Giving Circles Support Asian American Community in Arizona
- Tori Smith
- May 1
- 2 min read
Updated: May 2
By Tori Smith
Two giving circles housed within the Arizona Community Foundation (ACF) are aiming to support Asian American culture in Arizona through philanthropy. The Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy 2021 report, “Seeking to Soar: Foundation Funding for Asian American and Pacific Islander Communities” found that out of every $100 awarded by foundations in the United States, only 20 cents is designated for Asian American and Pacific Islanders communities (AAPI).
Through support from the Burton Family Foundation and other supporters of these funds, the giving circles are able to support causes that matter to them. The Asian American Women’s Giving Circle funds community-based, grassroots nonprofits that might not necessarily get the attention of other donors. The Chinese American Foundation of Arizona Fund primarily funds causes that promote culture within the city.
Grace Lau founded the Asian American Women’s Giving Circle 10 years ago when she noticed that there wasn’t a lot of representation for Asian American women in philanthropy.
“Many of them are not big nonprofits, so they’re not necessarily eligible for support from the big funders,” she said. “...By creating the giving circle we are obtaining more funding for these, in our opinion, very worthwhile nonprofits that don’t really have a lot of access to funding sources.”
The Chinese American Foundation of Arizona Fund primarily focuses on funding programs and opportunities that celebrate Chinese culture through schools, events and more. Founded in 2019 by Charles Tsui, husband of Lau, he said the circle has funded a number of projects in the last two years after a brief pause during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to Census Dots, Asian individuals make up 4% of Phoenix’s population. Aden Ramirez, development advisor at ACF, called Arizona “a melting pot within a melting pot.”
“We have to remember that community in Arizona is comprised of multiple communities…These groups go out there to support and give back to their community where they see the needs. I think that’s what makes these groups special: they’re addressing and funding some of the programs that sometimes are not thought of, or can be forgotten by major donors,” said Ramirez.
That is confirmed by the AAPI in Philanthropy 2021 report, which found that funding for said communities often comes from a small handful of donors. The report found that the top five funders accounted for nearly 40% of all funding for AAPI communities across the United States.
Kim Covington, vice president of strategic partnerships at ACF, has worked with the giving circles for the past decade. "These giving circles came together to close that gap — to show these impactful nonprofits that they are seen, valued, and supported," Covington said. "They are investing in the incredible work happening across our communities so that all of Arizona can thrive."
Covington said that these groups are the most beautiful act of brotherly love - the definition of philanthropy.
To learn more about the giving circles, visit here: https://www.azfoundation.org/ways-to-give/give-by-impact-area/asian-american-philanthropy/.