The Chinese Progressive Association (CPA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1972 in San Francisco. The organization educates, organizes, and empowers low-income and working-class immigrant Chinese communities to build collective power with other marginalized communities and demand better living and working conditions and justice for all people.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$32.5M
-0.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.2M
-34.4% YoY
Grant Count
20
+66.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$59K
-60.7% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: Founded in 1972, the Chinese Progressive Association educates, organizes and empowers the low income and working class immigrant Chinese community in San Francisco to build collective power with other oppressed communities to demand better living and working conditions and justice for all people.
Core Strategies: Community education, organizing, leadership development, and alliance building.
Primary Program Areas:
Tenant and Worker Center (TWC) — Conducts outreach and education for low-wage immigrant workers about San Francisco and California labor laws, including minimum wage and paid sick leave. Provides consultation on workplace violations and referral to legal and support services. Engages workers in leadership development training and political education. The program equipped over 10,000 workers with knowledge of local and state labor laws and provided consultations to over 100 workers.
Youth Movement of Justice and Organizing (Youth MOJO) — Develops leadership of working-class Chinese and Asian American high school youth to engage in their communities through issue-based organizing.
Civic Engagement Program — A structured voter education and mobilization program to engage youth and adult leaders, promote civic participation, and build a progressive voice for low-income and working-class Chinese immigrants in local, statewide, and national politics.
Populations Served: Immigrants and migrants, adolescents, low-wage workers, students, and voters.
Grantmaking
The Chinese Progressive Association functions as a grantmaker with total giving of $1,179,000 according to their most recent IRS Form 990 filing (2024). Grant awards typically range from $8,000 to $4,500,000.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The organization is based in San Francisco, California, with operations throughout the Bay Area. Their grantmaking activities extend to California, Virginia, and Pennsylvania.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023-2024:
- Total Assets: $32,528,090 (2024) / $32,816,653 (2023)
- Total Revenues: $23,420,112 (2023)
- Total Expenses: $18,420,699 (2023)
- Total Giving: $1,179,000 (2024)
- Number of Employees: 1 (reported on tax filings); 10 (reported in company data)
Rating: Four-Star charity with a 97% rating from independent evaluators, reflecting strong performance in Accountability & Finance, Culture & Community, Impact & Measurement, and Leadership & Adaptability.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $32,528,090 | $32,816,653 | $32,876,483 |
| Revenue | $22,872,129 | $23,420,112 | $19,799,375 |
| Expenses | $18,324,191 | $18,420,699 | $23,168,751 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $953,375 | $199,844 | $86,383 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
116 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Arab American Action Network ($150,000), Asian Americans United ($150,000), Asian Pacific Environmental Network ($150,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ARAB AMERICAN ACTION NETWORK CHICAGO, IL | LOTUS AND RICE GRANT TO SUPPORT BASEBUILDING AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT | $150,000 |
| ASIAN AMERICANS UNITED PHILADELPHIA, PA | LOTUS AND RICE GRANT TO SUPPORT BASEBUILDING AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT | $150,000 |
| ASIAN LAW CAUCUS SAN FRANCISCO, CA | COMMUNITY ECONOMIC MOBILIZATION INITIATIVE 2024 | $10,000 |
| ASIAN PACIFIC ENVIRONMENTAL NETWORK OAKLAND, CA | LOTUS AND RICE GRANT TO SUPPORT BASEBUILDING AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT | $150,000 |
| BET TZEDECK LEGAL SERVICES LOS ANGELES, CA | COMMUNITY ECONOMIC MOBILIZATION INITIATIVE 2024 | $10,000 |
| CALIFORNIA RURAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE INC MODESTO, CA | COMMUNITY ECONOMIC MOBILIZATION INITIATIVE 2024 | $10,000 |
| CENTER FOR EMPOWERED POLITICS EDUCATION FUND OAKLAND, CA | GRANT TO SEEDING CHANGE FELLOWSHIP | $100,000 |
| COMMUNITY PARTNERS LOS ANGELES, CA | LOTUS AND RICE GRANT TO SUPPORT BASEBUILDING AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT | $150,000 |
| FORCE FOR CHANGE BALLOT COMMITTEE OAKLAND, CA | VOTER GUIDE PRINTING & DISTRIBUTION | $49,000 |
| GARMENT WORKERS CENTER LOS ANGELES, CA | COMMUNITY ECONOMIC MOBILIZATION INITIATIVE 2024 | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Executive Director: Shaw San Liu
Development Director: Hai Chi
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KIMI LEE | BOARD CHAIR | 1 | — |
| ARTHUR LIOU | BOARD VICE CHAIR | 1 | — |
| CHARLOTTE CHANG | BOARD SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| KIM GERON | BOARD TREASURER | 1 | — |
| STACY KONO | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| KATIE YUE-SUM LI | BOARD MEMBER | 1 | — |
| SHAW SAN LIU SEE SCHED O | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In 2023, CPA completed a vocational hospitality training program with 24 workers graduating from the initiative, demonstrating the organization's continued commitment to workforce development for Chinese immigrant communities.
Chinese Progressive Association | PRESS RELEASE \u2014 Chinese Immigrant\Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Chinese Progressive Association fund?
**Mission:** Founded in 1972, the Chinese Progressive Association educates, organizes and empowers the low income and working class immigrant Chinese community in San Francisco to build collective power with other oppressed communities to demand better living and working conditions and justice for all people. **Core Strategies:** Community education, organizing, leadership development, and alliance building. **Primary Program Areas:** • **Tenant and Worker Center (TWC)** — Conducts outreach and…
How do I apply for a grant from Chinese Progressive Association?
The Chinese Progressive Association functions as a grantmaker with total giving of $1,179,000 according to their most recent IRS Form 990 filing (2024). Grant awards typically range from $8,000 to $4,500,000. **Grantmaking Focus Areas:** Education, Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, and Human Services. **Geographic Scope of Grantmaking:** Primarily California, Virginia, and Pennsylvania.
Where does Chinese Progressive Association make grants?
The organization is based in San Francisco, California, with operations throughout the Bay Area. Their grantmaking activities extend to California, Virginia, and Pennsylvania.
What size grants does Chinese Progressive Association award?
In 2024, Chinese Progressive Association awarded 20 grants totaling $1.2M — an average of about $59K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Chinese Progressive Association's EIN?
Chinese Progressive Association's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7404756. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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