Center for Asian American Media
The Center for Asian American Media (CAAM) is a San Francisco-based public charity dedicated to presenting stories that convey the richness and diversity of Asian American experiences to the broadest audience possible. Founded in 1980, it supports independent media through funding, production, distribution, exhibition, public media programming, festivals, and filmmaker development.
Center for Asian American Media at a glance
In short: Center for Asian American Media gave $1.5M across 30 grants in 2025 (avg $49K), top state New York. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,482,238
- +306.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 30
- +275.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $49,408
- +8.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $37,500
- Total assets
- $14,106,032
- -13.2% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- New York (37% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Center for Asian American Media
- How to Apply
-
The fund’s page says to watch for future open calls and directs applicants to its application information. The listed deadline of April 26, 2026, has passed. The CAAM Documentary Fund is currently paused, and its website says to check back for future opportunities.
- Contact
Mailing address: 145 9Th Street Suite 350, San Francisco, CA 94103
Phone: (415) 863-0814
Website: https://caamedia.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from Center for Asian American Media
Building Bridges Documentary Fund
Center for Asian American Media
Amount
R&D $10K–$25K; Production $50K–$100K; Post-production $50K–$100K (cap $100K/project)
Deadline
Deadline not published
CAAM Documentary Fund
Center for Asian American Media
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
CAAM Fellowship
Center for Asian American Media
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Center for Asian American Media funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was African Cowboy DBA Dream Seek ($100K). Together the top 10 received $850K.
Organizations only. It also paid 4 grants to individuals ($250,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
84 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 57 grants of 84 (68%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
CAAM is based in San Francisco. Its 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in multiple states; the largest shares were in New York (37%) and California (27%), followed by Connecticut and Virginia (7% each) and Mississippi (5%). The Building Bridges Documentary Fund focuses on the U.S. Muslim community.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 30 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Center for Asian American Media gives
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $70K (2019) to $1.5M (2025). In 2025 it made 30 grants totaling $1.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| African Cowboy DBA Dream Seek Pasadena, CA | Filmmaker Award | $100,000 |
| 4 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $250,000 |
| Cloud Machine LLC Los Angeles, CA | Filmmaker Award | $100,000 |
| Sublime Madness Annandale, VA | Filmmaker Award | $100,000 |
| Thank You for Thinking of Me Buffalo, NY | Filmmaker Award | $100,000 |
| Usmp LLC Brooklyn, NY | Filmmaker Award | $100,000 |
| From Kudzu Collective LLC Oxford, MS | Filmmaker Award | $75,000 |
| Third Cousin Pictures Inc Brooklyn, NY | Filmmaker Award | $75,000 |
| WNET Educational Broadcasting New York, NY | Filmmaker Award | $75,000 |
| Yoube Productions LLC Houston, TX | Filmmaker Award | $75,000 |
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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 | $14,106,032 | $3,653,616 | $5,108,519 | $1,482,238 | 30 | $459,273 |
| 2024 | $16,250,057 | $11,535,103 | $4,139,308 | $365,000 | 8 | $235,188 |
| 2023 | $9,357,107 | $4,191,683 | $3,677,521 | $162,000 | 6 | $1,327 |
| 2022 | $8,017,126 | $4,982,490 | $3,835,946 | $509,500 | 11 | $-5,835 |
| 2021 | $7,019,296 | $6,137,998 | $3,030,459 | $652,376 | 29 | $6,368 |
| 2020 | $3,847,406 | $2,872,744 | $2,937,243 | $351,000 | 15 | $1,701 |
| 2019 | $3,823,212 | $2,478,502 | $2,573,486 | $70,000 | 3 | $1,428 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
CAAM’s stated mission is to present stories conveying the richness and diversity of Asian American experiences to the broadest audience possible. Its 2024 filing describes work that includes funding and producing media, presenting CAAMFest and year-round events, placing documentaries on public media platforms, and distributing educational media.
Its funding includes documentary production and post-production, and its programs offer training, mentorship, and educational opportunities for media makers. The Building Bridges Documentary Fund supports projects that illuminate the U.S. Muslim experience. CAAM’s website says eligible formats include feature-length films, shorts, and episodic series, and applicants need not be Muslim.
