U.S. Institutional Giving for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Communities in LA County

For every $100 awarded by funders in Los Angeles, AANHPI communities receive $1.06.

Los Angeles is home to the largest AANHPI population in the United States, 1.75 million people, nearly 1 in 5 residents. Between 2019-2023, these communities received $198.1 million of the $18.7 billion (or 1.06%) awarded by institutional funders in the region.

While LA grants AANHPI communities triple the national rate (1.06% vs. 0.34%), this reflects how dramatically the rest of the country underfunds AANHPI communities. Even in the region with the highest concentration of AANHPI people in America, funding falls far short of population share and community need.

Key Findings

• Funding increased but remains low: AANHPI funding in LA grew from $18.6 million in 2019 to $59.8 million in 2023. However, with AANHPI residents comprising 17% of the county’s population, receiving just 1.06% of philanthropic dollars reveals persistent structural exclusion.
• LA leads nationally, revealing how far behind the sector is: LA’s 1.06% allocation is three times the national rate of 0.34%. This disparity shows that even regions with significant AANHPI presence struggle to fund proportionally to population.
• Funding grew most dramatically in 2023: The jump from $36.9 million (2022) to $59.8 million (2023) suggests increased funder awareness, though whether this represents sustainable growth or temporary responses to visibility moments remains unclear.
• Concentration creates both leverage and vulnerability: The top 5 funders account for 33% of all AANHPI funding in LA. This concentration means targeted advocacy with these institutions could significantly increase investment. However, it also creates systemic fragility: if even one major funder experiences leadership change, shifts strategic priorities, or responds to political pressure to retreat from race-explicit funding, the impact on AANHPI organizations would be immediate and severe.
• Infrastructure exists across the funding ecosystem: 2,198 grants were awarded to AANHPI-serving organizations over five years, demonstrating established relationships and pathways for both existing and new funders to increase investment.

The Invisibility Gap

Nearly 1 in 5 Los Angeles residents is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander. Yet philanthropic investment suggests these communities remain largely invisible to institutional funders. Funders investing heavily in LA issues, from housing to education to economic development, consistently overlook how these issues disproportionately affect AANHPI communities or miss opportunities to support AANHPI-led solutions.

Why This Data Matters

For LA-based funders: You have both proximity and opportunity. With established grantee relationships and deep knowledge of regional needs, LA funders can lead the sector in right-sizing investment to match AANHPI community presence and contributions.

For national funders investing in LA: If you fund education, health equity, housing, immigrant rights, or economic development in LA, you’re funding issues that deeply affect AANHPI communities. Explicitly including AANHPI-serving organizations strengthens your impact.

For advocates and organizers: This report provides evidence for internal and external advocacy. Use these findings to demonstrate funding gaps, make the case for increased investment, and hold funders accountable to stated equity commitments.

For AAPIP LA Chapter members: This data supports your work building power within philanthropy and connecting funders to community-led solutions.

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Questions or want to discuss these findings?
Contact us at aapip@aapip.org

Ready to increase investment in LA’s AANHPI communities?
Email us at aapip@aapip.org to explore funding strategies, or learn about AAPIP membership.