Asian American Futures
Asian American Futures (AAF) is a public charity based in Irvine, California, founded in 2020. Its mission is to ensure Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are seen, heard, empowered, and united. AAF supports community organizations and works with creators, strategists, and community leaders on civic engagement, leadership development, and narrative power.
Asian American Futures at a glance
In short: Asian American Futures gave $833K across 16 grants in 2024 (avg $52K), mostly in California. 56% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $833,000
- -46.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 16
- -36.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $52,063
- -16.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $1,713,768
- -43.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 56% first-time grantees (9 of 16, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- California (76% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Asian American Futures
- Contact
Mailing address: 15333 Culver Drive Ste 340-2181, Irvine, CA 92604
Phone: (949) 229-1507
Website: https://asianamericanfutures.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Asian American Futures funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Community Partners ($150K). Together the top 10 received $688K.
Grant Size Distribution
70 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 25 grants of 70 (36%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
AAF’s filing describes Activate California and Activate NHPI as supporting organizations in California. In 2024, 76% of grant dollars went to recipients in California; the filing also reports shares for Oregon (9%), New York (6%), Washington, DC (6%), and Indiana (1%). The listed 2024 grants also include a $10,000 award to Ohio Voice in Columbus, Ohio.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Asian American Futures open to new grantees?
56%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 9 of 16 grantees (56%) were first-time recipients. With only 16 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $51K; repeat grants $54K. How we count
Medians: $51K first-time, $50K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2021–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $519K (2021) to $1.6M (2023). In 2024 it made 16 grants totaling $833K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Community Partners Los Angeles, CA | NHPI Catalyst Lab | $150,000 |
| Asian Pacific American Leadership Institute Cupertino, CA | Activate California | $100,000 |
| She Who HAS No Masters Portland, OR | Gold Futures Challenge | $76,000 |
| Center for Empowered Politics Education Fund Oakland, CA | Activate California | $60,000 |
| Center for Agricultural Development and Entrepreneurship (Cade) Oneonta, NY | Gold Futures Challenge | $51,000 |
| Red Canary Song Washington, DC | Activate California | $51,000 |
| Chinese for Affirmative Action San Francisco, CA | Activate California | $50,000 |
| Jakara Movement Fresno, CA | Activate California | $50,000 |
| Nikkei for Civil Rights & Redress Los Angeles, CA | Activate California | $50,000 |
| Pilipino Workers Center of Southern Los Angeles, CA | Activate California | $50,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,713,768 | $1,574,254 | $2,547,516 | $833,000 | 16 | $10,628 |
| 2023 | $3,006,703 | $2,497,952 | $3,283,693 | $1,557,000 | 25 | — |
| 2022 | $3,431,727 | $2,457,131 | $2,435,597 | $1,510,000 | 18 | — |
| 2021 | $3,380,581 | $3,945,116 | $663,342 | $519,000 | 11 | — |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
AAF’s stated mission is to ensure Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are seen, heard, empowered, and united. Its filing describes several areas of work:
- Activate California and Activate NHPI: Flexible general operating resources and capacity-building support for organizing and base-building organizations in California, with a focus on community-based organizations serving historically under-resourced regions and populations.
- NHPI Initiative: Work to strengthen Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander nonprofit leadership and build NHPI community and narrative power.
- Gold Futures Challenge: An online model for directing resources to AAPI nonprofits and increasing their visibility, with the aspiration of building unity among AAPIs and communities of color nationally.
- Narrative Lab: Partnerships and campaigns advancing narratives such as solidarity, pride, and belonging, with findings shared to help engage a larger share of the AAPI population.
