In a letter published by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI), Chan called 2026 a meaningful milestone for her family. Since 2016, the couple has committed more than $100 million to over 100 local organisations.
She said the approach has been built on listening, with yearly conversations with residents, community leaders and service providers shaping priorities. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan have reached a decade of philanthropy on the Hawaiian island of Kauaʻi. Chan wrote that the giving began as a wish to support a place the family calls home and has grown into lasting partnerships with groups working to strengthen communities and care for local families.
US election results: Flooding forces relocation of 21 polling sites in Florida US House election: Democrats need 3-seat gain to end Republican majority US Senate election: Can Democrats flip the Senate as Trump faces crucial test? Chan reflected on the family’s 10-year association with Kauaʻi and the philanthropic efforts undertaken since 2016 in the message published by han Zuckerberg Initiative. As per the initiate, the philanthropic programme offered support to 101 organisations, awarded 296 grants and committed $111 million across Hawaiʻi, including more than $57 million invested directly in Kauaʻi. The organisation further mentioned that the funding has been directed towards seven key areas: health and wellbeing, affordable housing, ʻāina and culture, workforce development, education and youth, food production and distribution, and emergency relief. * Health: This is the largest area of investment, with grants to 18 local organisations. It includes a $10 million commitment to the University of Hawaiʻi medical school’s Kauaʻi Medical Training Track, which gives full scholarships to doctors who agree to practise on the island. The program has 22 future doctors in training and graduated its first five this year. This includes $5.4 million for Kauaʻi Habitat for Humanity and $876,000 to Permanently Affordable Living Hawaiʻi to put homes into a community land trust. * Land and culture: More than 20 organisations have received support, including $4 million to preserve the Alakoko fishpond and $675,000 for the Kāhili Beach Preserve. A separate $50 million went to the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa for ocean research. * Workforce: A $4.2 million gift during the pandemic revived the county’s Rise to Work program, which created jobs for 364 unemployed residents. Many still hold those roles. * Education and youth: This area has the most recipients, over 40 organisations, including every public and public charter school on the island. * Food: Grants have supported food banks and pantries, local farming and distribution to families and elders. * Emergency relief: After Hurricane Lowell, the couple donated to the Kauaʻi Strong Fund within a day. They also committed $6 million to pandemic relief in 2020 and 2021 and contributed to Maui wildfire relief in 2023. Marking the 10-year milestone, Chan said her family’s commitment remains unchanged.
“2026 marks a meaningful milestone for our family: a decade of philanthropy on Kauaʻi and more than $100 million committed to over 100 local organizations,” Chan wrote. The focus, she said, will continue to be on listening to community voices, supporting local organisations and responding to the island’s needs. “A decade in, the commitment remains the same: listen to community voices, support the organizations already doing the work, and respond when Kauaʻi needs it most,” the report said.
She also thanked the community for the chance to learn, volunteer and build relationships on the island. She recalled that this journey of philanthropy started with a simple wish to offer support to a community which had become a crucial part of their lives and evolved into partnerships focused on strengthening local communities, supporting families and protecting the island’s unique culture and environment. She further added that listening to the people, community leaders and service providers has helped the family in prioritising throughout the decade. Funding has also gone to a new CT scanner at Wilcox Hospital, urgent care on the North Shore, and mental health services. * Housing: Nearly a quarter of all Kauaʻi giving has gone to affordable housing. Chan highlighted the importance of community-led philanthropy via her message. She highlighted that meaningful giving beings with listening and learning from the people who are facing challenges. The report also incorporated testimonials from multiple local organisations and also described the approach as trust-based and focused on supporting existing community efforts. You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.