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CHARITY REVIEW
Issued: August 2025 Expires: August 2027

Maui Economic Opportunity

Accredited Charity
Accredited Charity

Meets Standards
(808) 249-2990
99 Mahalani Street
Wailuku, HI, 96793
https://meoinc.org
📄 Full Report 🖨️ Print 📋 BBB Charity Standards

Standards For Charity Accountability

Governance

  1. Board Oversight
  2. Board Size
  3. Board Meetings
  4. Board Compensation
  5. Conflict of Interest

Measuring Effectiveness

  1. Effectiveness Policy
  2. Effectiveness Report

Finances

  1. Program Expenses
  2. Fundraising Expenses
  3. Accumulating Funds
  4. Audit Report
  5. Detailed Expense Breakdown
  6. Accurate Expense Reporting
  7. Budget Plan

Fundraising & Info

  1. Truthful Materials
  2. Annual Report
  3. Website Disclosures
  4. Donor Privacy
  5. Cause Marketing Disclosures
  6. Complaints

Maui Economic Opportunity meets the 20 Standards for Charity Accountability.

Stated Purpose:
"to strengthen the community while helping people in need restore their hope, empowering them to reach their potential and enrich their lives."

Year, State Incorporated:
1965, HI

Maui Economic Opportunity (MEO) reports that it is a Community Action Agency committed to helping low-income individuals and families become stable and achieve economic security. The organization states its programs adapt to community needs and focus on business development, community services, early childhood education, transportation, and youth services. MEO’s Business Development Center assists small business entrepreneurs with developing business plans, start-up and expansion education, credit assessment, microloans, and financial literacy. The organization’s community services offer an array of programs including employment training and job placement; acculturation and advocacy for the Hispanic/Latino community; rental, weatherization and energy assistance; senior services including education and advocacy; access to fresh fruits and vegetables; and reintegration for citizens returning from incarceration. Early childhood services provide education to children 12 months to five years of age, including Head Start services for eligible children and families. MEO’s Transportation department offers standard and wheelchair-lift-equipped vehicle rides for medical appointments, work, school, adult day care, and for necessary shopping and other needs. Youth service programs provide outside school enrichment; underage drinking, substance abuse, tobacco use, and teenage pregnancy prevention education; and bullying and suicide prevention, blended into other programs. In 2023-2024, MEO reports it completed 260,000 rides for 5,300 individuals, helped 1,400 youth avoid risk-taking behaviors, and helped 378 individuals obtain employment.

For the year ended September 30, 2024, Maui Economic Opportunity's program expenses were:

Crisis and emergency assistance $18,823,103
Transportation $10,776,548
Employment and training $6,882,611
Economic development $6,371,092
Early childhood services $3,727,334
Other federal programs $457,890
Youth programs $375,390
Reintegration $247,432
Weatherization assistance program $174,825
Other County programs $165,587
Special projects $114,776
Enlace Hispano program $66,483
Total Program Expenses $48,183,071

Chief Executive
Debbie Cabebe, Chief Executive Officer

Compensation*
$128,009

Chair of the Board
Carol Reimann

Chair's Profession / Business Affiliation
Retired

Board Size
21

Paid Staff Size
275

*2023 compensation includes annual salary and, if applicable, benefit plans, expense accounts, and other allowances.

Method(s) Used:
Direct mail appeals, Grant proposals, Internet, Direct mail appeals, Print advertisements (newspapers, magazines, etc.)

Fundraising costs were less than 1% of related contributions. (Related contributions, which totaled $47,355,461, are donations received as a result of fundraising activities.)

This organization is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is eligible to receive contributions deductible as charitable donations for federal income tax purposes.

The following information is based on Maui Economic Opportunity's audited financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2024.

Source of Funds
Federal government grants $22,697,141
Maui County grants $16,001,842
Other grants and contributions $8,174,461
Investment income, net $1,227,360
In-kind contributions $394,523
Program income $155,559
State of Hawaii grants $87,494
Lease rental income $86,206
Other income $27,425
Total Income $48,852,011

Programs: 96% Fundraising: 0% Administrative: 4%

Total Income $48,852,011
Total expenses: $50,447,438
  Program expenses $48,183,071
  Fundraising expenses $25
  Administrative expenses $2,264,342
  Other expenses $0
Income in Excess of Expenses $-1,595,427
Beginning Net Assets $26,508,406
Other Changes In Net Assets $0
Ending Net Assets $27,557,153
Total Liabilities $22,420,904
Total Assets $49,978,057

Note: According to the organization's audited financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2024, MEO received in-kind contributions totaling $394,523 in the form of building and facilities ($385,080), and therapists and speech pathologists ($9,443).

An organization may change its practices at any time without notice. A copy of this report has been shared with the organization prior to publication. It is not intended to recommend or deprecate, and is furnished solely to assist you in exercising your own judgment. If the report is about a charity and states the charity meets or does not meet the Standards for Charity Accountability, it reflects the results of an evaluation of information and materials provided voluntarily by the charity. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the International Association of Better Business Bureaus.

This report is not to be used for fundraising or promotional purposes.

RELATED CONTENT

Report completed by:
BBB Wise Giving Alliance