The Asian American Foundation

What The Asian American Foundation does

The Asian American Foundation (TAAF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation founded in 2021 and headquartered in Katy, Texas, that functions as a convener, grant-maker, and narrative-change platform for the approximately 25 million Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) in the United States. TAAF operates three programmatic pillars — Safety, Belonging, and Prosperity — through which it funds AAPI-serving nonprofits, runs narrative-change and storytelling campaigns, and produces research. Specific offerings include the Safety National Network (56 grantee partners across 14 metropolitan areas covering roughly 50% of the UAPI population), place-based TAAF Cities initiatives in NYC, Seattle, and San Francisco, the annual STAATUS Index national attitudes survey conducted with NORC at the University of Chicago, the AAPI History Hub (370+ vetted K-12 resources), the TALA college leadership accelerator, the TAAF Board Accelerator, the Asian+American PSA campaign with Wieden+Kennedy New York, and the United States of Asian+America YouTube series co-produced with Wong Fu Productions.

TAAF's revenue model is donation- and grant-based; it is a private foundation governed by a board that includes the Co-CEO of KKR, the CEO of Citadel Securities, the Chairman of Alibaba, the co-founder of Yahoo, and the founder of Himalaya Capital, making what is described as the largest philanthropic commitment in history focused on AAPI communities. The organization runs on a small core staff (1-10 employees) and has distributed more than $46 million across nearly 500 grants, sponsorships, and awards since 2021, with $9.1 million deployed in programmatic initiatives in 2025 alone and an AAPI Giving Challenge that has catalyzed $2.8 billion in partner impact. Strategic grants have come from the Panda Express Foundation ($1 million, 2022), the Kroger Co. Foundation ($1 million, 2022), and the Walter and Shirley Wang Foundation ($1 million, 2026, matched by $500,000 from TAAF for the Board Accelerator).

Distribution is hybrid: grants flow to vetted AAPI-serving nonprofits, partnerships with the Corporate ERG Network (65 companies), executive search firms (Equilar, Russell Reynolds Associates), and major media (New York Times, Sundance Institute) extend programmatic reach, and earned-media PSAs plus YouTube programming drive awareness. The organization does not have a software product or API surface; its "technology stack" is digital storytelling, research publication, and grant-management infrastructure.

Name

The Asian American Foundation

Legal name

The Asian American Foundation

Website

https://taaf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Asian American Foundation (TAAF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2021 that convenes, funds, and researches on behalf of the 25 million AAPIs in the United States, distributing grants and running safety, narrative-change, and economic-opportunity programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Foundation and Community Advocacy

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Human Rights, Social Inclusion & Disability Inclusion (BPAGABAN), Arts, Culture & Humanities Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAJ)

Keywords

• Community foundation
• Nonprofit grantmaking
• AAPI advocacy
• Philanthropic programs
• Community research

Headquarters

HQ city

Katy

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: TAAF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that funds its operations through charitable donations and grants from individuals, corporations, and foundations committed to advancing AAPI safety, belonging, and prosperity.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Asian American Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation that funds and operates programs advancing safety, belonging, and prosperity for the 25 million Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States. TAAF distributes grants and sponsorships to AAPI-serving nonprofits, runs place-based initiatives in Seattle and New York City, produces original research such as the annual STAATUS Index, and develops educational and storytelling content including the AAPI History Hub, Fighting to Belong! comic series, and The United States of Asian+America digital series.

Product overview

The Asian American Foundation (TAAF) is a nonprofit organization advancing safety, belonging, and prosperity for the AAPI community through a portfolio of distinct programs rather than a unified technology product. The core offerings include research initiatives like the STAATUS Index and Youth Mental Health Study; digital storytelling campaigns such as The United States of Asian+America (YouTube series) and the Asian+American PSA campaign; educational resources including the AAPI History Hub and Fighting to Belong! comic series; leadership development through TALA and the Board Accelerator; place-based initiatives in TAAF Cities: NYC and Seattle; and community support via the Safety National Network and AAPI Nonprofit Database. These programs are operated independently and do not function as a single integrated software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Safety National Network A national network of organizations confronting anti-AAPI hate, supporting survivors, and building lasting safety, powered by 56 grantee partners across 14 key metropolitan areas.
• TAAF Cities: NYC A place-based initiative fostering economic opportunity, safety, and cultural pride for New York City's nearly 2 million AAPI residents.
• TAAF Cities: Seattle An initiative advancing safety, economic opportunity, and cultural pride in Seattle's Chinatown-International District through cross-sector investments and ambassador programs.
• TAAF Board Accelerator A $1.5 million initiative helping connect AAPI executives with corporate board opportunities through partnerships with executive data firms Equilar and Russell Reynolds Associates.
• AAPI History Hub A centralized, vetted, and interactive platform for K-12 educators providing access to 370+ lesson plans, multimedia, and learning materials on Asian American and Pacific Islander history.
• TALA (Thriving AANHPI Leadership Accelerator) A career and leadership development program supporting the economic mobility and holistic wellbeing of AAPI college students from under-resourced backgrounds.
• The United States of Asian+America A digital storytelling series by TAAF and Wong Fu Productions that uncovers AAPI trailblazers and stories that changed America, streaming on YouTube and featuring interviews with notable figures.
• STAATUS Index The leading national study tracking American public perceptions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, examining stereotypes, misperceptions, and media influence.
• Asian+American Campaign A national PSA campaign celebrating the complexity and beauty of AAPI dual identities, featuring personal narratives from prominent figures including Lucy Liu, Jeremy Lin, H.E.R., and Margaret Cho.
• Fighting to Belong! A comic book series for middle schoolers that tells AAPI history in an accessible format, created in collaboration with Third State Books, LAAUNCH, and AAEdu.
• Heritage Heroes An award-winning short film series directed by prominent AAPI filmmakers highlighting everyday heroes making a difference for communities, available on Prime Video.
• Beyond the Surface: Youth Mental Health Study A nationally representative mixed methods study exploring the mental and emotional well-being of young people aged 14-25 in the AANHPI community.
• Reframing Representation An entertainment business case study demonstrating commercial opportunities for investing in diverse storytelling with data and case studies.
• AAPI Nonprofit Database A database providing resources and connections to AAPI nonprofit organizations that have been long overlooked and disproportionally underfunded.
• Asian American Voices Initiative A grant program distributing funds to AAPI-serving organizations in specific cities, supporting grassroots organizations in neighborhoods including Chinatown, Sunset District, and Japantown.

