On October 3, nonprofit and foundation leaders, philanthropists, social impact innovators, and community members across generations gathered at the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco for our 2026 Giving Summit.

The Summit has now taken place in three cities, and each gathering has given us a window into the many ways Korean Americans are choosing to invest in our communities.

We are founding and leading nonprofits. Practicing and working in advancing philanthropy. Serving on boards. Starting social impact initiatives. Volunteering our time and bringing our professional expertise, relationships, and resources to the causes that matter to us.

For many of us, and for many of our immigrant parents, these may not have been paths we saw as possibilities. But looking around the room in San Francisco, it was clear just how much that has changed.

We are deeply grateful to our speakers, who were incredibly open and generous with their stories, expertise, and perspectives: Young Seh Bae (Founder & Executive Director, Community Inclusion & Development Alliance), Cathy Cha (Senior Fellow, Freedom Together Foundation), Anne Im (Senior Director – Community Impact & Policy, Silicon Valley Community Foundation), Catherine Jhung (Managing Director, Hercules Capital), Connie Chung Joe (President & CEO, Asian Americans / Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy), Jung Woo Kim (Co-Director, NAKASEC), Daniel Lee (President & CEO, Evelyn & Walter Haas, Jr. Fund), Daniel Lee (COO, Quantify Funds and Quantify Chaos and Co-Founder, Korean Language Center of Sacramento), Jeannie Park (Board Chair, KACF), Paula Park (Founder, Soft Serve), Sandra Schubert (Managing Director, Goldman Sachs), Yeri Shon (Associate Director, MARU Center), and Joy Wheeler (Managing Director, YS Kim Foundation).

Four takeaways from these conversations in San Francisco:

1. When we invest in nonprofits, we are investing in the people, expertise, and leadership our communities need.

We opened the day with “Voices from the Frontlines of Change,” a series of “lightning talks” featuring Korean American nonprofit leaders. They shared deeply personal stories about why they do this work and the lessons they have learned along the way.

Young Seh Bae, Founder and Executive Director of Community Inclusion and Development Alliance (CIDA), spoke as the mother of an adult son with autism. When she and other parents couldn’t find the support their children needed, they built it themselves. She spoke about the power of “social capital” and, simply, “humans helping humans”: the relationships and the entire community it takes to ensure people like her son, Eugene, are included and able to thrive.

Yeri Shon, Associate Director at MARU Center (formerly the Korean Community Center of the East Bay), shared how she decided not to pursue medical school after finding her calling in nonprofit work, much to the surprise of her immigrant parents. She challenged assumptions about nonprofit professionals and spoke to the expertise, skill, and innovation it requires to help people navigate some of society’s hardest challenges. Her father, who once struggled to understand her decision, came to see this firsthand and now advocates for MARU Center and his community alongside Yeri.

Jung Woo Kim, Co-Director of NAKASEC, described his journey from advocating for his own access to a college education to organizing and leading alongside immigrant communities. His own experience was the starting point, but through his work at NAKASEC, he honed the skills to organize strategically, mobilize people, and turn individual experiences into collective action. His story spoke to the power of sharing our stories, standing alongside others, and finding purpose in something greater than ourselves.

Their stories reminded us that nonprofit work is not a backup plan or a lesser professional path. It is a field that calls for strategy, leadership, creativity, and specialized expertise, often strengthened by the lived experiences that help leaders understand their communities in ways others cannot.

And we need more people choosing this work. The challenges nonprofits take on are complex, and the people working closest to them are often the ones seeing what others miss, asking different questions, and building solutions that make room for more people.

2. If K-culture can inspire the world, why not K-giving? 

Our culture has unprecedented visibility, and our influence continues to grow across industries and institutions. Today, “K” has become shorthand for excellence and innovation: K-beauty, K-dramas, K-pop, K-food. 

A conversation among Korean American leaders in philanthropy Cathy Cha, Anne Im, and Daniel Lee, moderated by Connie Chung Joe, challenged us to consider what this moment asks of us. Drawing on their leadership across major philanthropic institutions, they spoke to how being Korean positions us to take a seat at the table, ask different questions, and help shape institutions and communities in new ways. 

