Approximately 25% of those passengers were serviced by our Aloha Ambassadors and enjoyed the music and hula performances.
Operating model
- Revenue model
- Donor-supported. 100% of the money available for current operations came from contributions and gifts.
- Distribution model
- Grant intermediary. The nonprofit sent 100% of its reported program spending out as grants.
The verdict
SUPPORTED - The filed numbers largely add up and a large share of total spending goes to programs. A relatively small share of available resources goes toward mission work and total assets are small relative to annual expenses; liquid coverage is unknown.
Rating breakdown
- Financial Efficiency: 72
- Transparency & Controls: 100
- Sustainability: 69
- Growth: NotEnoughData
Detailed rating inputs
Financial Efficiency
- Mission deployment rate: 55.1%; rating input score 55
- Program expense ratio: 99.8%; rating input score 100
Transparency & Controls
- Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 52nd percentile among comparable filings
- Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
Sustainability
- Operating margin: 44.8%; rating input score 89; 89th percentile among comparable filings
- Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.81; rating input score 41; 41st percentile among comparable filings
- Liabilities to assets ratio: 0; rating input score 68; 68th percentile among comparable filings
- Officer compensation ratio: 0%; rating input score 56; 56th percentile among comparable filings
Growth
- Program expense growth: Limited
- Revenue growth: Limited
- Asset growth: Limited
Details
- Where the money goes: 55.1% of revenue deployed · 99.8% of spending went to programs
- Governance: Filed governance answers
- Accomplishments: 2 filed program accomplishments · $13K in reported program spending
- Leadership: top reported pay $0 · 7 people listed
- Consistency: 9 of 9 current checks pass
- Schedules: 3 filed schedules
- Contacts: How to reach this organization
- Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
- People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.
Key Signals
Signals prioritize questions for review. They are not findings of misconduct.
- Review — Financial Efficiency: Mission deployment rate scored 55/100.
- Moderate — Sustainability: Total-asset coverage ratio scored 41/100.
- Review — Sustainability: Officer compensation ratio scored 56/100.