The city government has provided 50 nonprofit groups free access to a grants database, and may expand such opportunities to meet high demand.

The online database, known as the Grants Locator from eCivis, provides information on funding opportunities, complete with application documents, notes from discussions with program officers and information about previous year's awards.

Access to similar databases can cost $1,000 per year or more. The city offered 50 free licenses to access the eCivis database on a first-come, first-serve basis on Dec. 13. People began lining up for the licenses before 6 that morning, and more than 115 organizations expressed interest in receiving access to the service, officials said.

"I'm delighted — and albeit surprised — with the response and pleased that the city has been able to provide this valuable tool to charitable organizations on O'ahu," Mayor Mufi Hannemann said. "It's another way for the public and private sectors to collaborate for the betterment of our community.

"Any funds that local groups receive from out-of-state sources not only supports their good work and benefits our community, but is a financial investment that creates jobs and is used to buy local goods and services. Given the remarkable response, I'm hoping the city can find the means to extend this service to more groups."

Hannemann said he looks forward to learning about the experiences the 50 organizations have with the database so that the city can continue to provide pro-active assistance to nonprofits.

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