Investments
Activate California
Activate California provides flexible general operating resources and capacity building support to organizing and base building organizations in California. We focus on community-based organizations serving historically under-resourced regions and populations. Our resources are designed to help catalyze development and sustainability as our partners work to become anchor base building organizations in their communities.
Activate CA also utilizes other creative approaches to harness the vibrancy of AAPI communities in California, including AAF’s core strategies of building narrative power and empowering new voices. If you’re interested in learning more, contact Reshma Shamasunder at reshma@asianamericanfutures.org.
NHPI Awards Ceremony
The work of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) community-based organizations across California provides sustenance to communities throughout the state. In 2023, AAF invested $1 million in NHPI organizations in California through its Activate California program. Celebrate our ten recipients and watch our Awards Ceremony!
Catalyst Lab
The Catalyst Lab supports Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) organizations to shape public policy and narratives that strengthen local communities and transform systems.
Cohort members of the Catalyst Lab receive support for:
Policy Advocacy
Coaching to deepen partners’ experience with the fundamentals of policy advocacy, from choosing priorities to identifying key targets
Narrative Strategy & Strategic Communications
Hands-on support to launch a winning campaign that activates local communities, seeds lasting change and builds AAPI power.
Tailored support that roots campaign strategy in narrative change.
Shared learning
Grassroots organizations learn from one another as they launch their campaigns and navigate the policy process
Catalyst Lab
The Catalyst Lab supports Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) organizations to shape public policy and narratives that strengthen local communities and transform systems.
Cohort members of the Catalyst Lab receive support for:
Policy Advocacy
- Coaching to deepen partners’ experience with the fundamentals of policy advocacy, from choosing priorities to identifying key targets
Narrative Strategy & Strategic Communications
- Hands-on support to launch a winning campaign that activates local communities, seeds lasting change and builds AAPI power.
- Tailored support that roots campaign strategy in narrative change.
Shared learning
- Grassroots organizations learn from one another as they launch their campaigns and navigate the policy process
Gold Futures Challenge
The Gold Futures Challenge is an online model for philanthropy that drives resources to Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) nonprofits, inspiring increased volunteerism, civic engagement and social innovation across generations for AAPIs around the nation.
We annually award ten prizes ranging from $25,000 to $100,000, in addition to leadership development and community-building opportunities, to organizations whose work ensures our communities are Seen, Heard, Empowered and United. Winners are chosen via a public vote that allows people to advocate for the changes they want to see in their communities.
NHPI Initiative
Our NHPI grantees and other leaders in the space have expressed a crucial need to build NHPI community and narrative power. Our NHPI initiative builds off of AAF’s existing relationships and grantmaking within NHPI communities to grow and strengthen NHPI nonprofit leadership.
An advisory circle of NHPI community leaders to co-design the Initiative
Grants provided to grassroots NHPI community organizations, along with leadership development and capacity-building resources
The development of a shared narrative system, or framework, to build NHPI narrative power
Landscape and audience research on NHPI narrative