Vietnamese American Roundtable

What Vietnamese American Roundtable does

Vietnamese American Roundtable (VAR) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2013 and headquartered in San Jose, California, that operates cultural, civic, youth, and immigration programs for the Vietnamese American community in the Bay Area, with a specific focus on Santa Clara County and the Little Saigon neighborhood. The organization is composed of young professionals and representatives from multiple Vietnamese American community groups who collaboratively research, promote, and deliver joint programming, bridging first- and second-generation communities.

VAR's core offerings span a recurring event and program portfolio: the SEEDS Youth Summer Program addresses intergenerational trauma through hands-on community work; the Lunar New Year: San José Festival and Black April Commemoration are annual cultural events; VAR on AIR is a podcast amplifying Vietnamese American voices; 51 for 51 is a supporter engagement initiative; and Immigration Resources and Voters' Education extend the mission into civic engagement. The organization's first paid merchandise product, the Cơm Gia Đình Family Anthology and Cookbook ($35 hardcover), features recipes and stories from the Vietnamese American diaspora over fifty years, sold via the organization's e-commerce storefront with Little Saigon pickup and shipping planned for April-May 2026.

The business model is community-led and donation-dependent, supplemented by cookbook sales. With 1-10 employees and a volunteer-driven operational backbone, VAR relies on individual contributions, community partnerships, newsletter sign-ups, and grassroots outreach rather than institutional grants, corporate sponsorships, or fee-for-service contracts. There are no disclosed technology products, AI capabilities, or proprietary platforms; the digital surface is limited to a Squarespace website, e-commerce store, community engagement form, newsletter, community calendar, and podcast distribution.

Name

Vietnamese American Roundtable

Legal name

Vietnamese American Roundtable

Website

https://varoundtable.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Vietnamese American Roundtable is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in San Jose that runs cultural, youth, civic, and immigration programs for Vietnamese American and broader AAPI communities in the Bay Area. It funds operations through donations and merchandise sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

San Jose

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: The organization relies on donations from supporters to fund programs including VAR-on-AIR podcast, SEEDS youth program, and annual events such as Black April Commemoration. Donations are described as fueling meaningful change and strengthening community resilience.
2. Merchandise Sales: Sale of Cơm Gia Đình Anthology and Cookbook Hardcover priced at $35.00, with physical pick-up available in Little Saigon, San Jose and shipping options for customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Vietnamese American Roundtable is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers community programming for Vietnamese, Southeast Asian, and AAPI residents of the San Jose and Bay Area, including a youth summer program (SEEDS), cultural events (Lunar New Year Festival, Black April Commemoration), a podcast (VAR on AIR), civic engagement and immigration resources, and a community cookbook/anthology (Cơm Gia Đình). The organization is funded by donations and modest merchandise sales, with programs distributed through volunteer-led community engagement and an online store.

Product overview

Vietnamese American Roundtable (VAR) operates as a community organization offering a portfolio of programs and products centered on cultural preservation, youth development, civic engagement, and community support. The core product is the Cơm Gia Đình Anthology and Cookbook Hardcover ($35), a storied-cookbook featuring recipes and stories from the Vietnamese American diaspora. Additional offerings include youth programs (SEEDS Summer Youth Program), cultural events (Lunar New Year Festival, Black April Commemoration), media content (VAR on AIR Podcast), civic engagement (51 for 51, Voters' Education), immigration resources, community calendar, monthly newsletter, and volunteer/donation opportunities. The organization functions as a 501(c)(3) non-profit supported by community engagement and contributions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cơm Gia Đình: A cookbook anthology featuring family recipes and stories representing the Vietnamese American diasporic community over fifty years in the United States.

