We are proud to spotlight this year’s APIs RISE Fund grant recipients—four organizations working to uplift Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) voices and leadership across our region.
Following a thoughtful, community-led review process, these organizations were selected to collectively receive $30,000 in funding to advance leadership development, civic engagement, cultural preservation, and community visibility for AANHPI communities:
Asian Resources, Inc.: Expanding its SHINE Forward program to connect youth and elders through intergenerational storytelling. Youth participants will document oral histories, preserve community narratives, and develop leadership and media literacy skills while strengthening connections across generations.
Filipino Community of Sacramento & Vicinity: Launching the Filipino Community Power Project, a multigenerational leadership and organizing series to equip Filipino and Filipino American residents with the skills, knowledge, and networks needed to engage in civic life, advocate for their communities, and strengthen leadership across generations.
API Advocates: Creating the Pasefika WaveMakers Legislative Academy, a leadership pipeline program designed to prepare Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander leaders for civic engagement and public service through mentorship, policy education, and leadership development opportunities.
Iu Mien Community Services: Developing Iu Mien Voices, a youth media leadership initiative to train young people in storytelling, media literacy, and content creation while elevating Iu Mien culture, identity, and community perspectives.
APIs RISE is a volunteer-led giving circle that brings together AANHPI community members and philanthropists to pool resources, learn together, and collectively decide where to invest. Since 2012, the members have awarded more than $275,000 from its Giving Circle Fund at the Sacramento Region Community Foundation to support initiatives created by and for AANHPI communities in the Sacramento region.
“What makes APIs RISE so powerful is the collective spirit behind it,” said Kerry Wood, CEO of the Sacramento Region Community Foundation. “Members of the giving circle pool resources, learn together, and make a meaningful impact in our community. Through this year’s grants, local organizations will strengthen leadership, preserve cultural stories, and create opportunities for AANHPI communities to thrive. It is a joyful, grassroots model of philanthropy that invites everyone to take part, and our team is proud to be their partner in celebrating the generosity of our region’s AANHPI community.”
The APIs RISE Fund started in response to longstanding disparities in philanthropic investment in AANHPI communities. Though many AANHPI individuals give generously through cultural- and community-based traditions, data from past Big Days of Giving shows that only 5% of donors identify as AANHPI, highlighting the need to grow visibility and inclusion within mainstream philanthropy. That need is especially urgent in a region where AANHPI residents make up nearly 20% of the population.
Each year, the giving circle’s’s grantmaking process includes member voting, educational panels, and a commitment to shared learning and equity. To learn more, support APIs RISE Fund, or join the giving circle, visit www.apisrise.org.
Maximize Your Philanthropy
It’s easy and rewarding to set up a charitable fund with the Sacramento Region Community Foundation. We’re here to help you create the right giving account for your goals — and enjoy the benefits of flexible service, expert guidance, effective investments, and local impact.