AAPIP Blog

AAPIP thanks Gene Tagaki for this great post on his site ( www.nonprofitlawblog.com ) about giving circles and community philanthropy. You can also catch him on Twitter @GTak.  Appreciations, Gene!

AAPIP President/Executive Director, Peggy Saika, reflects on AAPIP’s 20 years and how together we can all be part of building democratic philanthropy for a more just and equitable world.

BUILDING DEMOCRATIC PHILANTHROPY
- Peggy Saika, AAPIP President/Executive Director

Over the last two decades AAPIP has focused primarily on building membership and chapters to access philanthropic capital for our communities. Even though we’re reminded daily of the enduring challenges that our communities face, at AAPIP we support solutions that provide signs of hope.

Building Democratic Philanthropy is a framework that calls on both organized philanthropy and individuals to support the development of institutions and practices that begin with the vision of communities first, and that draw on the assets of those communities as the starting place for any blueprint to maximize its potential.  It is a call to institutions and individuals to engage the voices of impacted communities, and to leverage individual action for collective good.

There may be no clearer expression of Building Democratic Philanthropy than AAPIP’s commitment to community philanthropy and the development of a giving circle movement. A giving circle is a pooled fund, often organized with friends and colleagues, through which individuals collectively support their communities. Giving circles expand economic assets and build social consciousness.

No matter who or where you are — in a grantmaking institution, in government, or as a community donor, you can contribute to building democratic philanthropy.  Building Democratic Philanthropy demonstrates the development of practices within the field and in our communities that begin with justice and equity.

HOW YOU CAN BE PART OF BUILDING DEMOCRATIC PHILANTHROPY:
A CALL TO ACTION

Be a part of a renewed drive to increase foundation support to immigrant and refugee communities

• Encourage development of and investment in collaborative funds that support your community
• Stress the need for capacity-building as well as core support to sustain your community’s organizations
• Use and insist on data that reflects giving—or the lack of giving—to your community

Join the national movement to grow individual philanthropy

• Join or start a giving circle
• Talk to your community foundation about supporting your community or giving circle
• Build a matching pool of funds for organizations in your community

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Please RSVP online today to attend one of the 11 cities hosting a local AAPIP National Philanthropy Summit and celebration on Wednesday, October 20th.

We’re pleased that Andy Ho, Co-Chair of the AAPIP Metro DC chapter, and co-founder of the Cherry Blossom Giving Circle in Washington DC joined us for the recent national strategy session at AAPIP.

In his guest post below, Andy shares his perspectives on the convening — as both a participant and as a key individual in helping to shape AAPIP’s early strategies in the growing giving circle movement. »

Click to read more. »

42 people. 13 giving circles. 2 days. 1 historic gathering.

On July 16 and 17, AAPIP hosted a National Giving Circle Strategy Session at our new offices in San Francisco, bringing together key leadership from established, new and emerging giving circles across the country.

Since 2005, AAPIP has made the growth and development of community philanthropy a cornerstone of our efforts to increase philanthropic capital to our communities.  For us, giving circles are pure expressions of building democratic philanthropy—they’re pooled funds where individual contributors come together to decide which organizations to support in their own community and how.

Giving Circles Movement, AAPIP San Francisco (click for more photos from this event!)

Participants from 13 giving circles came together to share stories and ideas on topics such as: how to start a giving circle, identifying best practices in the field, sustaining a giving circle, developing grantmaking criteria, fund development, and working with donors and with organized philanthropy in their own communities.

Those present included founders, leaders, and volunteers representing:

Over the course of the two days new friendships and relationships were forged, and all giving circles — from the longest-running among them (Asian Giving Circle) to the newest circle (Devata/Cambodian American Women Giving Circle) to the largest (the Asian Women Giving Circle) — learned something new, and supported each other in moving forward.  We were also joined by two special guests,  Nicole Cozier of the Washington Area Women’s Foundation, and Patricia Evert of The Gill Foundation, whose own personal commitment to the development of giving circles is shared by the foundations for whom they work.   We extend our thanks and  appreciation to all our guests and our staff who all made this gathering both educational and festive!… Click to read more. »

The Asian American Giving Circle of Greater Houston distributed $10,000 in grant awards in 2009 in support of Chinese Community Center and the Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program.  Each organization received a $5,000 grant to serve the Asian Pacific American community.

“The grant to the Chinese Community Center will support its Health for All program to provide healthcare benefits counseling for new immigrants and seniors through one-on-one education and support on topics such as Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and various health issues affecting these populations. The grant to the Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program will support their Asian American Legal Clinics which expands access to free, legal services for low-income and elderly Asian Americans through Legal Advice Clinics, will and estate planning, naturalization clinics and help with an assortment of civil legal issues.”

Read their full PDF announcement > AAGC Grants Announcement (2009)