While America has always harbored deeply-rooted issues with racism and xenophobia against Asian American communities, the discriminatory rhetoric surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic has inflamed anti-Asian violence across the country. Now more than ever, it's incredibly important to educate yourself on how to actively work against racism by getting involved in community activism and donating to organizations dedicated to supporting those most harshly affected. If you're not sure where to start, here's where to donate to support Asian American communities.
According to a 2021 study from the Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY), "anti-Asian hate incidents now primarily directed at East Asians have skyrocketed" since the onset of the pandemic in March. "Across the country, there were more than 2,500 reports of anti-Asian hate incidents related to COVID-19 between March and September 2020," the study notes. In New York, the Queens Chronicle reported that hate crimes fueled by racism against Asian communities rose by 1,900% since the pandemic's start. While these numbers alone may already seem like a sharp increase, researchers note how their data actually underestimates the real number of anti-Asian hate incidents, as most incidents go unreported.
And it's not just violent hate crimes that have undergone an increase since the onset of the pandemic — since former President Donald Trump has labeled COVID-19 as the "Chinese virus" and "kung flu," verbal assault has been on the rise as well. Pew Research reports that "about three in 10 Asian adults say they have been subject to slurs or jokes because of their race or ethnicity since the outbreak began." By remaining engaged, actively working to combat racism in your community, and donating money to nonprofit charities dedicating to supporting disproportionately impacted communities, you can show solidarity and help make a tangible difference.
If you decide to give to an organization that isn't on this list, make sure to check if it's a registered 501(c)(3). This designation means it's recognized as a nonprofit under federal guidelines. You can also check the organization out on Charity Navigator and see how they use their funds.
This list will be continually updated with organizations working to end racial injustice.
The Asian Pacific Fund, a community foundation dedicated to strengthening the Asian and Pacific Islander community in the San Francisco Bay Area, aims to be “a bridge that connects the diverse spectrum of Asian Americans in the Bay Area,” per board member Emerald Yeh. “While we celebrate the impressive success in our community, we also acknowledge the great needs, especially among newer Asian American populations,” she added on the organization’s website. By spreading awareness, building community, engaging in philanthropy, and cultivating leaders, the Asian Pacific Fund supports and advocates for the Asian and Pacific Islander community in Northern California, providing families and individuals with the opportunities they need to thrive in the United States. You can donate here.
Founded in 1965 as a grassroots community-based program, the Chinese-American Planning Council became the first social service agency to advocate for Chinese Americans in New York. As of 2021, this nonprofit organization helps thousands of people each day by providing early childhood services, school-age child care services, youth services, community services, workforce development, senior services, and more. If you’d like to support the Chinese-American Planning Council’s goal to serve New York’s Chinese American, immigrant, and low-income communities, you can donate here.
As a nonprofit social welfare organization, the Asian American Advocacy Fund is committed to advocating “for the civil and human rights of Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Native Hawaiians in Georgia,” per their site. By spreading awareness and engaging in political advocacy at the state, local, and federal level, this organization is fighting to not only create a better Georgia for Asian Americans, but for everyone. To help the Asian American Advocacy Fund strengthen their communities and build a more progressive Georgia, you can donate here.
Founded in 1982 as the New York Asian Women’s Center, Womankind is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing Asian American women with the resources they need to overcome the trauma of domestic and sex-based violence. With a team of staff and volunteers that speak more than 18 Asian languages and dialects, the agency provides multilingual and culturally-responsive services to survivors of domestic and sexual abuse. By offering resources like counseling, legal assistance, places to live, and more, Womankind protects abuse survivors while helping them heal in a safe environment. You can donate here.
Apex For Youth is a community-based, nonprofit organization committed to delivering possibilities and opportunities “to underserved Asian and immigrant youth from low-income families in NYC,” per their site.Through one-on-one mentorship, education, athletics, and afterschool programs, Apex For Youth helps Asian American kids become more confident in school, prepares them for higher education, and encourages them to give back to the community. To help this organization support Asian youth in New York, you can send your donations here.
Launched in a joint effort by the Asian Pacific Planning and Policy Council (A3PCON) and the Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA) to combat anti-Asian discrimination amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Stop AAPI Hate "tracks and responds to incidents of hate, violence, harassment, discrimination, shunning, and child bullying against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders." To support their mission, you can donate here. You can also report racist incidents and hate crimes in any language here.
Discrimination against communities of color can often have a serious yet unseen impact on mental health. To combat the stigma of mental illness in Asian communities, the Asian Mental Health Project is working to empower and educate Asian communities in seeking mental health care, and to make mental health care more accessible overall. You can donate here.
Founded in 1974 by a group of lawyers on the East Coast, the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund uses legal advocacy to address several critical issues affecting Asian American communities. The issues they aim to combat include "immigrant rights, voting rights and democracy, economic justice for workers, educational equity, housing and environmental justice, and the elimination of anti-Asian violence, police misconduct, and human trafficking." To support their mission, you can donate here.
As the the oldest and largest health advocacy organization working with Asian American, Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities in the U.S., the Asian and Pacific Islander American Health Forum is dedicated to strengthening and improving health care access, quality, and equity. "By providing grants, training, technical assistance, and consulting," this nonprofit organization is a key resource for community empowerment. You can donate here.
The National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association firmly believes "public policies and social justice issues have direct correlation with mental health," and that equity in America's health care, immigration, education, and social systems is essential to quality of life. To support their goal in promoting the mental health and wellbeing of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, you can donate here.
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