Nonprofit Institutions

This category is defined as an educational or public health institution or organization, no part of the net earnings of which inures or may lawfully inure to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual, and which has been held to be tax-exempt under the provisions of subsection 501 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954. Nonprofit educational and public health institutions acquiring property must use it for educational or public health purposes, including research for such purposes.

In order for a religious or faith-based organization to participate in the Surplus Property Program, the organization must meet ALL of the eligibility requirements for any nonprofit donee, but ALSO must offer a secular program of education or public health for which it may request/acquire surplus property. The education or public health program must be available to all citizens regardless of religious affiliation and must be separate in time or location from ANY religious activities conducted by the organization. Property received under the donation program cannot be used in any program other than the secular program for which it was acquired.

Categories

Nonprofit Agencies

      • Medical Institutions
      • Schools for the Mentally Disabled
      • Hospitals
      • Schools for the Physically Disabled
      • Health Centers
      • Child Care Center
      • Colleges
      • Educational TV and Radio
      • Schools
      • Museums
      • Assistance to Homeless Individuals
      • Assistance to Impoverished Individuals and Families
      • Assistance to older individual (must receive funds through Title XX federally-funded program)

Requirements

Complete the Application Packet and provide documentary evidence of the following:

Please review to determine which of the following eligibility category your organization falls under, and if you are required to submit additional documentation.

Detailed Requirements for Specific Types of Organizations

Museums, Libraries, Nature Centers, Planetariums, Aquariums & Zoos

    1. Must be open to the public, and, at minimum, accedes to any request submitted for access during “business hours” (interpreted here to be approximately 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, although reasonable variation from these hours may be considered due to individual circumstances, such as a museum located in a commercial location with strict business hours, or restrictions based on zoning or other state or local ordinances). Furthermore, exhibits must be primary focus, and must not be incidental to the primary function of the institution. Also, must have a minimum of one fulltime staff member or the equivalent (i.e. one staff member who works 40 hours per week or two staff members who work 20 hours each per week).
    2. Required additional documentation that must be submitted with application:
        • Letter from IRS certifying status as a 501(C) non-profit. IRS ruling letter must include current name and address.
        • Complete narrative about your organization, including:
          • description of type(s) of exhibits & location(s);
          • staff roster, including name of curator (or equivalent) whose primary job is to care for the museum and its exhibits, and average number of hours each staff member works per week (may be volunteer or paid);
          • days and hours open to the public;
          • admission fee (if any);
          • description of the local community and population served by the museum; and
          • square footage of the museum.
        • Pictures of exhibits, exhibit signage, facilities, and posted hours of operations.
        • Articles of incorporations, bylaws, charter or other organizing document.
        • Latest Annual Financial Statement or Budget.
        • Brochures, pamphlets, website, or other promotional materials (optional).
        • Organizational Memberships (optional)
    3. All Museums must also select and fill out the Museum Access Agreement per new federal requirements.

Provider of Assistance to Older Americans (Non-Profit)

      1. Includes adult day care, multi-purpose senior centers, and social, transportation, nutrition or legal services.
      2. Organizations must receive funds appropriated under the Older Americans Act of 1965, Title IV or Title XX of the Social Security Act, Titles VIII and X of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, or Community Services Block Grant Act.
      3. Required additional documentation that must be submitted with application:
        • Letter from IRS certifying status as a 501(C) non-profit. IRS ruling letter must include current name and address.
        • Certification establishing that applicant is receiving state, federal or local government-appropriated funds for operation of older individual program under the Older Americans Act of 1965, Title IV or Title XX of the Social Security Act, Titles VIII and X of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, or Community Services Block Grant Act
        • Complete narrative about your organization, including:
          • Description of services provided;
          • Description of facilities;
          • Overview of key staff and their qualifications; and
          • Number of individuals receiving assistance and frequency of assistance (daily, weekly or monthly).
        • Proof of current accreditation, approval or licensing if appropriate (i.e. medical center)
        • Articles of incorporations, bylaws, charter or other organizing document (optional)

Provider of Assistance to Impoverished (Non-Profit)

1. Services to impoverished persons (as defined in section 673 of the Community Services Block Grant Act) (42 U.S.C. 9902) must be the primary function of the organization. If any activity operates a broad spectrum of programs through which assistance to the impoverished is peripheral and incidental, the entity would not be eligible. If located in or around a religious facility, food banks must have a direct entrance not requiring entrance through a place of worship to be eligible.

2. Required additional documentation that must be submitted with application:

a. Letter from IRS certifying as a 501(C) non-profit. IRS ruling letter must include current name and address.

b. Latest Annual Financial Statement

c. Public Recognition as an Impoverished Assistance Provider. Submit at least one of the following:

i. Provide letter of endorsement from an official (i.e. Mayor, Head of Welfare Dept., Social Services Director, county supervisor, head of agency that oversees program, etc.) indicating services provided by applicant. The letter must indicate that assistance to the impoverished is the organization’s primary focus, and the name must match the IRS document.

ii. You may also include documented receipt of Federal/State Block Grant Funds for poverty programs, or

iii. Proof of membership or affiliation with national organization that provides support for impoverished (i.e. Second Harvest National Food Bank Network, Habitat for Humanity, Salvation Army).

