Asia Society

What Asia Society does

Asia Society is a US-headquartered nonprofit organization founded in 1956 by John D. Rockefeller 3rd, operating 14 centers across the United States, Asia, and Europe to advance understanding of Asia and its role in the world. Its programs are organized around three pillars: Arts and Culture (anchored by the Asia Society Museum with rotating exhibitions of Asian art including the 70th anniversary show 'Buddha and Shiva, Lotus and Dragon'), Education (Chinese language learning, the Asia 21 Next Generation Fellows leadership program, Global Talent Initiatives, and the Asian Women Empowered network), and Policy (the Asia Society Policy Institute and the Center on U.S.-China Relations, which publishes ChinaFile and the China Books Review).

The organization does not develop proprietary technology products; instead it leverages standard digital platforms to distribute podcasts (Asia In-Depth, Asia Inside Out, State of Asia, Re:Orient, China Books Podcast, COAL + ICE), video content, email newsletters, and online publications. Signature convening assets include the annual Asia Game Changer Awards, Asia Arts Game Changer Awards, the Osborn Elliott Prize for Excellence in Journalism on Asia, the Baifang Schell Book Prize, and the Global Talent Impact Awards.

Revenue is generated through a diversified nonprofit model combining membership dues, individual donations and major gifts, corporate sponsorships and partnerships, event revenue and venue rentals, and foundation grants. The organization serves six primary customer segments: policymakers and government officials, emerging and established leaders, arts and culture enthusiasts, educators and students, business executives and investors, and Asian diaspora communities. Leadership includes President and CEO Kyung-wha Kang, with former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced to return to the role in 2026.

Name

Asia Society

Legal name

Asia Society

Website

https://asiasociety.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Asia Society is a US-based nonprofit founded in 1956 that operates 14 global centers across the US, Asia, and Europe to advance understanding of Asia through arts, education, and policy programming for leaders, educators, and cultural audiences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural and Policy Nonprofit Services

NAICS

Museums (712110), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts & Culture Appreciation (Art History, Film Appreciation, Music Appreciation) (EDAAAGAO)

akta.pro secondary industry

Public Diplomacy, Cultural Diplomacy & Strategic Communications (BPAIAIAE)

Keywords

• Cultural education programs
• Policy research think tank
• Arts exhibitions museum
• Leadership fellowship programs
• Cross-cultural dialogue events

Headquarters

HQ city

Manhattan

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices14 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership dues: Asia Society generates revenue through membership programs at its various centers, offering benefits such as early access to events, free museum admission, and discounts at cafes and stores. Membership tiers include patron-level support and corporate memberships.
2. Individual donations and major gifts: The organization relies on charitable contributions from individual donors, with various giving levels and recognition programs for major benefactors including the Rockefeller family.
3. Corporate sponsorships and partnerships: Corporate support comes from businesses seeking association with Asia Society's brand and access to its network of leaders across policy, business, and culture.
4. Event revenue and venue rentals: Revenue is generated through ticket sales for exhibitions, performances, film screenings, and special events, as well as rentals of Asia Society's facilities for private functions.
5. Foundation grants: Asia Society receives funding from foundations and institutional donors to support specific programs and initiatives, including fellowships, research, and policy analysis.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Asia Society is a nonprofit organization that operates a global platform for education, cultural exchange, and policy dialogue about Asia. It runs museum exhibitions of Asian art at three locations (New York, Hong Kong, Texas), produces policy research and convenes expert forums through the Asia Society Policy Institute and the Center on U.S.-China Relations, develops emerging leaders through the Asia 21 Next Generation Fellows program, and publishes digital content via ChinaFile, China Books Review, and multiple podcasts.