Cathy Cha (Senior Fellow, Freedom Together Foundation) offered a glass-half-full view of this moment. “There’s an openness to doing new things, being more creative, and more innovative,” she said. “When there is such dire need and chaos in the world, what we have is an opportunity to rethink how things should go, to break the status quo.”

Daniel Lee (President & CEO, Evelyn & Walter Haas, Jr. Fund) spoke to what sits beneath our cultural visibility. “It’s not that people just love our products, but there’s something deeply aspirational that people see,” he said. “There’s anchoring of people’s identity to the culture itself, and this Korean soft power is really powerful. What would happen if we took that into our giving?”

Anne Im (Senior Director, Community Impact & Policy, Silicon Valley Community Foundation) put it this way: “Go Korean on it.” She described the extra passion, force, and energy we bring to the things we care about. “Giving and philanthropy: let’s do it the way Koreans do it, with passion, fire, gusto, bringing all the skills and talents we have.”

What we can do together goes beyond a trend or a moment, and we have an opportunity to put our growing resources, relationships, expertise, and influence to work for more people, creating greater opportunity, security, and belonging.

3. Korean American philanthropy has an opportunity to think differently about legacy

A panel on building a giving infrastructure, with Jeannie Park, Sandra Schubert, and Joy Wheeler, explored what it means to build a thoughtful and sustained approach to philanthropy, from choosing vehicles like donor advised funds and family foundations to navigating governance, family engagement, and decision making.

The conversation invited us to think more expansively about legacy. Rather than focusing only on what we build or leave behind for future generations, what can we make possible with our resources now?

Sandra Schubert (Managing Director, Goldman Sachs) described a broader generational shift she is seeing in among her clients families. Family foundations once often aspired to build enduring institutions that would grow across generations. Today, she sees more younger philanthropists, particularly women influenced by philanthropists like MacKenzie Scott and Melinda French Gates, prioritizing putting significant resources to work and seeing their impact within their lifetimes.

That sense of intentionality came through from different perspectives. “Whatever you do, you’ve got to get the money out,” Jeannie Park (Board Chair, KACF) said, reflecting on her own approach to giving. She spoke about being part of a community of people and causes she supports has shaped her philanthropy and why the structures we choose should reflect the values behind them.

Joy Wheeler (Managing Director, YS Kim Foundation) offered the perspective of someone leading a private family foundation. She shared how the YS Kim Foundation translates its philanthropic goals into practice by setting clear annual giving targets and challenging itself to significantly increase them each year.

For Korean American donors, this offers another way to think about what it means to leave a legacy: not only through what we pass down, but through what we choose to put into motion today.

Sandra noted that children do not necessarily share their parents’ philanthropic priorities. For families who want the organizations and causes they value to continue receiving support, planned giving and other intentional structures can ensure those commitments endure rather than assuming the next generation will carry them forward.

4. A culture of giving starts with showing up and carries across generations with intention

A panel on building a culture of giving in our lives, with Catherine Jhung, Daniel Lee, and Paula Park, made one thing clear: you don’t have to have it all figured out to begin.

Daniel Lee (COO, Quantify Funds and Quantify Chaos and Co-Founder, Korean Language and Cultural Center of Sacramento) described the start of what has become a 20-plus-year journey in philanthropy. “I didn’t know what I was getting myself into, but I knew I just needed to go,” he said. “I needed to help. I needed to be in the room.” Catherine Jhung (Senior Managing Director, Hercules Capital), reminded us that the barrier to starting is lower than many think. “You don’t need the capital to start your journey,” she said. “It’s about finding something you’re interested in with people you enjoy being with,” and incorporating philanthropy into your interests.

Paula Park (Founder, Soft Serve) encouraged us not to let perfection get in the way of action. “Done is better than perfect,” she said. “Being Korean sometimes paralyzes us with perfectionism, trying to achieve a perfect way, a perfect moment to understand how to do things. I really believe it’s better to stretch yourself and do that half-step instead of waiting to do that full step.” She also spoke about what makes giving last. Longevity, she said, comes from getting clear on “what you want your impact and legacy to be” and “understanding a long-term vision.”

Catherine and Daniel both spoke about wanting to create something lasting that their children can take part in and be proud of. That means creating opportunities for them to participate, understand the needs around them, meet people whose experiences differ from their own, and decide for themselves what they care about and how to contribute.

