In recognition of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, we are proud to spotlight this year’s APIs RISE Fund grant recipients, four organizations working to uplift AANHPI voices and leadership across our region.
Following a thoughtful, community-led review process, these organizations will collectively receive more than $36,000 in funding to advance equity, well-being, and visibility for AANHPI communities:
Asian Resources, Inc.: Bridging generations by connecting youth and elders to document community histories, build digital archives, and nurture emerging cultural leaders.
Filipino Community of Sacramento and Vicinity: Promoting mental wellness and Filipino-American leadership through workshops that strengthen cultural identity.
Kansha Open History: Preserving the stories and legacy of pre-war Japanese American farming families in the Sacramento Delta through oral histories, archival research, and public education.
Solving Sacramento: Increasing AANHPI representation in local journalism by amplifying diverse voices and ensuring more inclusive news coverage.
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 in change. Since 2012, it has awarded more than $240,000 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. “Its members pool resources, learn together, and get to make a real impact in our community. 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 was created 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 Big Day of Giving shows that only 5% of donors identified 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 grant we make is a statement that our communities matter, that our stories deserve to be told, and that local AANHPI leadership should be nurtured and celebrated,” said Jason Jong, co-chair of APIs RISE. “These investments have helped elevate voices, preserve histories, celebrate cultural heritage, and support the mental wellness of our communities.”
Each year, the Fund’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.
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