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CREATING A
ROBUST FUTURE FOR
ASIAN AMERICANS
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About Asian
American Futures
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Asian American Futures (AAF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that aims to ensure that Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are an essential part of the American narrative. AAF is led by a Board of Asian American philanthropists and community leaders who are passionate about cultivating philanthropy and driving resources to the AAPI community.
Vision
We envision a future that values Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders as an essential part of the American narrative.
Mission
Our mission is to ensure Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are Seen, Heard, Empowered, and United.
Gold Futures Challenge

Asian American Futures is proud to partner with Gold House to launch the Gold Futures Grants Challenge, an exciting, online model of philanthropy, education, and community-building for AAPI communities across the country.

The aim of the Gold Futures Grants Challenge is to provide critical resources to AAPI-serving organizations while increasing and democratizing philanthropy. Through the Gold Futures Grants Challenge, the public can learn about AAPI causes and organizations and vote to award funding to projects that help AAPIs to be Seen, Heard, and Empowered.

Winning organizations will receive grant funding and a one-year partnership with Asian American Futures and Gold House, who will provide mentoring, networking and skills-building opportunities.

Meet the 2021 Challenge Winners!
Board of Directors

Joanna Kong

Co-Chair and Board Member

Director of Programs, The Sun Family Foundation

Susan Lew

Co-Chair and Board Member
Director, Hsu Hwa Chao Foundation

Nithin Jilla

Vice Chair and Board Member

Executive Director, Dreams for Schools

Vivian Long

Board Member

Executive Director, Long Family Foundation

Jack Toan

Board Member & Past Chair

Chief Operating Officer, Illumination Foundation

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Joanna Kong

Co-Chair and Board Member

Director of Programs, The Sun Family Foundation

For Joanna, inspiring the next generation of Asian Americans to get involved in philanthropy is crucial. While she loved the study of law at UCLA School of Law and devoted several years after getting her J.D. to the practice of corporate law, including at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, she wanted to work in a field where she could be creative and help solve pressing social issues. In 2018, she joined the Sun Family Foundation, a private charitable foundation focused on advancing educational opportunities and the well-being of the underserved in Orange County and Taiwan. As Director of Programs, Joanna has helped to expand the Sun Family Foundation’s grantmaking to include over 40 local nonprofit organizations and five scholarship programs. Joanna is also the Co-Chair of Asian American Futures and the Membership Chair and Advisory Board Member of Orange County Grantmakers. Joanna also sits on the Board of the Guang Yuan Charitable Foundation in Taipei, Taiwan, founded to offer scholarships to honor her grandmother, who was a beloved high school biology teacher in Taichung, Taiwan and a single mother to three children. The Foundation is unique in that faculty and administrators select the students to receive scholarships; they are looking for character, not top grades, in the belief that every person has value and every job is important.

Susan Lew

Co-Chair and Board Member

Officer, Hsu Hwa Chao Foundation

Susan Lew, MS, is an Officer of the Hsu Hwa Chao Foundation, which has a 25-year history in Orange County philanthropy. She is also a public health professional, health and science writer, musician, and community activist. Her writing has appeared in Brown Medicine Magazine, the Journal of RiskResearch, and the publications of many for-profit and non-profit healthcare organizations. Susan has a BA from Brown University and a MS from Harvard School of Public Health, where she specialized in social determinants of health, behavior change, and health communication. She served on the board of Pacific Symphony Youth Ensembles from 2010-2018 and has been a singer in Pacific Chorale since 2010. Susan currently serves on the board of Planned Parenthood Community Action Fund of Orange and San Bernardino Counties, and was a member of the planning committees for the Orange County Women’s March 2018 and 2019.

NITHIN JILLA

Vice Chair & Board Member

Executive Director, Dreams for Schools

Nithin has an interest in technology, education and enjoys working collectively with leaders to bring about positive impact. He aspires to build models and systems that are sustainable and empower the next generation of youth to become leaders in their local community. He is a passionate educator and social entrepreneur who champions educating and empowering the next generation of innovators. He serves as the Executive Director of Dreams for Schools, whose mission is to make STEM approachable and accessible for all. Empowering Students & Cultivating Curiosity by providing the right tools and experience, Dreams for Schools helps kids program the future training them to be STEM literate with hard and soft skills needed to become the critical thinkers, creative leaders and technologists of tomorrow.
In addition, Nithin is also a community leader and serves as a member on several non-profit and advisory boards which include Harbor Day School in Corona Del Mar, UC Irvine Young Alumni Council, and OC Grantmakers. Nithin obtained his bachelor’s degree in Computer Science at the University of California, Irvine.

VIVIAN LONG

Board Member

Executive Director, Long Family Foundation

Vivian Long is the Executive Director for the Long Family Foundation (LFF), an intergenerational, private nonprofit organization that funds religious, educational, cultural, and research endeavors. Prior to her current role, she led domestic policy and advocacy efforts at the Joyful Heart Foundation, where she worked to address the national issue of untested sexual assault evidence kits and assisted in the passage of rape kit reform legislation in over 15 states. Vivian received her MPA from NYU’s Wagner School of Public Service and graduated with a BA in International Human Rights from New York University with honors. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for China Institute, NAACF, Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Los Angeles and is a past Trustee for the Pi Beta Phi Foundation.

Jack Toan

Board Member & Past Chair

Chief Operating Officer, Illumination Foundation

As a refugee whose family relied on the kindness of strangers, Jack understands first hand the power of a collective community who cares and actively works to lift others up.  His experience drives his belief in creating social change through action.

In February 2021, he joined the Illumination Foundation as the Chief Operating Officer to help the organization disrupt the cycle of homelessness. Jack has responsibility for the entire operations of the organization including shelters, housing and all infrastructure needs.

Prior to his current role, Jack had an 18 years career in corporate social responsibility at Wells Fargo as the Vice President and Manager of Community Relations.  He oversaw over $10M of the of the company’s charitable giving, volunteerism and community development programs in the Southern California Region. His current commitments to the community include serving on the Board of Directors for UCI Alumni Association, and Asian American Futures.  Jack is an appointee to the Orange County Commission to End Homelessness and is a co-founder of Delivering with Dignity OC, a collaboration that engages volunteers, support local restaurant while serving the most vulnerable affected by COVID-19. 

Jack holds an MBA from UC Irvine Paul Merage School of Business and is a graduate of the Southern California Leadership Network.  Most importantly, he is a proud father of four amazing children!