Rooted locally, connected nationally

As KACF and KACF San Francisco work toward merging into one unified organization, we have been thinking deeply about how to stay rooted in the communities we serve while creating more ways for people, ideas, resources, and relationships to connect across regions. The Giving Summit is one expression of what that can look like.

Thank you to everyone who spent the day with us in San Francisco, shared your experiences, asked questions, and brought your own perspective to the conversation.

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For years, we have grown alongside one another—deeply rooted in our communities and connected by a shared purpose: mobilizing Korean Americans to give and invest collectively in a stronger future. Over time, our partnership has deepened through joint initiatives, shared investments, and ongoing conversations about emerging needs. Through this work, it became clear that we are aligned not only in mission, but in the long‑term impact we aspire to make together.

Today, we are taking an important step forward together: The Korean American Community Foundation (KACF) and the Korean American Community Foundation of San Francisco (KACF-SF) are merging to form one unified national organization.

This next chapter builds on what you have helped to make possible. Together, our organizations have invested more than $24 million in our communities, making an impact on the lives of tens of thousands of individuals and families. We will build on this momentum to do even more.

Grounded in our shared belief that lasting impact is built on strong local roots and a more connected national approach, we are committed to deepening our support for nonprofits by increasing access to funding and resources within and beyond their immediate communities, while facilitating learning and collaboration across the country.

What matters most will remain unchanged: our focus on serving those facing the greatest barriers to economic security, our commitment to supporting community-based organizations, and our belief in the power of community-building and collective giving. 

The unified organization will operate as the Korean American Community Foundation (KACF). Kyung B. Yoon will serve as President and CEO, and leadership and governance will combine both organizations’ board and staff teams to ensure continuity and shared stewardship. We will serve as Chair and Vice Chair of the Board of Directors as the organization moves forward. Most importantly, we are committed to ensuring that there will be no disruption to existing programs, partnerships, or commitments to our valued partners and donors.

What excites us most is not the scale of what we are becoming, but what we are becoming together—one community, building something larger than any of us could create alone.

Thank you for your support. We look forward to sharing more details about the merger in the weeks ahead as this next chapter continues to take shape. 

With Gratitude,

Jeannie Park
Board Chair, KACF

Sung Jin Ingriselli
Board Chair, KACF-SF

The post KACF and KACF-SF Announce Merger to Strengthen Korean American Philanthropy Nationwide first appeared on Korean American Community Foundation.

At a moment when Korean culture is shaping global tastes and trends, the Korean American Community Foundation (KACF) convened leaders across business, the arts, law, media, and the nonprofit sector at its sold-out Annual Gala on April 22 at Cipriani Wall Street, raising $3.5 million to strengthen Korean American communities nationwide. 

The evening reflected a defining shift in how cultural visibility translates into meaningful community investment —deepening local impact while connecting leaders and solutions across the country. It also celebrated a landmark milestone: KACF has surpassed $20 million in cumulative grantmaking since its founding in 2002.

In her remarks, KACF President & CEO Kyung B. Yoon reflected on a landmark year for the Foundation, noting that over $3 million in grants were distributed in 2024—nearly twice the amount awarded the year before:

“Strong communities don’t happen by chance; they are built deliberately by people who invest in one another. Real impact requires strategy, voice, and collective action. And today—at a moment when Korean Americans have more visibility and influence than ever—the question is, ‘What will we do with this moment?’”

Kyung B. Yoon, KACF President & CEO

Honoring Changemakers Across Philanthropy and Culture

The Gala honored Miyoung Lee, Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Whitney Museum of American Art, for her longstanding commitment to philanthropy and championship of Korean American representation.

“I choose to support organizations that can do this work at a scale I could never achieve alone,” Miyoung Lee said. “KACF is one of those organizations. They show up for our community. For those navigating poverty and isolation. And for those living between two languages, two cultures, and two generations.”

KACF also presented its Trailblazer Award to artists EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and REI AMI, recognizing their cultural influence and the doors they are opening for the next generation of Korean Americans.

“We are so honored to be recognized by KACF and to be part of a night celebrating the uplifting of the Korean American community through philanthropy,” EJAE said. 