d. Complete narrative about your organization, including:

i. Comprehensive description of services (assistance to impoverished must be primary mission);

ii. Number of individuals receiving assistance and frequency of assistance (daily, weekly or monthly);

iii. Requirements for clients to be eligible to receive services, including any required fees;

iv. Description of facilities;

v. Hours/days of operation;

vi. Description of funding source(s) with supporting documentation; and

vii. Overview of staff (paid/volunteer, full-time/part-time) including list of key staff and their qualifications.

e. Description of how your organization determines if a person is eligible to receive assistance, and how your organization determines if that person is impoverished. Your organization’s primary function must be to provide money, goods, or services to families or individuals whose annual incomes are below the poverty line (as defined in section 673 of the Community Services Block Grant Act) (42 U.S.C. 9902). If recipients are required to complete an application before receiving services, please attach a sample application.

f. Proof of current accreditation, approval or licensing if appropriate (i.e. child care or medical/health center).

g. Signed Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, Charter or other organizing document

h. Brochures (or other printed materials) or link to website (Optional)

 

Provider of Assistance to Homeless Persons (Non-Profit)

1. Examples of eligible programs include:

a. Overnight, daytime and around-the-clock shelters, including shelters for battered spouses, abused children, and orphans. (NOTE: Child care/day care centers should see “Education Organization (Non-Profit) category below)

b. Foster care and adoption agencies.

c. Transitional housing for temporary residence of parolees, or persons with mental health or addiction issues.

d. Food banks that provide food directly to facilities where homeless people are fed may be eligible. If located in or around religious facility, food banks must have direct entrance not requiring entrance through place of worship.

2. Services to the homeless must be the primary function of the organization. If any activity operates a broad spectrum of programs through which assistance to the homeless is peripheral and incidental, the entity would not be eligible. Property donated must be used in a program primarily for homeless persons.

3. Required additional documentation that must be submitted with application:

a. Letter from IRS certifying status as a 501(C) non-profit. IRS ruling letter must include current name and address.

b. Public Recognition as a Homeless Assistance Provider. Please provide a letter from a local city official (i.e. Mayor, Head of Welfare Dept., Social Services Director, etc.) indicating services provided by applicant. The letter must indicate that assistance to the impoverished is the organization’s primary focus, and the name must match the IRS document. You may also include:

i. Occupancy permit or fire and safety inspection certificate.

ii. Documented receipt of FEMA funds for Federal/State Block Grant Funds for homeless programs

c. Complete narrative about your organization, including:

i. Comprehensive description of services provided (assistance to homeless must be primary mission);

ii. Number of individuals receiving assistance and frequency of assistance (daily, weekly or monthly);

iii. Requirements for clients to be eligible to receive services, including any required fees;.

iv. Description of facilities, including hours/days of operation;

v. Description of funding source(s) with supporting documentation; and

vi. Overview of staff (paid/volunteer, full-time/part-time) including list of key staff and their qualifications.

d. Proof of current accreditation, approval or licensing if appropriate (i.e. child care or medical/health center).

e. Signed Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, Charter or another organizing document (Optional)

f. Brochures (or other printed materials) or link to website (Optional)

Health Organization (Non-Profit)

1. Includes, but not limited to, hospital, clinics, residential treatment centers, rehabilitation facilities, and blood or tissue banks.

2. Must be licensed, accredited or approved by nationally recognized accrediting or licensing agency (Ex. Dept. of State Health Services) or the current recipient of research grants by a recognized authority such as the National Institutes of Health, or by similar national advisory council or organization.

3. Required additional documentation that must be submitted with application:

a. Letter from IRS certifying status as a 501(C) non-profit. IRS ruling letter must include current name and address.

b. Complete narrative about your organization, including:

i. Description of services provided;

ii. Number and type of patients served;

iii. Description of facilities, including number of beds; and

iv. Overview of key staff and their qualifications.

c. Certificate of accreditation, license, or letter of approval from a nationally recognized accrediting or licensing agency OR research grant from National Institutes of Health or similar national advisory organization.

d. Articles of incorporations, bylaws, charter or other organizing document (optional)

e. List of additional research grants awarded (optional)

Education Organization (Non-Profit)

      1. Includes charter schools, private schools (K-12 or higher education), research organizations, child care centers and Vocational Rehabilitation Programs/Sheltered Workshops who receive grant funding to provide training to persons with physical or mental disabilities.

 

      1. Must be accredited or approved by nationally recognized accrediting agency or the current recipient of research grants by a recognized authority (i.e. National Institute of Education) or a similar national advisory organization.
        • Private Schools
          • The Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACS WASC)
          • Hawaii Council of Private Schools
        • Child Care
          • Department of Human Services
        • Vocational Rehabilitation Programs/Sheltered Workshops
          • U.S. Department of Labor,
          • State of Hawaii Dept. of Labor and Industrial Relations,
          • National Commission for Certifying Agencies

 

      1. Required additional documentation that must be submitted with application:
        • Certificate of accreditation or letter of approval from a nationally recognized accrediting agency OR research grant from National Institute of Education or similar national advisory organization.
        • Letter from IRS certifying status as a 501(C) non-profit. IRS ruling letter must include current name and address
        • Complete narrative about your organization, including:
          • course levels,
          • enrollment,
          • facilities, and
          • staff information.
        • Articles of incorporations, bylaws, charter or other organizing document (optional)
        • List of additional research grants awarded (optional)