Product overview

Asia Society is a cultural and policy organization offering a platform of programs, exhibitions, and publications rather than a unified technology product. Its core offerings include the Asia Society Museum (exhibitions of Asian art), the Asia Society Policy Institute (policy research), and the Center on U.S.-China Relations. The organization operates the Asia 21 Next Generation Fellows leadership program, the Asia Game Changer Awards, and the Asia Arts Game Changer Awards. Digital media products include ChinaFile (online magazine), China Books Review (publication), COAL + ICE (climate exhibition), and multiple podcasts (Asia In-Depth, Asia Inside Out, State of Asia, Re:Orient). Educational offerings encompass Chinese Language Learning Programs, the National Chinese Language Conference, and Global Talent Initiatives. Additional initiatives include Asian Women Empowered (AWE), the Global Talent Impact Awards, the Osborn Elliott Prize, and the Baifang Schell Book Prize. The organization has multiple global locations across Asia, the United States, and Europe.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Asia Society Policy Institute: Think-and-do tank focused on advancing international cooperation and effective policymaking on trade, security, and climate
• Asia Society Museum
• Asia 21 Next Generation Fellows
• Center on U.S.–China Relations
• Asia Arts Game Changer Awards
• Asia Game Changer Awards
• Coal + Ice
• ChinaFile
• China Books Review

Products and services

• Asia Society Museum Presents groundbreaking exhibitions of pre-modern, modern, and contemporary art of Asia and Asian diasporas at three physical locations (New York, Hong Kong, Texas). Open to museum visitors and members, with rotating exhibitions including Asian art masterworks and contemporary programs.
• Asia 21 Next Generation Fellows A flagship leadership fellowship program identifying dynamic young leaders under age 40 across Asia, bringing them together annually at regional summits and supporting their development as cross-sector leaders.
• Asia Game Changer Awards Annual awards program recognizing individuals and groups whose actions have profoundly strengthened the bonds between Asia and the world, culminating in a high-profile ceremony in New York City.
• Asia Society Policy Institute A core operating subsidiary of Asia Society and one of the world's largest think-and-do tanks focused entirely on Asia, advancing international cooperation and effective policymaking on trade, security, and climate through research and convening.
• Center on U.S.-China Relations Undertakes projects and events that explore areas of common interest and divergent views between the United States and China, focusing on policy, culture, business, media, economics, energy, and the environment.
• ChinaFile An online magazine dedicated to promoting an informed, nuanced, and vibrant public conversation about China, in the U.S. and around the world, published in partnership with Asia Society's Center on U.S.-China Relations.
• China Books Review Online publication offering incisive writing about all things China books-related, for readers who follow or are curious about China.
• COAL + ICE An immersive photography and video exhibition accompanied by related programs focusing on climate change, including a dedicated podcast series.
• Asia Society Podcasts A portfolio of free podcasts covering issues shaping Asia and the world, including Asia In-Depth, Asia Inside Out, State of Asia, China Books Podcast, and COAL + ICE Podcast.
• Re:Orient Podcast A six-episode podcast produced by Asia Society India and Dalberg covering the most pressing issues in South Asia, from AI and education to air pollution and the changing geopolitical order.
• Global Talent Initiatives A year-long programming series where leaders and experts explore tactical and strategic solutions to challenges companies face in unlocking the full potential of Asian workers and professionals.
• Asian Women Empowered (AWE) An influential global network of Asian women envisioning a world where Asian women realize their full potential and leverage their prominence to invest in future generations and advance the community.
• Chinese Language Learning Programs Projects and content aimed at making Mandarin language learning in the U.S. mainstream and generating engaging content about China for the American public.
• National Chinese Language Conference Provides a high-profile platform for sharing new ideas and best practices in Chinese language teaching and learning, Chinese arts and culture, and U.S.-China educational exchange.
• Global Talent Impact Awards Annual awards recognizing individuals who demonstrate exceptional impact in global talent development and leadership.
• Osborn Elliott Prize for Excellence in Journalism on Asia Annual prize awarded to a writer or team of writers who has produced the best example of journalism about Asia in print or online during the calendar year.
• Baifang Schell Book Prize Annual award celebrating exceptional book-length works on or from China and the Sinophone world, published in English.
• Asia Arts Game Changer Awards Awards honoring major artists, gallerists, and dignitaries from the art world for their significant contributions to contemporary art, with the 2026 India edition held in Asia.
• Creative Voices of Muslim Asia A multidisciplinary initiative using art to understand the complexity of cultures in the Muslim world.

