The Asian American Foundation (TAAF) has raised nearly $1.1 billion in support of efforts to address a longstanding lack of investment in Asian-American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities and combat anti-AAPI violence.

Established this spring with initial commitments totaling $125 million from founding board members, TAAF, in partnership with the Ford and John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur foundations, launched the AAPI Giving Challenge with an additional $125 million in commitments from foundations and corporations. In just two weeks, total commitments to the campaign reached more than $900 million, with pledges of funding or in-kind support from thirteen foundations, fifty-six corporate entities, and twenty-eight individuals or couples, as well as anonymous donors. Barron's reports that the Ford Foundation has committed $150 million to promote racial justice, civic engagement, and arts and culture in AAPI communities.

Over the next five years, the funding and resources will be directed to TAAF's three focus areas: mobilizing action against and creating long-term solutions to anti-AAPI hate; conducting research and developing data collection tool standards that center AAPIs in policy making, advocacy, and philanthropy; and ensuring that education curricula, media, and the arts include AAPI communities' experiences and contributions to American history.

"We want to make sure that the stories and the storytellers are as diverse as the United States is," Maria Torres-Springer, vice president for U.S. programs at the Ford Foundation, told Barron's. "The ultimate impact we care about is whether AAPI communities have resources and services not just after a particular violent attack, but whether they are fully empowered in public and civic life, if they are voting, if their voices are heard, if they are counted."

"TAAF was founded to close critical gaps of support for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and end the longstanding underinvestment in our communities. Today's historic announcement should send a clear signal to the twenty-three million AAPIs living in this country that TAAF and our AAPI Giving Challenge partners are here to upend the status quo in favor of a better, brighter future for AAPI communities," said TAAF president Sonal Shah. "The [challenge] was created to invite other funders, leaders, and philanthropists to the table to help TAAF advance our mission, and we have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support we've received in such a short period of time. It's amazing to know that we are not alone in wanting to help lift up AAPI communities. In fact, there's a long list of organizations and people who are joining us in saying enough is enough — the time for change is now."

For a complete list of foundations, corporations, and individuals who have pledged support through the campaign, see the TAAF website.

(Photo credit: Asian American Foundation)