AAPI Civic Engagement Fund Awards More than $6 Million to Movement Building Groups Across the U.S.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 7, 2024

AAPI Civic Engagement Fund Awards More than $6 Million to Movement Building Groups Across the U.S.

52 grantees serve more than 50 ethnic groups and 25 constituencies in AAPI communities and beyond

Los Angeles – The AAPI Civic Engagement Fund, one of the largest funders of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) movement building in the nation, announced today almost $6.2 million in 52 new grants to build AAPI power and advance racial justice and solidarity in communities across the country.

“AAPI Civic Engagement Fund is committed to resourcing the breadth of the AAPI social justice movement, while deepening support to groups that have demonstrated success building community and engaging voters,” said EunSook Lee, Executive Director of the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund. “Movement builders that have earned the trust of AAPI communities must have the resources they need to turn out voters and build power for the long haul.”

Through its grantmaking approach, AAPI Civic Engagement Fund continues to deepen a nationwide ecosystem of durable and sustainable organizations that are building power, learning and sharing strategies, and transforming systems. In 2024, the AAPI Fund awarded:

$2.45 million through its Anti-Racism and Intersectional Justice Fund in one-year general operating grants to 49 organizations that span across 21 states and Washington, D.C. Each organization received $50,000 in general operating support to respond to racism, xenophobia, and other forms of injustice by directly supporting impacted community members, educating and advocating for policy change, and forging cross-racial alliances.
$825,000 to 11 groups from the Anti-Racism and Intersectional Justice Fund cohort that received an additional $75,000 in one-year general operating grants to support year-round civic engagement activities.
$2.5 million in UPBUILD AAPI grants for 17 high impact organizations from the Anti-Racism and Intersectional Justice Fund cohort to receive an additional $100,000 to $200,000 in general operating grants along with customized technical assistance.

All 52 grantees are part of the Shared Liberation Network, a grantee-led network that facilitates learnings and exchanges for greater impact, attend an annual grantee convening, and receive technical assistance and trainings. Six groups in the current grantee pool were selected as Network Weavers, which will lead collaboration in the network through sharing their organizations’ issues and campaign priorities. These six groups will receive an additional $30,000.

The AAPI Fund has worked to move most of its grants before the end of April 2024 as part of a funder-led effort to reaffirm its commitment to streamlining processes and trusting grantees to use funds wisely. The All by April pledge highlights the importance for grassroots organizations based in communities of color to receive much-needed civic engagement funding well ahead of November 2024.

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About AAPI Civic Engagement Fund

The AAPI Civic Engagement Fund believes that Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are integral to strengthening America’s multiracial democracy and transforming systemic conditions to improve the quality of life for all. The AAPI Fund supports and accelerates this progression through grantmaking, movement capacity, and research. For more information about the AAPI Fund, visit https://aapifund.org.