Place Matters. Giving Matters

The United States is constantly growing and changing. Because of that, we’re always opening the door to new, exciting opportunities and complex challenges. Every year, individuals, corporations, and foundations, contribute billions of dollars and in-kind resources to causes across the country. We look to these individuals and institutions to tackle these challenges, to advance our nation, our communities, and the health and well-being of those in need.

While philanthropic support continues to rise, the needs of Asian Americans and Native Hawaiian Pacific Islanders (AAs & NHPIs), the fastest growing racial groups and the fastest growing race-based poverty groups in America - continue to go unaddressed.  Between 1984-1990, philanthropic investments in Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities was 0.2%, between 1990-2003, it was 0.4%, but by 2010, it dropped to 0.3%. The reasons for this are still unclear. Some believe it’s due to inaccurate stereotypes, the lack of AAPI community voices in philanthropy, or the need for both aggregated and disaggregated data. Whatever the reasons, philanthropic roadblocks impact America’s ability to become “the healthiest nation in a generation.”

To remove these roadblocks, AAPI communities across America are forming locally-led Giving Circles as a way to: (1) raise funds for overlooked needs in the community, (2) practice democratic philanthropy so AAPI donors determine where their dollars will make an impact, and (3) develop partnerships with philanthropic institutions to advocate for funding in the community and educate institutions on AAPI issues.

By building a Giving Circle movement, we’re not only improving the quality of life for AAPI donors and recipients, we’re making it possible to leverage our current assets to create a better future, for all Americans.