Investments
Asian American Futures is committed to innovating the ways we invest in AAPI communities. We bring a transformational mindset to our investments by focusing on grassroots organizations serving historically under-resourced regions and AAPI populations through deep engagement and a commitment to growing next generation leaders rooted in racial solidarity.
Activate California
In 2022, AAF moved $1 million to 10 base-building organizations in California through a community advisory circle composed of AAPI movement leaders across the state. Continued investment in these organizations will extend AAF’s commitment to learning and understanding key strategies to effectively support base-building in AAPI communities.
In 2023, with a specific focus on building organizing power within NHPI organizations committed to developing next generation NHPI movement leaders toward racial solidarity, AAF invested $1 million in the Activate NHPI grant program awarded to 10 NHPI organizations across California. This groundbreaking investment will establish a foundation for effectively organizing NHPI communities.
For more information on Activate California investments, contact ‘Alisi Tulua at alisi@asianamericanfutures.org.
AAF provided one of the largest investments in NHPI communities in California’s history at $1 million. Activate NHPI 2023 grantees were announced in August 2023 in the “Linking Our Outriggers Together” Awards Ceremony.
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