Asian Americans-Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy

Founded in 1990, AAPIP was formed to address the lack of strategic investments in the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. Remarkably, two decades later and despite our tremendous growth, less than 1% of foundation dollars have reached our communities nationally.

It was our founding mothers and fathers who had the vision and dedication to build a national membership and philanthropic advocacy organization dedicated to changing that reality. Since its establishment AAPIP has grown a membership base comprised of foundations, staff and trustees of grantmaking institutions, and nonprofit organizations in ten regional chapters thoughout the United States.

Today AAPIP engages communities and philanthropy to address unmet needs; serves as a resource for and about AAPI communities; supports and facilitates giving by and to our communities; and incubates new ideas and approaches for social justice philanthropy. Building Democratic Philanthropy is a practice. It’s about listening to and starting with the vision of communities first, and investing in their own assets as the starting place for any blueprint to maximize their potential. It’s a call to leverage individual action for collective good.