The Asian American Foundation (TAAF) launched in the aftermath of the Atlanta spa shootings in 2021 to build a safer and more inclusive future for AAPIs everywhere. Galvanized by findings from AAPIP’s report, Seeking to Soar: Foundation Funding for Asian American and Pacific Islander Communities, in which less than 0.2% of philanthropic giving goes to AAPI communities, TAAF also launched their AAPI Giving Challenge, engaging corporates, foundations, and donors to pledge more than $1.1B for the AAPI community over five years. 83% of those commitments are going directly to AAPI causes and organizations, AAPI small businesses, and corporate leadership development programs for AAPI employees.
Since then, TAAF has been busy on many fronts. On June 1, 2023, TAAF CEO Norman Chen shared TAAF’s five-year ambition and how the organization hopes to drive long-term impact through its newly unveiled portfolio strategy. The strategy includes grantmaking and launching high-impact programs and events focused on TAAF’s four core pillars: anti-hate, education, narrative change, and resources & representation.