unlock your potential
with purpose
Join a transformative journey designed to empower Native Hawaiian professionals with culturally grounded fundraising skills. Our courses are thoughtfully crafted to honor indigenous values while equipping you with practical expertise to drive meaningful change in your community.
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ANCESTRAL ROOTS, CULTIVATING CHANGE
Philanthropono is a year-long certification program that empowers Native Hawaiian and community-rooted leaders to lead fundraising with skill and soul—grounded in cultural stewardship, kuleana, and aloha ʻāina. Participants gain hands-on experience, certification, and a project portfolio, along with the confidence and tools to build community resilience and support self-determination.
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TALENT BROKERAGE
Our talent brokerage connects nonprofit organizations with certified fundraisers — many of them Philanthropono graduates — who bring cultural insight and professional skill to fundraising. It’s a bridge between mission-aligned talent and the organizations that need them, while growing Native leadership in philanthropy.
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COLLECTIVE
The Philanthropono Collective is a network of nonprofits that host practicum students to support grant writing, campaign planning, and donor outreach. These partnerships offer a low-risk, high-impact way to build fundraising capacity while mentoring emerging Native Hawaiian leaders. Join the Collective and grow your organization while investing in the future of values-driven philanthropy.
fuel change
from within
Philanthropono equips Native Hawaiians, nonprofit leaders, community organizers, and early-career changemakers with culturally grounded fundraising skills to lead with impact.
Through workshops, community-based projects, and a 90-hour practicum, participants build confidence in grant writing, donor engagement, and campaign planning rooted in Indigenous values.
They graduate with a portfolio of real-world projects, a professional certification, and access to career and consulting opportunities through the Native Hawaiian talent brokerage—reframing fundraising as a
tool for community transformation, storytelling, and self-determination.
CERTIFICATION LEVELS
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Refers to a small meshed net (BEGINNER)
Completed Beginners 12-week course
30 hours practicum
Hōʻike
Completion of portfolio (1 work products)
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Refers to a fine-meshed net (INTERMEDIATE - Completion of Kaʻiʻi course required)
Completed Intermediate 12-week course
60 hours practicum
Hōʻike
Completion of portfolio (2 work products)
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Refers to a large fish net about 20 fathoms long, held by a canoe
at each end
(ADVANCED - Completion of Kāʻihi course required)Completed Advanced 8-week course
Practicum completed
Hōʻike
Completion of portfolio
At least 40% of position time is allocated to fundraising or philanthropy.
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Refers to a net made of strong cord used for sharks
(PROFESSIONAL - Completion of Kīholo course required)Provide coaching hours during participant practicum
Hōʻike
Completion of portfolio
At least 60% of position time is allocated to fundraising or philanthropy.
Access and
Register Today
To access the curriculum that will shape your future in philanthropy,
START HERE.
If you have already registered, visit here and log in.
Grant Writing Starter Tool Kit
Boost your grant proposals with our step-by-step toolkit! Learn to craft compelling needs statements, define impact-driven outcomes, and build a funder-aligned budget. Get your free download today!