“The KACF Gala was a powerful reminder of the generations that have paved the way for all of us. To look into a crowd of so many Korean-American faces and celebrate this moment together was moving to the point of tears. I’m forever grateful for the sacrifices, the resilience, and of course the jeong that our community holds, that have allowed for so much progress in not just representation in media, but also financial support and empowerment that directly uplifts the people who need it most,” Audrey Nuna said.

“It was an honor to be awarded the Trailblazer Award by KACF. It filled me with immense pride to be able to stand in a room full of fellow trailblazers, leaders, and innovators. As an immigrant myself, my family and I depended on our community to survive and acclimate to life in America. The love and support that we received from our community is something I will forever cherish,” REI AMI said.

Together, this year’s honorees reflect an evolution in how the Korean immigrant community’s influence is expressed, pairing representation and visibility with a deepened sense of responsibility to give back and build forward.

Investing in Communities Across the Country

KACF supports nonprofit organizations serving Korean American communities across the country, including older adults, low income families, and immigrants navigating language and systemic barriers.

Board Chair Jeannie Park spoke to the urgency behind the work. “The reason we are here is that there are still so many, often invisible, who struggle for basic needs and dignity,” she said.

A highlight of the evening was a powerful testimony from Irene Jisun Sohn, Executive Director of Hanul Family Alliance, a KACF grantee partner in Greater Chicago.

“Needs among our community are great, but leading this work in such uncertain times is not an easy job. KACF’s support means so much because it allows us to show up for families at the exact moment they need someone to stand beside them and give them hope. And it is what helps organizations like Hanul thrive to create a bigger impact,” said Irene Jisun Sohn.

Building What Comes Next

Since its founding in 2002, KACF has grown into a national foundation with reach across the country. In the past year alone, the organization invested $3 million across more than 40 nonprofit partners.

Funds raised at the Gala will expand access to essential services, amplify the community’s collective voice to unlock greater investment and opportunity, and create pathways for leaders to connect, learn, and scale solutions nationwide.

“As our community grows in influence, our responsibility grows with it. Together, we have the opportunity to build something lasting for generations to come.” — Kyung B. Yoon

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Supporting a New National Coalition

As a national foundation, our role continues to expand beyond grantmaking, both deepening support for local communities across the country and incubating new initiatives that open doors for greater collaboration and impact. One such initiative is Aging Care Together (ACT), a coalition established by four nonprofits—Hanul Family Alliance, Korean Community Services, Korean Community Service Center of Greater Washington, and Somang Society— to build a more connected national support system for Korean American family caregivers, informed by decades of locally rooted, community-based care.

ACT works to:

• connect nonprofits across regions to share expertise and resources
• provide practical, culturally grounded tools for caregivers supporting parents living with dementia
• strengthen a trusted national referral network
• build research and data to better inform community-based responses

A Catalyst for Collaboration

ACT reflects years of relationship-building that KACF has intentionally fostered. Over time, we have worked to create spaces for nonprofit leaders to build relationships, exchange ideas, learn from local successes, and identify opportunities to address shared challenges. The leaders of ACT’s founding organizations first connected through KACF’s National Convening, the largest annual gathering of Korean American nonprofit leaders nationwide.

What began as late-night conversations in the hotel lobby about their individual challenges evolved into a collective realization: that together, they could build stronger systems of support for Korean Americans than any one them could alone. 

Today, KACF continues to serve as a strategic advisor and partner to ACT during its formative phase, helping provide coordination, visibility, and outreach support as the coalition grows.

ACT Demonstrates Momentum with First Public Engagement

On March 19, ACT hosted its first webinar, drawing nearly 300 registrants from across the country. The session opened with a conversation between Jeannie Park (Board Chair, KACF) and Nydia Han (Anchor, 6abc Action News), who shared her personal testimony and insights on caring for a parent living with dementia. Their dialogue was followed by a Q&A with community experts from each ACT member organization, who provided practical guidance on dementia care, resource navigation, and steps attendees can take to prepare and plan. 