Products and services

• Cơm Gia Đình Anthology and Cookbook Hardcover A hardcover cookbook anthology of recipes and stories from Vietnamese American families in San Jose and the Bay Area, documenting the Vietnamese American diasporic community over fifty years in the United States. Sold at $35.00 per copy with options for pickup in Little Saigon, San Jose or shipping (expected April-May 2026).
• SEEDS Youth Summer Program A summer youth program providing hands-on experiences working with VAR and community-based partner organizations to address intergenerational trauma and build authentic relationships across the Vietnamese, Southeast Asian, and AAPI community. Targeted at youth participants and their families.
• VAR on AIR Podcast A podcast platform that amplifies Vietnamese American voices and promotes cultural heritage through community storytelling. Aimed at the Vietnamese, Southeast Asian, and AAPI community and broader public listeners.
• Lunar New Year: San José Festival An annual Lunar New Year festival celebrating Vietnamese culture and community in San José, open to community members and the broader public.
• Black April Commemoration An annual commemoration event honoring Vietnamese American history and experiences. Open to community members and the broader public.
• 51 for 51 A community program and supporter engagement initiative under VAR. Designed for community members and supporters to engage with the organization's mission.
• Immigration Resources Resources and support for immigration-related needs in the Vietnamese American community. Targeted at community members seeking immigration information and assistance.
• Voters' Education A program focused on voter education and civic engagement within the Vietnamese American community. Targeted at community members eligible to vote and seeking civic participation resources.

Quantifiable outcome

• Successful annual programs including Black April Commemoration, Lunar New Year: San José Festival, and SEEDS Youth Summer Program

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Asian Health Services: Oakland-based 501(c)(3) providing health and social services to AAPI communities with substantial Vietnamese American patient base. Comparable as a community-led nonprofit serving the broader AAPI population in the Bay Area.
• Services, Immigrant Rights and Education Network (SIREN): San Jose-based 501(c)(3) serving low-income immigrants including Vietnamese and other Southeast Asian Americans through immigration legal services and civic engagement. Directly comparable in geographic focus and target demographic.
• Union of Pan Asian Communities (UPAC): San Diego-based 501(c)(3) serving AAPI communities through youth, civic engagement, and cultural programs. Comparable as a community-led nonprofit addressing similar intergenerational and cultural-connection challenges for Vietnamese and other AAPI populations.
• Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Asian Law Caucus: Bay Area-based 501(c)(3) providing legal, civic, and advocacy services to AAPI communities, including Vietnamese Americans. Directly comparable as a community-led nonprofit serving overlapping demographics with civic engagement programming.
• Vietnamese American Voluntary Foundation (Viet-AID): Boston-based 501(c)(3) serving Vietnamese Americans through community development, youth programs, and cultural preservation. Directly comparable as a Vietnamese American-led nonprofit addressing similar demographic and cultural needs in a different city.
• Boat People SOS: Vietnamese American-focused 501(c)(3) providing immigration, social, and cultural services nationally with offices in California. Directly comparable as a Vietnamese American-led community organization addressing similar pain points such as immigration, cultural preservation, and youth development.
• Chinese for Affirmative Action: San Francisco-based 501(c)(3) advocating for AAPI communities through civic engagement, immigrant integration, and youth programs. Operates a similar nonprofit model targeting adjacent but overlapping AAPI communities in the Bay Area.

Broad incumbents

• OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates: National AAPI advocacy organization with Bay Area chapter that runs civic engagement, youth leadership, and cultural programs. Comparable as a broader AAPI-focused nonprofit with overlapping mission areas including civic engagement and cultural preservation.

Regional players

• Vietnamese American Community of Oregon (VACO): Vietnamese American community organization serving Oregon's Vietnamese diaspora with cultural and civic programming. Comparable in mission and offerings but operates in a different geographic region.

Emerging players

• Southeast Asian Development Center: San Francisco-based 501(c)(3) serving Southeast Asian American communities through social services and youth programs. Comparable in target demographic (overlapping Vietnamese and Southeast Asian populations) and in programming focus on youth and community support.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Vietnamese American Roundtable