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 more than $12 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 more equitable and thriving communities by fostering a culture of giving that catalyzes the collective generosity of Korean Americans.

Read more about what we do. 

Replicating our success

KACF is recognized as a model for ethnic-based philanthropy in immigrant communities, and over the years, Korean American leaders in cities across the country have sought out the Foundation’s expertise to replicate our success in their communities.

In 2013, a group of Korean American professionals in the San Francisco Bay Area approached us with a desire to bring the KACF model to their city. With a clear business plan, KACF-SF demonstrated its strong leadership and capacity to be a committed partner with the Foundation. The following year, KACF officially launched our West Coast affiliate, Korean American Community Foundation of San Francisco (KACF-SF), to meet the needs of the most vulnerable in their local community. 

KACF-SF is an important partner in our work to advance Korean American philanthropic participation, voice, and influence. It raises funds and makes grants to address local issues in the Bay Area.