Why This Work Matters

Across the country, Korean American families are navigating the realities of aging, caregiving, and dementia with limited culturally and linguistically accessible support. At the same time:

• The Korean American population aged 65 and older has grown by nearly 70% over the last decade
• More than one-third of older Korean Americans live with dementia or mild cognitive impairment
• In a recent study, 82% of surveyed Korean older adults expressed a preference for familial care. (Asian American Federation, 2024)
• 85% of Korean older adults cite lack of information and language barriers as major obstacles when considering professional caregiving. (Asian American Federation, 2024)

KACF’s work to support ACT reflects a broader evolution in who we are: not just a funder, but also a convener and philanthropic leader helping strengthen the infrastructure and support systems Korean American communities need to thrive.

You can watch the webinar here. Learn more about Aging Care Together at agingcaretogether.org.

The post ‘Aging Care Together’ Launches First National Webinar for Korean Americans Caring for Parents with Dementia first appeared on Korean American Community Foundation.

Since our first grants in Southern California in 2023, KACF has funded 16 nonprofit organizations. From Koreatown to Orange County, these nonprofit partners are strengthening support for older adults and family caregivers, providing assistance to small business owners, increasing access to social services and health care, expanding disability services, and supporting survivors of gender‑based violence.

Conversations Shaping What Comes Next

This year, we hosted our third annual reception in Los Angeles, an evening dedicated to celebrating our grantee partners and getting to know the people driving their work. 

We also continued our series of intimate gatherings, bringing community members into honest conversation about giving, local needs, and what lasting impact in Southern California actually looks like.

With the support and leadership of Bonnie & Ekwan Rhow, James Cha & Eric Kim, and Jihee & Peter Huh, KACF also convened a series of intimate gatherings that created space for connection, reflection, and meaningful conversations about the role each of us—and all of us collectively—can play in building the culture of giving our communities need.

Looking Ahead

Together, these efforts are helping to build momentum toward KACF’s inaugural gala in Los Angeles Gala this fall and a broader vision for growing Korean American philanthropy nationwide.

As KACF’s impact in the region continues to deepen, so does the opportunity to bring more people into a shared mission—to give together, strengthen the organizations serving our communities, and help establish Southern California as a cornerstone of Korean American philanthropy.

The post KACF Surpasses $1.5 Million in Grants to Southern California  first appeared on Korean American Community Foundation.

NEW YORK, NY — The Korean American Community Foundation (KACF) announces $3 million in new Community Grants to support nonprofit organizations strengthening Korean American communities across the United States, bringing the Foundation’s cumulative grantmaking to $20 million since its founding.

Founded in 2002 to advance a culture of giving in the Korean American community, KACF has grown into a national philanthropic leader through the collective support of thousands of donors across generations. To date, KACF’s investments have supported 126 nonprofit organizations across 518 initiatives, helping vulnerable Korean Americans achieve greater economic security nationwide.

This milestone represents far more than dollars invested; it reflects how far we have come—moving from a place of scarcity to one of growing abundance. More than 20 years ago, mainstream funders were not investing in the Korean American community, and the infrastructure to mobilize and translate generosity into sustained impact did not exist. We have built a culture of giving that has endured, carrying our community forward any single crisis or generation.

Kyung B. Yoon, President & CEO

Investing Where Needs Are Greatest

Recent years have marked a pivotal period of growth for the Foundation as it expanded its impact beyond the New York metropolitan area to become the leading national foundation dedicated to lifting up Korean American communities. 

The Foundation’s latest round of grants will direct $3 million in 42 nonprofit organizations addressing economic insecurity, including critical support for social services, job training for people with disabilities and survivors of gender‑based violence, youth empowerment programs, food and health care access, and civic engagement and advocacy. Select grants were fully or partially underwritten through funding partnerships with the Korean American Community Foundation of San Francisco, Seoul Medical Group, and the YS Kim Foundation.

This year’s grants support nonprofit partners across nine states and Washington, DC, with new partnerships established in New Mexico and Washington State.

“Since expanding our grantmaking nationally, we continue to hear from organizations that a grant from KACF was the first time they had ever received funding from a major philanthropic institution. This year alone, we received 100 grant applications, underscoring both the growing need across our communities and how many they continue to be overlooked and underresourced. Our work is driven by a commitment to meet the moment for our communities.“

Brennan Gang, Vice President of Programs & Operations

See the full list of KACF’s 2025 Community Grant recipients below.

