How Philanthropists Can Support Asian American Communities and Organizations

On March 16, shootings at three businesses in the Atlanta area killed eight people. Six of the victims were Asian, and seven were women. The violence takes place against the backdrop of a nationwide increase in discrimination, harassment and violence against Asian Americans and immigrants since the initial outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In times of tragedy, many of us look for ways to help and offer support. There are many worthy organizations doing work across the broad and diverse Asian American community. The following is a brief and non-comprehensive list of nonprofit organizations in the Atlanta area—and nationwide—focused on advocating for and protecting the rights of the Asian American community—in particular the challenges facing immigrants and women.

We encourage all donors to research charities prior to entering a grant recommendation.

Korean American Coalition Metro Atlanta (EIN 81-3255593)

KAC Metro Atlanta is a community organization dedicated to educating and empowering the Korean-American community throughout Georgia. The organization encourages participation in civic affairs and offers opportunities for community involvement, service and networking.

Raksha (EIN 58-2190065)

Based in Atlanta, Raksha provides aid to the area’s South Asian community and others facing similar barriers to support. The organization addresses issues such as family and sexual violence as well as challenges facing children, elderly adults and new immigrants.

Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (EIN 13-2855641)

A national organization, the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund was established to protect and promote the civil rights of Asian Americans. AALDEF works within communities across the United States to secure those rights through a combination of litigation, advocacy, education and organizing.

Asian Americans Advancing Justice (EIN 13-3619000)

Asian Americans Advancing Justice is a national organization that advocates for the advancement of civil and human rights of Asian Americans. The organization utilizes education, litigation and public policy advocacy to ensure Asian Americans are able to fully participate in American democracy.

Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Asian Law Caucus (EIN 94-2176139)

AAAJ’s Asian Law Caucus promotes legal and civil rights, and conducts impact litigation, for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in areas like housing rights, franchise and voter access, economic justice and immigration.

Asian Pacific Fund (EIN 94-3201522)

Based in San Francisco, the Asian Pacific Fund established the Solidarity Fund in February 2021 in response to violent attacks on the Asian community in the Bay Area. The fund provides grants to organizations working to address racism, advance racial justice and support the mental and physical health of survivors.

Hollaback! (EIN 27-3199988)

Hollaback! is a global organization focused on ending harassment in all its forms. The organization works through multiple avenues, including free training to respond to—and intervene in—harassment when it occurs in everyday life.

National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (EIN 36-4799986)

The National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum works through its national offices and local chapters to advance the values and priorities of Asian American and Pacific Islander women and girls. The organization focuses on three areas of structural and policy change at the local, state and federal levels: reproductive health and rights, economic justice, and immigrant rights and racial justice.

The Center for Asian Pacific American Women (EIN 84-1309405)

The Center for Asian Pacific American Women provides training and networking opportunities for Asian American and Pacific Islander women to promote their leadership in the private, nonprofit and government sectors.

Asian Pacific Environmental Council (EIN 94-3261846)

Asian Pacific Environmental Council mobilizes and supports the multigenerational Asian immigrant and refugee communities in Oakland and Richmond, CA for environmental, social and economic justice.

NPT is not affiliated with any of the organizations described herein, and the inclusion of any organization in this material should not be considered an endorsement by NPT of such organization, or its services or products. NPT does not provide legal or tax advice. This blog post is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be, and shall not be relied upon as, legal or tax advice. The applicability of information contained here may vary depending on individual circumstances.