Newspaper series takes issue with State grants-in-aid process

The Honolulu Advertiser published a three-day series of articles from Sunday, Dec. 23, through Tuesday, Dec. 25, that highlighted problems with the State grants-in-aid process. Below are the topics and lead paragraphs of the main stories. Click the links to see the complete articles:

• Sunday, Dec. 23: Secretive process run by a few lawmakers determines who gets taxpayer money. "The Legislature has awarded roughly $200 million in grants to Hawai'i nonprofits over the past five years using a loosely structured system in which only a handful of legislators select the charities, and they do so behind closed doors without any formal criteria to guide them."
• Monday, Dec. 24: Nonprofits' supporters give a lot to campaign fund of Rep. Magaoay, who helps pick grants. "Over the past two elections, no one in the House has raised more money to bankroll a campaign than Rep. Michael Magaoay."
•  Tuesday, Dec. 25: In other states, process is more open and aimed at achieving public goals. "Hawai'i's controversial system for approving grants to nonprofits appears to be unique and far less open than what typically happens in other states, according to national nonprofit executives, fundraising professionals and budget experts."

HANO wants to hear from members concerning the issues raised by the articles:

• Are you satisfied with the system as it exists?
• Can you suggest an alternative process?
• Would you like to participate in discussions to formulate recommendations to the Legislature regarding the grants-in-aid process?
• What role, if any, should HANO take in addressing the issues raised by these articles?

Please take a minute to send us your thoughts on these and any other questions raised by these articles. Click here to email your response to John Flanagan, HANO president.

Thank you, and Happy New Year.