Learn more about our grantee partners:
kacfny.org/grantee-partners.

To read our President & CEO’s reflections on reaching our $20 million milestone:
Marking $20 Million in Community Investments: A Year-End Reflection

California

• Being Built Together
• Home on the Green Pastures
• Karsh Social Service Center
• KFAM (Grant generously underwritten by KACF San Francisco)
• KIWA
• Korea Town Senior & Community Center
• Korean American Center
• Korean American Coalition-Los Angeles
• Korean American Community Services
• Korean American Seniors Association of OC
• Korean American Special Education Center (Grant generously underwritten by KACF San Francisco)
• Korean Resource Center
• LTSC Community Development Corporation
• Open Door Legal
• YouStar Foundation

Illinois

• Hanul Family Alliance
• KAN-WIN

New Mexico

• New Mexico Asian Family Center

New York/New Jersey

• Asian American Legal Defense & Education Fund
• AAPI New Jersey
• Asian American Federation
• CPC
• Chinese-Korean Community Services of Metropolitan New York
• Community Inclusion & Development Alliance
• Give Chances (Grant generously underwritten by the YS Kim Foundation)
• Korean American Civic Empowerment
• Korean American Family Service Center
• Korean Community Center
• MinKwon Center
• New Beginnings for Special Needs
• Red Canary Song
• Renaissance
• Stomach Cancer Task Force
• WomanKind
• YWCA of Queens

Pennsylvania

• Penn Asian Senior Services (PASSi)
• Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation

Texas

• Woori Juntos

Washington DC/Virginia

• Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center
• Family Counseling Center of Greater Washington
• Hamkae Center

Washington State

• Korean Community Service Center

The post PRESS RELEASE: KACF Announces $3 Million in New Community Grants first appeared on Korean American Community Foundation.

KACF just reached $20 million in cumulative grantmaking since our founding to strengthen the economic security of the Korean American community. This achievement represents far more than dollars invested—it reflects how far we have come, moving from a place of scarcity to one of growing abundance.

More than 20 years ago, KACF was founded to fill a gap. Our community lacked a philanthropic home capable of uniting us around a shared mission and translating generosity into meaningful support for our most vulnerable neighbors. Reaching this milestone affirms that we have forged a bridge across generations of Korean Americans, deepening connections to community and to one another, while strengthening our collective power.

Though our community is small, our influence is formidable. With your support, KACF has become a philanthropic powerhouse:

• We are the leading national funder dedicated to the Korean American community. Today, we support the largest network of Korean American-serving nonprofits in the country.

• We are also recognized among the top 20 funders of the AANHPI community in New York City, according to a recent regional funding analysis by Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy.

We are proud to announce our latest Community Grants: $3 million to support 42 nonprofit partners across 9 states and Washington, DC, including first time investments in New Mexico and Washington State. This grant cycle carries KACF past the $20 million mark in cumulative grantmaking and reflects both the growing reach of our work and the responsibility we carry as a national philanthropic leader. We received 100 grant applications this year, underscoring the depth of need across our communities and the role KACF is being called to play.

The challenges that vulnerable Korean Americans face will continue to evolve amid shrinking resources for nonprofits. Yet our role extends far beyond funding—we have shaped a culture of giving. By inspiring rising generations of leaders and donors, and by creating spaces where philanthropy is learned, practiced, and celebrated, we are ensuring that our impact endures, growing stronger with each generation and lasting well beyond any single crisis.

Thank you for your steadfast partnership and belief in this work.

With Gratitude,

Kyung B. Yoon
President & CEO

The post Marking $20 Million in Community Investments: A Year-End Reflection first appeared on Korean American Community Foundation.

The Korean American Community Foundation (KACF) hosted its third annual Women’s Luncheon in New York City, bringing together hundreds of Korean American women leaders, philanthropists, and community members from across the country. Now the largest annual gathering of its kind in the United States, the event highlighted the women whose bold leadership and generous contributions are transforming lives in their communities, while also spotlighting the growing impact of KACF’s work to uplift Korean American women and families nationwide.

The Luncheon opened with reflections from KACF board members Jeannie Park (Board Chair), Lisa Kim, and Cathy Oh on the intergenerational connections, shared heritage, and collective purpose that brought the room together.

