U.S. Institutional Giving for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Communities in the Twin Cities

For every $100 awarded by funders in the Twin Cities, AANHPI communities receive 13 cents.

The Minneapolis-Saint Paul (Twin Cities) metro area is home to more than 250,000 Asian Americans and nearly 1,000 Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, 7% of the region’s population. Between 2019-2023, these communities received $17.4 million of the $13.4 billion (or 0.13%) awarded by institutional funders in the region.

This means Twin Cities philanthropy funds AANHPI communities at less than half the national rate (0.13% vs. 0.34%). In a region where AANHPI residents comprise 7% of the population, receiving 0.13% of philanthropic dollars represents systemic under-investment.

Key Findings

• Funding increased but remains severely low: AANHPI funding in the Twin Cities grew from $1.0 million in 2019 to $5.7 million in 2023, growing over 5x. However, this growth still leaves funding dramatically below both population share and the already-insufficient national average.
• Minneapolis lags behind comparable metros: At 0.13%, the Twin Cities funds AANHPI communities at rates lower than the national average and far below regions like Los Angeles (1.06%). This gap exists despite the region’s substantial and growing AANHPI population.
• The 2023 increase signals potential: The jump from $3.9 million (2022) to $5.7 million (2023) demonstrates that increased investment is possible. The question is whether this represents sustainable growth or temporary response to visibility moments.
• Funding is moderately concentrated: The top 5 funders account for 27% of all AANHPI funding, with the top 20 providing 74%. This concentration creates opportunity for targeted advocacy while also suggesting broader engagement is needed across the philanthropic ecosystem.
• Infrastructure exists but remains underutilized: 499 grants were awarded to AANHPI-serving organizations over five years by funders ranging from community foundations to national institutions. The pathways exist, they’re simply not being used at scale.
• Issue areas reflect regional priorities and gaps: Unlike the national pattern where Human Rights leads, Twin Cities AANHPI funding focuses on Human Services (33%), Human Rights (21%), and Health (20%). This may reflect both regional funding patterns and gaps in other critical areas like education and economic development.

The Representation Gap

1 in 14 Twin Cities residents is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander. Yet philanthropic investment suggests these communities barely register to institutional funders. Funders investing in regional priorities, education equity, health disparities, economic mobility, immigrant integration, often overlook how these issues affect AANHPI communities or miss opportunities to support AANHPI-led approaches.

Why This Data Matters

For Twin Cities-based funders: You have proximity, relationships, and knowledge of regional needs. The infrastructure exists for you to dramatically increase investment without creating new systems. The question is whether your funding strategy reflects the communities you serve.

For national funders investing in Minnesota: If you fund health equity, education, immigrant rights, or economic development in the Twin Cities, you’re funding issues that affect AANHPI communities. Explicitly including AANHPI-serving organizations is funding the full scope of communities already experiencing the issues you address.

For advocates and organizers: This report provides evidence for internal advocacy and funder accountability. Use these findings to demonstrate structural gaps, make the case for proportional investment, and challenge the sector to match resources to rhetoric about equity.

For AAPIP Minneapolis Chapter members: This data equips you to shift conversations within your institutions, connect funders to AANHPI-serving organizations, and build the case for sustainable increases in investment.

The Opportunity

The low baseline creates unusual leverage. For a region where total philanthropy exceeds $2 billion annually, closing the gap doesn’t require new money. It requires intentional redistribution of existing resources toward communities that have been structurally excluded.

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

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