Asian Arts Initiative
The Asian Arts Initiative is a community-based arts center in philadelphia that engages artists and everyday people to create art that explores the diverse experiences of asian americans, addresses our social context, imagines and affects positive community change.
Asian Arts Initiative at a glance
In short: Asian Arts Initiative gave $65K across 2 grants in 2025 (avg $33K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $65,000
- -70.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 2
- -84.6% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $32,500
- +94.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $32,500
- Total assets
- $7,664,202
- -13.1% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (54% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Asian Arts Initiative
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Asian Arts Initiative
Who Asian Arts Initiative funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Unity LLC ($35K). Together the top 2 received $65K.
Grant Size Distribution
21 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 21 grants of 21 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 2 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2023 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $65K (2025) to $218K (2024). In 2025 it made 2 grants totaling $65K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Unity LLC Oakland, CA | to support Unity Press & Skateboarding's charitable and educational work celebrating queer, trans, and BIPOC communities through inclusive skateboarding, art, and music events in public spaces and downtown venues. | $35,000 |
| Spark Greatness LLC Philadelphia, PA | Donation investment for Dear Chinatown Documentary | $30,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $7,664,202 | $1,647,988 | $2,641,349 | $65,000 | 2 | $205,362 |
| 2024 | $8,820,506 | $1,973,295 | $2,581,180 | $217,500 | 13 | $66,477 |
| 2023 | $9,211,656 | $1,796,789 | $2,091,708 | $120,000 | 6 | $29,582 |
| 2022 | $9,408,245 | $3,219,829 | $1,854,995 | — | — | $55,040 |
| 2021 | $8,563,408 | $1,837,879 | $1,385,533 | — | — | $30,632 |
| 2020 | $7,849,419 | $1,236,290 | $1,537,649 | — | — | $37,396 |
| 2019 | $7,796,965 | $941,051 | $1,778,639 | — | — | $52,700 |
About Asian Arts Initiative
Based on IRS filings
Asian Arts Initiative is a public charity focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Philadelphia, PA. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $7.7M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 2 grants totaling $65K. Net investment income was $205K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Asian Arts Initiative is led by Dave Kyu, Interim Executive Director on the 2025 filing; 3 of 11 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Dave Kyu
Interim Executive Director
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$99K (2025)
Tuan Nguyen
Board Chair
Director → Interim Chair, 2023
Interim Chair → Board Chair, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Matt Nelson
Managing Director
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$106K (2025)
Anne Ishii
Former Executive Director
Executive Director → Former Executive Director, 2025
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$39K (2019) → $72K (2025)
Eva Ray
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mary Yee
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2023
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Candace Chewning
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2023
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sandra Clark
Board Member
Director → Board Member, 2023
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sonia Pal
Board Member
Treasurer → Former Treasurer, 2024
Former Treasurer → Board Member, 2025
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Blessy Thomas
Treasurer
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Catherine Lee
Secretary
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (18)
- Former: Aleyamma Mathew (2019–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Amy Sadao (2020–2023) — Co-Chair
- Former: Maori Holmes (2022–2023) — Co-Chair
- Former: Manny Citron (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Sunanda Ghosh (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Kim-Thao Nguyen (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Edward Garcia (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Mary Seng (2019–2021) — Treasurer
- Former: Chris Blakelock (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Gerry Givnish (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Laurence Tom (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Sophia Lee (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Alexander Lord (2019) — Director
- Former: Amy Sadao Feb (2019) — Vice Chair
- Former: Gerry Wang (2019) — Director
- Former: Ignatius Wang (2019) — Director
- Former: Kim-Thao Nguyen April (2019) — Director
- Former: Sally Munemitsu (2019) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $106K, to Matt Nelson (Managing Director). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Asian Arts Initiative
How much does Asian Arts Initiative give each year?
Asian Arts Initiative gave $65K across 2 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $218K across 13 grants.
How large is Asian Arts Initiative?
Asian Arts Initiative reported $7.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.6M.
What is Asian Arts Initiative?
Asian Arts Initiative is a public charity focused on Arts, Culture & Humanities, based in Philadelphia, PA. It holds $7.7M in total assets as of 2025.
Where does Asian Arts Initiative operate?
Asian Arts Initiative has awarded grants in California, New York, Pennsylvania, Washington.
What is Asian Arts Initiative's EIN?
Asian Arts Initiative's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-2827657. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(4)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 11, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Asian Arts Initiative's focus areas in our free grants database
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Asian Arts Initiative down — hundreds of funders to go?