The program featured three distinguished speakers: Hannah Yang, Chief Growth & Customer Officer at The New York Times Company; Tina Kim, world-renowned gallerist and founder of Tina Kim Gallery; and Dr. Young Seh Bae, founder and CEO of the Community Inclusion & Development Alliance (CIDA).

In her remarks, Hannah Yang reflected on the “legacy of courage” passed down from her immigrant parents, which shaped her journey to becoming a leader in the media industry. She connected her story to KACF’s mission, saying, “KACF reminds me of the privileges I’ve had and the courage poured into me. And it reminds me that there is still so much more we can and must do.”

Gallerist Tina Kim shared her journey from early exhibitions in Seoul to global stages such as the Venice Biennale and Art Basel, championing Korean and Asian diaspora artists along the way. She emphasized that the increased visibility of Korean artists worldwide is “not something that happened overnight, but the result of years of persistence and collaboration by artists, curators, collectors, and supporters who believed in the importance of representation in cultural institutions.”

Dr. Young Seh Bae, founder of CIDA, recounted how a small support group of Korean immigrant parents rooted in the belief that “opportunity changes everything” grew into a nonprofit now serving more than 1,900 families. She described how KACF’s partnership and support opened new doors of opportunity for children and adults with disabilities who had long been overlooked.

KACF President Kyung B. Yoon delivered a message urging bold generosity and solidarity to support Korean immigrant communities. She noted that nonprofit organizations nationwide are facing financial pressure due to federal budget cuts and shrinking funding streams, all while being asked to do more with fewer resources, sharing that “this year alone, 100 nonprofit organizations serving Korean American communities applied for funding from KACF.”

The program was emceed by Nydia Han, a 6abc anchor and Emmy Award–winning second-generation Korean American journalist.

Building on the community solidarity and philanthropic spirit demonstrated at the Luncheon, KACF will continue investing in efforts that help Korean Americans across the country achieve economic security.

KACF’s Women’s Luncheon would not have been possible without the generous support of our Host Committee, sponsors and Korean American women-led and -owned businesses.

HOST COMMITTEE

Elli Bai • Jennifer Ban • Juju Chang • Karen Choi • Patty Dhar • Laura Hong • Dohyun Kim • Hee Jin Kim • Jee Kim • Lisa Kim • Sonja Kim • Esther Lee • Hon. Grace Lee • Margarette Lee • Miyoung Lee • Sue Jin Lee • Sarah Min • Cathy Oh Tran • Catherine Park • Dr. Eunice Park • Jeannie Park • Josephine Shin • Gina Sohn • Christine Song • Sarah Paiji Yoo • Hee Yoon • Jean Yun

REIMAGINE SPONSORS

AIREM & Dr. Eunice Park • Karen Choi • Dohyun Kim & Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP • Lisa Kim • Esther Lee • Sarah Min • Cathy Oh & Mike Tran • YS Kim Foundation

EMPOWER SPONSORS

Anonymous • Elli Bai • Juju Chang • Jay and Sonja Kim Family Foundation • Hon. Grace Lee • Jeannie Park

ENVISION SPONSORS

Patty Dhar • Laura, Elizabeth and Caroline Hong • Miyoung Lee • Catherine Park & Douglas Elliman Real Estate • Hee Jin Kim & PureenMD • Josephine Shin • Christine Song • Tina Kim Gallery • Sarah Paiji Yoo • Hee Yoon • Jean Yun, M.D.

IN-KIND

AIREM • Ruchi • Aqua Best • Blueland • Bubble • byAVA • CIDA • good light • Hana Makgeolli • Haroo Planner • Hero Cosmetics • Karen Choi • Kimlyparc • Kish Apéritif • MCM • Melixir • Monse • Norie • OMA • Rice Blossoms • Sol de Janeiro • Sue Jin Lee • Sunday Aroma • 3Lab • 8282

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From Vision to Victory: Expanding Support for Immigrant Survivors

Too often, survivors of domestic violence are left with an impossible choice: protect their safety or preserve their financial stability. For immigrant survivors, that choice is made even harder by language barriers, cultural stigma, and systems that are not designed to meet their needs.