Quantifiable outcome

• $46 million distributed to non-profits across nearly 500 grants since 2021
• +3 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Wong Fu ProductionscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 June 2026Production partnership for 'The United States of Asian+America' digital storytelling series premiering on YouTube, highlighting AAPI pioneers who shaped American industries and culture.
• EquilarcoreTechnology or Integration · 18 June 2026Partner for the TAAF Board Accelerator to identify and prepare board-qualified AAPI executive leaders for corporate board service.
• Russell Reynolds AssociatescoreTechnology or Integration · 18 June 2026Executive search partner for the Board Accelerator to identify, prepare, and connect qualified AAPI leaders with corporate board positions.
• NORC at the University of ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Annual partnership to produce the STAATUS Index, a national survey tracking American attitudes toward Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
• Pasifika Entertainment Advancement Komiti (PEAK)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 February 2026Funding partner for the PEAK Producer and Executive Fellowship supporting Pacific Islander representation in Hollywood.
• Hawai'i International Film Festival (HIFF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025HIFFILM Industry Conference partnership convening filmmakers and industry leaders for AANHPI storytelling.
• Right To BecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2025Train the Trainer partnership to expand bystander intervention trainings, aiming to reach 10,000 people in first year.
• New York TimescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2025Partnership to examine how AAPI creative output is impacting popular culture through independently-reported series.
• Wieden+Kennedy New YorkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Creative agency partner for the 'Asian+American' PSA campaign celebrating the complexity and beauty of AAPI dual identities.
• CAPE (Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partnership for the Filmmaker Finishing Fund supporting AAPI filmmakers' second through fifth feature films.
• RidebackcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025RISE Fellowship partnership supporting BIPOC filmmakers financially and creatively to make commercial film and television projects.
• Third State BookscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Publisher for the 'Fighting to Belong!' graphic novel series bringing AAPI history to life for children ages 8-13.
• Asian American DreamcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Community partner for TALA leadership program serving AAPI college students in New York.
• Asian Pacific American Leadership InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Community partner for TALA leadership program serving AAPI college students in San Francisco.
• Sundance InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 August 2022Collaboration to fund fellowships and scholarships supporting emerging AAPI artists in film, theater, and other disciplines.

Scale indicators17 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy (AAPIP): A national membership and grantmaking organization dedicated to expanding philanthropic resources for AAPI communities. Directly comparable to TAAF as a fellow AAPI-focused philanthropy infrastructure organization, though AAPIP is more membership-oriented and TAAF is more programmatic.
• Stop AAPI Hate: A national coalition tracking and responding to anti-Asian hate incidents, with reporting, advocacy, and direct services. Directly comparable to TAAF's anti-hate and safety work, though Stop AAPI Hate is more incident-reporting and incident-response focused while TAAF funds the broader ecosystem.
• Asian Pacific Fund: A San Francisco Bay Area-based community foundation supporting AAPI communities through grantmaking, donor services, and scholarship programs. Comparable to TAAF as a fellow AAPI-focused grantmaking foundation with a community-development mandate, though smaller in scale and more geographically concentrated.
• National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA): A national coalition of AAPI civil rights and community-based organizations advocating for AAPI communities in policy and public discourse. Comparable to TAAF in serving as a national convener for AAPI advocacy, though more coalition-focused than grantmaking-focused.

Broad incumbents

• Asian American Advancing Justice: The largest national Asian American civil rights organization, providing legal advocacy, policy work, and education across multiple AAPI communities. Comparable to TAAF's safety and representation work, but operates as a direct-service legal/policy organization rather than a grantmaker.
• Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: One of the largest U.S. health-focused philanthropic foundations with extensive grantmaking and research programs. Comparable to TAAF as a major grantmaking foundation running research and convening initiatives, but focused on public health rather than AAPI community.
• Ford Foundation: A major U.S. foundation with significant social justice, equity, and international development grantmaking. Comparable to TAAF in addressing inequality and supporting underrepresented communities, but operating at vastly larger scale across many issue areas.
• MacArthur Foundation: A major U.S. foundation supporting creative arts, journalism, and social justice initiatives. Already a co-funding partner of TAAF for the Sundance fellowship program, and broadly comparable as a large-scale grantmaker in arts and equity.
• Emerson Collective: A social impact organization operating philanthropy, impact investing, and media ventures focused on education, immigration, and equity. Comparable to TAAF in combining philanthropy with narrative-change and education initiatives, though at much larger scale and across multiple issue areas.

Regional players

• Chinese for Affirmative Action: A San Francisco-based civil rights organization serving Chinese and AAPI communities through advocacy, civic engagement, and immigrant rights work. Comparable to TAAF in advancing AAPI rights and representation, but regionally focused in the Bay Area rather than national.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/taaforg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/taaforg
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@taaforg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors3 records

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Asian American Foundation