The Asian American Foundation (TAAF) was formally established on May 3, 2021 as a convener, incubator, and funder for the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. TAAF desires to improve the severe underinvestment in this community by offering funding and resources to the ecosystem of leaders and organizations committed to AAPI causes. At a time that anti-AAPI hate and violence have been persisting at alarming rates, TAAF seeks to bring AAPI communities together to more effectively combat this phenomenon and to build the necessary infrastructure to bolster AAPI leadership, power, and representation across American society.
A virtual launch event for the foundation was held on May 4, 2021 and featured remarks by Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama. It also featured panels on power-building, belonging, and coalition-building as well as the AAPI Giving Challenge. In advance of the event, Angela Chao, who has been named Co-Chair of TAAF’s Advisory Council, explained:
“The Asian American Foundation (TAAF) is a new nonprofit organization founded to serve the AAPI community in the pursuit of belonging and prosperity, free from discrimination, slander and violence. We felt there was a compelling need to join together to stop hate in all its forms and to call attention to the many contributions our community has made to our nation’s multi-ethnic tapestry. Our goal is to work towards a brighter future with equal opportunity for all.”