U.S. Foundations Giving to Asian American and Pacific Islander Communities Lag

New Report Shows Key Gaps in Funding for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

San Francisco, Calif., June 21 – The giving trends of the top U.S. foundations to Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities has not kept pace with the growth of these communities or of foundation assets, according to a new report released today by Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy (AAPIP). The report, Growing Opportunities, looks at the country’s top 20 national foundations’ grantmaking between 1990 and 2002 and finds significant funding disparities to AAPI communities in several areas. The report concludes with a call to action to the philanthropy field to reduce these gaps.

Today, at a launch event at the Ford Foundation, AAPIP is discussing the report’s findings with leaders in the field of philanthropy, including Ford Foundation Senior Program Officer Christopher Harris, The Annie E. Casey Foundation Senior Associate Irene Lee, Ms. Foundation President and CEO Sara Gould, Foundation Center Senior Director of Research Steven Lawrence, and Consultant Henry Ramos.

“The time for a significant investment strategy in AAPI communities is now. Our communities must be involved in shaping and impacting the policies and conditions that affect their lives and society as a whole,” says Peggy Saika, president/executive director of AAPIP. “Growing Opportunities invites the philanthropy field to consider the investments that will be necessary to support growing AAPI communities in the 21st century.”

The report shows that even though Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders now comprise 4.5 percent of the U.S. population, 2004 foundation funding to AAPIs represented just 0.4 percent of all U.S. foundation dollars. This funding does not appear to correlate with the significant social and economic challenges that continue to hinder AAPI community progress, including high poverty rates, growing health risks, increased hate-related violence, and major educational achievement gaps in many AAPI populations.

Another key disparity highlighted in the report is that foundation investments to AAPI-led organizations do not appear to have kept pace with Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders’ need for trusted, culturally-competent service providers who speak their languages and have expertise in their communities, particularly during times of national crisis. The report reveals that AAPI-led organizations received significantly smaller grants from the largest foundations than did other organizations serving AAPI communities.

“Growing Opportunities highlights the continued lack of investment by organized philanthropy in AAPI communities and the field’s lack of progress in supporting all communities of color,” concludes Ms. Saika. “We hope that the findings will challenge foundations to initiate funding strategies that address the specific needs of marginalized communities.”

For more information about Growing Opportunities, to download a copy of the report, or to access related materials, visit www.aapip.org. To receive a copy of the report, contact AAPIP at membership_AT_aapip_DOT_org.

Founded in 1990, Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy (AAPIP) is a national membership and philanthropic advocacy organization dedicated to advancing philanthropy and Asian American/Pacific Islander communities. AAPIP is structured into eight regional chapters across the United States, and members include foundations, staff and trustees of grantmaking institutions, and nonprofit organizations.