Quantifiable outcome

• 70 years of operation and 14 global centers demonstrating organizational longevity and geographic reach
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Embassy of Hungary in the PhilippinesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 May 2026Asia Society Philippines and the Embassy of Hungary co-organized a joint luncheon on sustainable agriculture and academic cooperation, gathering leaders from agriculture, sustainability, education, and international development to explore bilateral opportunities.
• Qiming US Healthcare FundminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 April 2026Panelist at Asia Society Seattle's Executive Roundtable on Investment and Innovation in Chinese Pharmaceuticals, discussing China's emergence as a pharmaceutical innovation hub and cross-border collaboration opportunities.
• Cravath, Swaine & MooreminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 April 2026Legal expertise represented at Asia Society Seattle's Executive Roundtable on Investment and Innovation in Chinese Pharmaceuticals, providing perspectives on regulatory issues and intellectual property in cross-border deals.
• Burgundy PrivateminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 April 2026Asia Society India Centre partnered with Burgundy Private to organize the 'Strait Talk: Mapping India's Stakes in West Asia' panel discussion in Mumbai, bringing together former diplomats, academics, and journalists.
• Axis BankminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 22 April 2026Co-organized 'Strait Talk: Mapping India's Stakes in West Asia' panel discussion with Burgundy Private, bringing together Indian policy experts and journalists for public dialogue.
• DalbergminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 March 2026Asia Society India Centre partnered with Dalberg to produce the Re:Orient podcast covering pressing issues in South Asia, from AI and education to air pollution and geopolitical order.
• Ampera EnergyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 December 2025Researchers from Ampera Energy contributed to the Asia Society Policy Institute report analyzing India's Carbon Credit Trading Scheme integration with the power market, providing energy sector expertise.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Asia Foundation: The Asia Foundation is a nonprofit international development organization working across Asia, founded in 1954, with a similar pan-Asian focus on policy, governance, and cross-cultural exchange. It is the closest direct peer in mission and operating model to Asia Society.
• Japan Society: Japan Society is a New York-based nonprofit offering arts, culture, educational, and policy programming focused on U.S.-Japan relations. It mirrors Asia Society's combination of museum exhibitions, policy dialogues, and language programs on a single-country basis.
• Korea Society: Korea Society is a New York-based nonprofit dedicated to promoting understanding of Korea and U.S.-Korea relations through arts, education, and policy programs. Its single-country focus and tri-pillar structure mirror Asia Society's model.
• National Committee on U.S.-China Relations: The National Committee on U.S.-China Relations is a nonprofit educational organization focused on building constructive U.S.-China engagement through public education, policy dialogue, and people-to-people exchange, directly comparable to Asia Society's Center on U.S.-China Relations.
• National Bureau of Asian Research: The National Bureau of Asian Research is a nonprofit policy research institute producing analysis on Asia and U.S.-Asia relations. It is a direct comparable to the Asia Society Policy Institute's policy-research and convening function.

Broad incumbents

• Council on Foreign Relations: CFR is a major U.S. foreign-policy think tank with broader geographic scope but overlapping policy-institute, convening, and membership functions. It competes for donor attention and policy-influence positioning with Asia Society Policy Institute.
• Brookings Institution: Brookings is one of the largest U.S. think tanks with global policy research, including significant Asia-focused work. It competes with Asia Society Policy Institute for policy research impact, donor share, and elite convening.
• Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: Carnegie Endowment is a global think tank with offices worldwide and extensive Asia programs. It is comparable to Asia Society's policy and convening work but operates at much larger scale across multiple regions.
• The Metropolitan Museum of Art: The Met is one of the world's largest art museums with a significant Asian art collection and global exhibition programming. It is comparable to Asia Society Museum as a peer in Asian art exhibitions and museum-based programming but at much greater scale.
• Smithsonian Institution: The Smithsonian operates multiple museums with Asian art collections (e.g., Freer and Sackler galleries), education programming, and policy-adjacent research. It is comparable to Asia Society's museum and education pillars but operates at vastly greater scale and with government funding.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/asiasociety
• YouTubeyoutube.com/asiasociety
• Facebookfacebook.com/AsiaSociety
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/asia-society
• Instagraminstagram.com/asia_society

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors2 records

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Asia Society