Racial equity has been a more explicit consideration for foundations, as CEP documented ina report released last month, but our data suggests that some communities continue to be overlooked. Across four research studies that CEP has conducted in the past two years, we’ve noticed two concerning trends emerge for AAPI and Native American nonprofit leaders and communities (trends that we do not see for nonprofit leaders and communities of other races/ethnicities):
- AAPI and Native American nonprofit leaders report having less positive experiences with their foundation funders than nonprofit leaders of other races/ethnicities. This has been the case during, as well as prior to, the pandemic.
- Despite the significant challenges facing AAPI and Native American people, most foundations continue to overlook nonprofits that serve these communities.
When we interviewed AAPI and Native American nonprofit leaders about these findings, they reflected on foundations’ lack of understanding about their organizations and communities, including their histories and the present day challenges they face. Both AAPI and Native American nonprofit leaders urged foundations to understand the broad diversity present in their communities. As one AAPI nonprofit leader put it, “the Asian American community is so diverse, in language and in the history of how we came to the United States. That history looks very different for Chinese Americans versus Vietnamese Americans versus Nepalese Americans. There are different needs in all of these communities. It’s definitely not a one size fits all.”
These leaders also described misconceptions and harmful stereotypes about their communities that have made it harder for them to obtain funding. “There’s so much marginalization of Indigenous people and disinformation,” said one Native American nonprofit leader. “‘Indians are drunks or Indians are casino owners. Every Indian gets a free check from the government, and they make millions every year. How come they get a free ride?’ That’s one big lie that’s told over and over again.”
The gaps in understanding and the shortage of funding for these communities that this report highlights are consistent with trends that organizations such as Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy (AAPIP) and Native Americans in Philanthropy (NAP) have been calling out for decades.
Read the full article aboutAAPI and Native American Communities由凯蒂Malmgren Eff中心ective Philanthropy.
