Resources
In order to understand the present state and the future of charitable giving in America, we need to better understand the charitable engagement of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders. Not only are AAPIs among the fastest growing racial groups in the country, they already contribute to the charitable landscape and vibrancy of many cities and communities.
However, as Asian Americans / Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy (AAPIP) found in their 2025 AANHPI Funding Snapshot, for every $100 awarded by foundations, only 34 cents is designated to AANHPI communities. Philanthropic support needs to dramatically increase to meet the growing needs of our communities and to do so, it is important to have data-driven insights that can inform the strategies of funders, nonprofits, and community leaders.
State of AANHPI Charitable Giving is a report which brings together the newest data on charitable giving. This report, based on the latest survey data from AAPI Data and Associated Press-NORC, provides an in-depth analysis of rates, patterns, and amounts of AANHPI giving in comparison to the U.S. average. The report also examines motivations for giving and highlights emerging trends in philanthropy such as the potential for mutual aid and the growing significance of crowdfunding and grassroots giving.
Key Insights
- AAPI charitable giving is slightly higher than the national average: 85% of AAPI adults reported making charitable donations in the last year, compared to the national average of 79%. In terms of donation amounts, 31% of AAPI adults donated over $500 compared to 21% for the national average.
- As with the general population, a charity’s mission and its tangible impact is the primary motivation for AAPI charitable giving (69%). Tax benefit considerations, while far less important for AAPI adults (24%), are nevertheless higher than the national average (12%).
- Assistance to friends and family is the highest priority for charitable support, followed by neighbors and community members. Charitable giving to people outside the United States, including in countries of origin, is significantly lower.
- The community heavily engages in in-kind giving, such as donating food and clothing.
- AAPI adults are more likely to have given to crowdfunding campaigns (32%) than the national average (21%). Crowdfunding participation is comparable across ethnic groups, gender, and partisanship. It is currently highest among those aged 35 to 49, which likely reflects the combined effect of being more digitally engaged than older adults and having higher financial capacity than those in younger age groups.