NAAIM

What NAAIM does

NAAIM (per the primary firmographics entry) is described as an association offering events and programs on investment management strategies and financial advice, founded in 1989 and headquartered in Littleton, United States. However, the supporting website data (aaaim.org), legal name records, and the bulk of the substantive source material clearly identify the organization as the Association of Asian American Investment Managers (AAAIM), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2006 and headquartered in San Francisco, California. The data aggregation appears to have conflated two distinct organizations with similar acronyms; the analysis below is based on the AAAIM evidence, which is substantially richer.

Per the AAAIM website and primary sources, the organization is a national nonprofit dedicated to elevating Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) investment management professionals by opening access to opportunities, increasing representation in leadership, and championing the next generation. Its core programs include the Emerging Leaders Initiative (ELI)—a leadership development program for mid-career professionals featuring the Norman Mineta Cohort—the Accelerate program (launched 2023) for college students, and the AAAIM High ELI Podcast. The organization has built a network of over 4,000 members across the United States and Canada, with regional chapters.

AAAIM funds its operations through a tiered corporate sponsorship model (Partner at $6,000 to Title at $100,000), individual memberships ($100–$1,000), and fundraising events. The 2026 Lunar New Year Charity Gala raised nearly $250,000 for the Accelerate initiative. Research output is a distinct pillar of the organization's activities: a multi-year research series, conducted in partnership with Bella Private Markets under Professor Josh Lerner of Harvard Business School, has produced published reports on AAPI representation in asset management, career attrition (finding 50% attrition from entry to senior level), and emerging manager program access. A 2024 study with DECODE and UC Berkeley's SCET produced the first-ever study of AAPI representation among VC investors. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors (including Co-Chairs Brenda Chia) and led by CEO Jim Park.

Name

NAAIM

Legal name

Association of Asian American Investment Managers

Website

https://aaaim.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

AAAIM (Association of Asian American Investment Managers) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that elevates AAPI investment management professionals through leadership programs, research, and networking, serving a network of over 4,000 members across the United States and Canada.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Investment Management Association

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYFSAEAAAB

Investment Management Advisory (RIA)

Financial & Insurance/Financial Advisory, Brokerage & Intermediation/Investment Advisory & Financial Planning

Keywords

• Investment management association
• Professional networking events
• Leadership development programs
• Diversity research publications
• Nonprofit financial education

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Core offering

NAAIM (the Association of Asian American Investment Managers) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that elevates AAPI investment management professionals through networking, research, and education. It sells individual memberships and corporate sponsorships, delivers the Emerging Leaders Initiative (ELI) and AAAIM Accelerate scholarship/externship programs, publishes annual research on AAPI representation in asset management and venture capital, runs the annual Elevate national conference, and distributes the AAAIM High ELI Podcast.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AAAIM Accelerate: Scholarship and externship program for undergraduate students pursuing careers in investment management, launched in 2023.
• Emerging Leaders Initiative (ELI)
• AAAIM High ELI Podcast

Products and services

• AAAIM Accelerate Interactive and hybrid scholarship and externship program for undergraduate students pursuing careers in investment management and finance, addressing the talent pipeline into asset management for underrepresented students.
• Emerging Leaders Initiative (ELI) Leadership development program for mid-career AAPI professionals in the investment industry, featuring the Norman Mineta Cohort, NYC and SoCal Mineta Fellows, an Emerging Leaders Initiative Committee, and Professional Development Partners, designed to help participants advance into senior leadership.
• AAAIM High ELI Podcast Podcast focusing on AAPI professionals and influencers in the finance industry, featuring interviews with senior leaders such as Chief Product & Investor Officers across asset management and broader finance.
• AAAIM Elevate National Conference Annual national flagship conference of AAAIM held in San Francisco, bringing together AAPI investment professionals, corporate sponsors, and institutional allocators for networking, programming, and recognition.
• Diverse Managers Directory
• AAAIM Individual Membership Tiered individual membership program (US$100–US$1,000) providing access to the AAAIM community, programming, events, and resources for AAPI investment management professionals and supporters.
• AAAIM Corporate Sponsorship Program Tiered corporate sponsorship program (Partner US$6,000 through Title US$100,000) for financial services firms and other corporations to support AAAIM's mission and gain access to its network, events, and programs.
• AAAIM Canada Chapter Canadian chapter of AAAIM providing localized programming, networking, and events for AAPI investment management professionals across Canada, complementing the U.S. national organization.

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• CFA Institute: The largest global association for investment professionals, offering the CFA charter, ethics standards, and extensive research. Directly comparable to NAAIM as a professional membership body serving investment managers, though considerably larger in scope and global reach.
• Investment Company Institute (ICI): The leading trade association for the U.S. investment company industry, representing mutual funds, ETFs, and closed-end funds. Comparable to NAAIM as an investment-industry membership organization advocating for asset managers and serving policy/education functions.
• Financial Planning Association (FPA): A membership organization for financial planners and advisors, providing education, advocacy, and community. Comparable to NAAIM as a nonprofit professional association serving practitioners in investment-advisory-adjacent fields.
• SIFMA: The Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association, representing broker-dealers, banks, and asset managers in the U.S. Comparable to NAAIM as an industry trade body, though broader in scope and more policy-oriented.

Direct peers

• CAIA Association: Association offering the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst designation, serving investment professionals in alternatives and active management. Directly comparable to NAAIM as a specialty membership body with educational content, events, and credentialing.
• National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA): A U.S. association for fee-only financial advisors and RIAs, focused on fiduciary standards and practitioner education. Comparable to NAAIM as a small-but-focused U.S. membership association serving active investment management practitioners.
• Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA): Global association for the alternative investment industry, representing hedge funds, private credit, and other active managers. Directly comparable to NAAIM as a specialty membership association for active investment managers.
• NICSA (National Investment Company Service Association): A nonprofit membership association supporting the investment management operations community through education, networking, and research. Directly comparable to NAAIM as a similarly sized, mission-aligned nonprofit serving the asset-management ecosystem.

Others

• Morningstar: A leading investment-research and data provider serving advisors, asset managers, and allocators. Comparable to NAAIM in serving the investment-management community, though operating as a for-profit data vendor rather than a membership association.

Regional players

• CFA Society New York: A regional CFA Institute member society serving investment professionals in the New York metro area. Comparable to NAAIM as a regional investment-practitioner membership organization, though part of the broader CFA Institute network.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights4 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NAAIM_Official
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aaaim
• Facebookfacebook.com/naaiminfo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about NAAIM