At KACF, we believe that organizations deeply rooted in their communities are best positioned to tackle these challenges. With the right resources, they not only deliver life-saving services but also bring forward the lived experiences, data, and solutions that can drive policy and systemic change. 

With your support, we committed multi-year funding to Womankind, helping advance its shared vision with the Korean American Family Service Center (KAFSC) and fellow organizations in The Collective—a groundbreaking coalition working together to transform how immigrant survivors of gender-based violence in New York City are supported.

This year, The Collective’s advocacy helped to secure a historic win: the New York City Council approved $3 million for the Culturally Specific Gender-Based Violence Initiative—a first-of-its-kind city investment in nonprofits uniquely equipped to serve these communities. 

For Korean American survivors and families, this means they will be seen, heard, and supported with dignity. It allows organizations like Womankind and KAFSC to expand counseling services, job training programs, legal assistance, and more provided in Korean and many other languages.

The Collective’s Milestones

• Helped secure $3 million in NYC’s budget for immigrant survivors of gender-based violence

• Featured as a panel at the first-ever New York State AAPI Summit to highlight the impact of gender-based violence on immigrant women and girls

• Organized press conference to rally support for a bill to increase access to multilingual gender-based violence resources at beauty salons

From Fellowship to Leadership: Developing the Leaders Who Will Shape Our Future

The future of our community depends on the leaders we nurture today. Generously endowed by Youngsuk “YS” Chi and Sung Kim, our Chi Family Fellowship Program provides leadership development for up-and-coming generations and matches them with our grantee partner organizations—giving Fellows the opportunity to support critical community work while building the skills, knowledge, and networks to become civic and community leaders.

Hear from three inspiring young adults about how the Fellowship has shaped their growth as leaders, and how they want to continue making a difference in our community.

5th Annual National Convening of Korean American Nonprofit Leaders

This summer, we hosted our 5th annual National Convening, bringing together nonprofit leaders from across the country for two powerful days of conversation, connection, and collective visioning.

What began in 2019 as a small pre–Giving Summit gathering has grown into the largest convening of its kind. It is now an essential space for leaders to reflect, collaborate, and strengthen our shared commitment to our community. 

This year’s Convening also took us beyond the room. Through community walks, leaders had a valuable chance to share local stories while engaging in dialogue that connected challenges on the ground to broader national dialogue.

Spaces like this unlock opportunities for collaboration and innovation. With your support, leaders are coming together to build connections and a support system to learn, grow, and drive greater impact.

This summer has shown us what’s possible when we act together. As we head into the fall, we look forward to sharing more ways your support is helping our community thrive. Subscribe to our email list to receive more stories of impact, news, and announcements.

The post Quarterly Newsletter | Summer 2025 first appeared on Korean American Community Foundation.

The Korean American Community Foundation (KACF) announced the launch of its newly unified and streamlined Community Grants program to strengthen Korean American communities across the United States. Nonprofit organizations helping low-income Korean Americans—either as a primary focus or as part of the broader populations they serve—to increase their economic security are invited to apply for funding.

“Since our first national open call for grant proposals, we’ve seen a 65% increase in applications. We see this as a clear sign of the growing need and interest in philanthropic support within Korean American communities,” said Kyung B. Yoon, President and CEO of KACF. “This round of funding reflects the spirit of generosity that defines our community and our commitment to equipping organizations with the resources they need to create meaningful and lasting change.”

As the Foundation has grown from a regional to a national funder, it has consolidated its previous “Community Grants” (for New York and New Jersey-based nonprofits) and “National Grants” (for nonprofits based elsewhere) into a single program. Beginning this year, all eligible organizations regardless of location—will apply through the unified “Community Grants” program.

The application form is available in both English and Korean, and applicants are welcome to submit in either language. Full eligibility criteria and application instructions are available here. Organizations interested in applying are encouraged to attend the upcoming RFP briefing via Zoom on July 23, 2025 (RSVP).

The deadline to submit proposals is August 29, 2025. Initial review notifications will be sent in September, followed by site visits between September and November. Final funding decisions will be shared with selected organizations in December.

The post KACF Announces 2025 Community Grants RFP for Nonprofits Nationwide first appeared on Korean American Community Foundation.