True Initiative

What it reported doing in 2025

True will host seminars and workshops, and will also sponsor pilot projects to encourage a better understanding of technology and its uses in Hawaii. Hawaii has traditionally be slow to adopt technology, and true intends to reverse that trend to help local organizations succeed, diversify Hawaii's economy, and help Hawaii become a place where all residence can thrive. Use cases - on a monthly basis, true will host a seminar to highlight a successful implementation of a technology or tool that has impacted an organization in either the public or private sector. The seminar will be organized as an in-person gathering with organizational leaders and their teams invited to attend to listen, learn, and network. This will create a forum to encourage relationship building and information sharing as participants can collaborate and learn from each others' experiences. These events will be complimentary to all attendees. An example of an event is a seminar about lifecycle management technology highlighting the use of this technology by the state of Hawaii department of commerce and consumer affairs. Workshops - each month, true will host a live demo session to allow attendees to activate a technology tool to test out its capabilities. The purpose will be to deliver an opportunity for attendees to test and learn first-hand from technology platforms and their software solution architects, allowing them to experience the benefits and supporting a digital transformation. Conferences - true will host an annual Hawaii cloud innovation summit to offer a thoughtfully curated line-up of world class thought leaders, use cases, and panel discussions to inspire Hawaii toward cloud computing transformation. The conference will feature informative panels and sessions focused on business operations, technical applications, workforce development opportunities. Pilot projects - true initiative has launched the true esports and technology lab at waipahu public library. The state-of-the-art technology facility will teach valuable game and software development skills. The lab is a collaboration between true, the Hawaii state library system, and the state of Hawaii, with hardware and technical guidance contributed by nonprofit and for-profit partners. Content is available free of charge for library members and will serve as a use case and template to introduce tech-enabled labs in other public library branches. Collaboration and work-based learning projects - true will sponsor the community innovation mentorship program, a work-based learning program for professionals to mentor students to solve real world problems. Recent examples include a program through which true mentors worked with students to design and implement a digital marketing toolbox to help local businesses to develop digital and social media marketing campaigns, and a a program in which true mentors worked with students to develop an in-house hoteling app that would allow remote working staff to reserve meeting spaces. All activities will be operated in Hawaii, and projects and technologies to be featured will be selected on the basis of successful experiences with public and private entities. The activities will be funded through membership dues from participants in workshops and conferences, as well as charitable contributions. The hosting and sponsorship of educational events will further true's educational purposes.

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 50.9%; rating input score 51
• Program expense ratio: 54.8%; rating input score 55
• Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 0 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 0
  • Compensation committee: Missing
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Missing
  • Board or committee approval: Missing
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: Limited
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 3 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 38
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Fail
  • Document-retention policy: Fail
  • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
  • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Missing
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 7%; rating input score 51; 51st percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 0.23; rating input score 13; 13th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.04; rating input score 29; 29th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 40.1%; rating input score 6; 6th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 1% per year; rating input score 100; 32nd percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 0.6% per year; rating input score 100; 23rd percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: -34.9% per year; rating input score 0; 2nd percentile among comparable filings