On September 16, AAPIP members gathered for an intimate conversation with our new President and CEO, Connie Chung Joe, facilitated by Board Chair Doua Thor. Six weeks into her tenure, Connie shared her observations about the philanthropic sector, her commitment to listening, and her vision for strengthening AAPIP’s impact during these challenging times.
From Community to Philanthropy: A Strategic Shift
Connie brought her decades of community-based experience into the conversation, explaining how her transition from leading Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California to AAPIP represents a strategic evolution. Her passion for data-driven advocacy was evident as she discussed leveraging AAPIP’s funding reports, tools she called “incredibly powerful” for mobilizing resources and making the case for increased investment in AANHPI communities.
The conversation revealed a leader who understands both the immediate harm facing AANHPI communities and the strategic thinking required in philanthropy. Her goal is clear: center community realities in philanthropic spaces and the thoughtful approach needed for systemic change.
Listening, Learning, and Strengthening Foundations
Central to Connie’s approach is her 100-day listening tour, which she described as essential groundwork for AAPIP’s future emphasizing the importance of understanding each community’s unique needs and AAPIP’s role in supporting them. The listening tour serves multiple purposes: assessing organizational strengths and growth opportunities, gathering input for regional data snapshots, and building stronger member connections. Connie was candid about fundamental organizational needs, including updating member data and ensuring effective communication systems, basic infrastructure that enables everything else AAPIP does.
She is focusing on growing Power in Practice, AAPIP’s space for foundation CEOs and trustees. These leaders set institutional vision and execute strategy, making them crucial allies in advancing AANHPI communities.
A Vision Grounded in Reality
Looking ahead, Connie articulated ambitious goals: making AAPIP a movement mobilizer in philanthropy, establishing the organization as a key resource for bridging AANHPI community and philanthropy, and demonstrating measurable increases in funding to AANHPI communities. Her 10-year vision includes stronger engagement across the Midwest and South, where AANHPI populations are growing fastest, and deeper relationships with family foundations and donor-advised funds.
Connie emphasized that AAPIP’s success isn’t measured in organizational metrics alone, but in whether AANHPI communities receive the investment they deserve. She envisions a philanthropic sector where the community’s fundamental needs like language access, disaggregated data, and cultural competency are understood and funded across the board.
Moving Forward Together
Connie’s readiness to lead is rooted by her recognition that AAPIP’s strength lies in its community. As attacks on racial equity intensify and AANHPI communities face increasing pressures, AAPIP’s role becomes more critical. Connie’s combination of community experience, strategic thinking, and commitment to coalition-building positions the organization to respond to this moment with both care for immediate needs and wisdom for long-term change.
The future Connie envisions requires all of us staying engaged, sharing connections, contributing insights, and maintaining the collective commitment that has always driven AAPIP’s work. This conversation was the beginning of a broader dialogue about how we build toward that future together.