AAF’s 2024 grantees include organizations whose own descriptions reflect a range of community and civic work. Pilipino Workers Center of Southern describes its mission as advancing people’s and communities’ rights to a healthy, dignified quality of life. Jakara Movement describes itself as a grassroots organization that empowers, educates, and organizes Punjabi Sikhs and other marginalized communities. Chinese for Affirmative Action describes itself as a community-based civil rights organization engaged in community service, policy advocacy, and movement building. Ohio Voice describes its work as supporting and growing a nonprofit, nonpartisan civic-engagement ecosystem serving underrepresented communities.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, AAF reported 16 grants totaling $833,000. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $150,000, with a median of $50,000. The largest listed grants included $150,000 to Community Partners for NHPI Catalyst Lab, $100,000 to Asian Pacific American Leadership Institute for Activate California, and $76,000 to She Who Has No Masters for Gold Futures Challenge.
Other notable grants were $60,000 to Center for Empowered Politics Education Fund for Activate California; $51,000 each to Center for Agricultural Development and Entrepreneurship for Gold Futures Challenge and Red Canary Song for Activate California; and $50,000 each to Chinese for Affirmative Action, Jakara Movement, Nikkei for Civil Rights & Redress, Pilipino Workers Center of Southern, and Viet Rainbow of Orange County for Activate California. Samoan Solutions received $50,000 for NHPI Activate California.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The funder’s website identifies Reshma Shamasunder as Executive Director and Anne Lee as Director of Administration & Finance. The 2024 filing lists Andine Sutarjadi as chair, Cathy Cha as vice chair, and Nithin Jilla as treasurer. It also lists Daishi Miguel-Tanaka, Vivian Long, Susan Lew, Joanna Kong, Jack Toan, Tina Duong, and Titania Tran as board members.
Asian American Futures is led by Reshma Shamsunder, Executive Director on every filing since 2022; 2 of 12 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Reshma Shamsunder
Executive Director
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$164K (2022) → $209K (2024)
Andine Sutarjadi
Chair
Board Member → Vice Chair, 2023
Vice Chair → Chair, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eunice Yu Kwon
Director of Programs & Partnerships
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$155K (2024)
Jack Toan
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joanna Kong
Board Member
Co-Chair → Treasurer, 2023
Treasurer → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nithin Jilla
Treasurer
Secretary & Treasurer → Co-Chair, 2023
Co-Chair → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susan Lew
Board Member
Co-Chair → Secretary, 2023
Secretary → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Vivian Long
Board Member
Board Member → Co-Chair, 2023
Co-Chair → Board Member, 2024
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Cathy Cha
Vice Chair
Board Member → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Daishi Miguel-Tanaka
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tina Duong
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Titania Tran
Board Member
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Aryani Ong (2022–2023) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $209K, to Reshma Shamsunder (Executive Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Asian American Futures
How much does Asian American Futures give each year?
Asian American Futures gave $833K across 16 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $1.6M across 25 grants.
What is Asian American Futures's typical grant size?
Asian American Futures's median grant in 2024 was $50,000, and its average grant was $52,063, across 16 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Asian American Futures that year got $51K on average.
Where does Asian American Futures give grants?
Asian American Futures gives mostly in California: 76% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest states were Oregon (9%) and New York (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Los Angeles, CA (4 grants).
Does Asian American Futures give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 16 grants with a stated purpose on Asian American Futures's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Activate California" (10 grants) and "NHPI Catalyst Lab" (3 grants).
Who are Asian American Futures's largest grantees?
Asian American Futures's largest 2024 grantees include Community Partners ($150,000), Asian Pacific American Leadership Institute ($100,000) and She Who HAS No Masters ($76,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 39% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Asian American Futures?
Asian American Futures reported $1.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.6M.
What does Asian American Futures fund?
AAF’s stated mission is to ensure Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are seen, heard, empowered, and united. Its filing describes several areas of work: See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Asian American Futures?
Asian American Futures has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check asianamericanfutures.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Asian American Futures's EIN?
Asian American Futures's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 85-4191419. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 4, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 31, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS October 28, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS September 30, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
Live grants for the work Asian American Futures funds
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Browse active grant opportunities in Asian American Futures's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Asian American Futures funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/asian-american-futures-morg_09951e76ca33408689dd604b07231aad
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_854191419_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Asian American Futures funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/asian-american-futures-morg_09951e76ca33408689dd604b07231aad},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Asian American Futures's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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