Who We Are

The Korean American Community Foundation® (KACF) was founded in 2002 by a group of Korean American leaders in New York with a simple idea: philanthropy by and for the community. 

The goal was to address the chronic underinvestment in the Korean immigrant community by raising funds for programs serving under-resourced Korean American individuals and families, while also mobilizing community members to engage in a culture of giving. 

In December of 2002, the Foundation was incorporated as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, and in 2003, we awarded our first grants totaling $60,000 to five nonprofit organizations. Since then, KACF has grown to become a trusted partner and leading funder in advancing economic security in the Korean and Asian American communities. 

As of today, KACF has given $20 million in grants and capacity-building support to community-based organizations working to empower individuals, strengthen families and transform communities impacted by poverty.

Our Mission

To build thriving communities by fostering a culture of giving that catalyzes the collective generosity of Korean Americans.

Read more about what we do. 

Affiliations and Mission-Aligned Organizations

We believe that working alongside mission-aligned foundations strengthens our collective impact and helps us better serve our communities. Below are such organizations, including KACF San Francisco, with whom we maintain a formal affiliation. Each organization operates independently with its own leadership, governance, and regional focus.

• Korean American Community Foundation of San Francisco (KACF-SF): KACF-SF has been our affiliate since its founding in 2014. Established by Korean American leaders in the Bay Area who sought to build on KACF’s philanthropic model, KACF-SF raises funds and makes grants to address local issues and has been a key partner in advancing our shared mission. KACF and KACF-SF will be merging into a unified national organization in 2026. The merger is currently awaiting final regulatory approvals. For more information, please read our joint merger announcement.
  

• Korean American Foundation (KAF): KAF is a Los Angeles–based philanthropic organization serving Korean American communities across Southern California. As the first community foundation dedicated to raising and stewarding charitable funds for this community, the foundation cultivates philanthropy, mobilizes resources, and directs grantmaking to organizations with a demonstrated record of impact.