Examples of 2025 grantees include WNET, which describes its mission as delivering lifelong learning and meaningful experiences through public service media; the Japanese American National Museum, which says it promotes understanding of America’s ethnic and cultural diversity by sharing the Japanese American experience; and American Documentary, which says it works to make essential documentaries accessible and amplify filmmakers’ voices.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, CAAM reported 30 grants totaling $1,482,238. Grants ranged from $10,000 to $100,000, with a median of $37,500. The largest listed awards included $100,000 each to African Cowboy DBA Dream Seek, an individual recipient, Cloud Machine LLC, Sublime Madness, Thank You for Thinking of Me, and USMP LLC, all for filmmaker awards. Other listed filmmaker awards included $75,000 to WNET Educational Broadcasting and $50,000 to an individual recipient.
The Building Bridges Documentary Fund offers $10,000–$25,000 for research and development and $50,000–$100,000 for production or post-production. Its application information welcomes filmmakers at emerging, mid-career, and veteran levels. Co-directors may apply with a joint statement explaining how they share directing responsibilities. Production applicants must submit a visual sample of at least 15 minutes; post-production applicants must submit a full-length rough cut. Projects with international components may qualify if they illuminate the U.S. Muslim story. The fund caps total project funding at $100,000 for previously funded projects.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Donald Young and Stephen Gong as Executive Directors; James Ott as Director of Finance; Frances Pomperada as Director of Development; Sapana Sakya as Director of Talent; Grace Lynch as Director of Communications; Dipti Ghosh and Vincent Pan as Co-Chairs; Brent Hall as Secretary; and David Lei as Vice Chair.
Center for Asian American Media is led by Stephen Gong, Executive Director on every filing since 2019; 6 of 19 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Stephen Gong
Executive Director
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$107K (2019) → $101K (2025)
Donald Young
Executive Director
Director of Programs → Executive Director, 2025
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$132K (2022) → $192K (2025)
Frances Pomperada
Director Development
Director of Developmt → Director Development, 2025
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$118K (2022) → $129K (2025)
James Ott
Director of Finance
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$123K (2022) → $148K (2025)
Grace Lynch
Director of Communications
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$108K (2025)
Sapana Sakya
Director of Talent
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$104K (2025)
Brent Quan Hall
Secretary
Board Member → Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christine Chen
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Lei
Vice Chair
Board Member → Treasurer, 2022
Treasurer → Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dipti Ghosh
Co-Chair
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Hanson Li
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James Bao
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paula Madison
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Vincent Pan
Co-Chair
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Frank Nakano
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Thuy Vi Nguyen
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Richard Chin
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cheryl Wei
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rosemary Nahm
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (10)
- Former: Myong Leigh (2019–2024) — Vice Chair
- Former: Rosemarie Nahm (2023–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Matt Mui (2019–2023) — Board Member
- Former: David He Lee (2022–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Bill Imada (2019–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Naja Pham Lockwood (2019–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Tessie Guillermo (2019–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Chirstopher Au (2019–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Johnnie D Giles (2019–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Stephanie Wei (2019–2021) — Treasurer
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 $192K, to Donald Young (Executive Dir.). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Center for Asian American Media
How much does Center for Asian American Media give each year?
Center for Asian American Media gave $1.5M across 30 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $365K across 8 grants.
What is Center for Asian American Media's typical grant size?
Center for Asian American Media's median grant in 2025 was $37,500, and its average grant was $49,408, across 30 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Center for Asian American Media give grants?
Center for Asian American Media's top state is New York, with 37% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were California (27%) and Connecticut (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were Brooklyn, NY (4 grants), Los Angeles, CA (3 grants) and New York, NY (3 grants).
Does Center for Asian American Media give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 30 grants with a stated purpose on Center for Asian American Media's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Filmmaker Award" (30 grants).
Who are Center for Asian American Media's largest grantees?
Center for Asian American Media's largest 2025 grantees include African Cowboy DBA Dream Seek ($100,000), Cloud Machine LLC ($100,000) and Sublime Madness ($100,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. It also paid 4 grants to individuals ($250,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 20% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Center for Asian American Media?
Center for Asian American Media reported $14.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $3.7M.
What does Center for Asian American Media fund?
CAAM’s stated mission is to present stories conveying the richness and diversity of Asian American experiences to the broadest audience possible. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Center for Asian American Media?
The fund’s page says to watch for future open calls and directs applicants to its application information. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Center for Asian American Media's EIN?
Center for Asian American Media's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 94-2801493. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 28, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS July 3, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 1, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 23, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 17, 2026)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 13, 2020)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Center for Asian American Media funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/center-for-asian-american-media-morg_eff9099103a24101b347e1b8ceb74e31
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_942801493_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Center for Asian American Media funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/center-for-asian-american-media-morg_eff9099103a24101b347e1b8ceb74e31},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Center for Asian American Media'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.
Center for Asian American Media down — hundreds of funders to go?