7 AAPI Nonprofits to Consider Supporting This Month

May marks AAPI Heritage Month, which recognizes the contributions Asian American and Pacific Islander Americans have made to the United States’ culture, history, and achievements. And as a brand founded and run by two AAPI women, it’s important for us to highlight this month accordingly, especially in light of the challenges the community has faced in recent years. So, in order to continue to bolster the community at large — particularly during AAPI Heritage month — consider donating to one of these charities, each of which aims to uplift and acknowledge AAPI causes and needs. 

Heart of Dinner

This one is close to our heart, as we’re supporting them this month in honor of AAPI Heritage Month. This NYC-based charity exists to combat food insecurity—and the equally painful  isolation—within the city’s elderly Asian American community. Every week, the Heart of Dinner team delivers care packages of hot lunches and fresh produce. Perhaps most notably (pun intended), each delivery is thoughtfully paired with  a handwritten and illustrated letter in their native language to bring warmth and comfort. 

With that in mind, we’re excited to announce that $10 (up to $TK) from each sale of the AAPI Bestseller Beauty Collection box — which features a bestseller from a curated collection of AAPI-founded beauty brands including Tower28, Hero Cosmetics, Fable & Mane, Mount Lai, Tinted Beauty, and of course, Glow Recipe — will be donated to Heart of Dinner.

Stop AAPI Hate

Founded in 2020, this nonprofit organization is the brains behind the Stop AAPI Hate Reporting Center, which tracks incidents of hate and discrimination against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States. Their super-active and informative social media accounts (check out their Twitter here) are full of news updates and required reading for all humans—particularly those who are not a part of the AAPI community.

Asian Americans Advancing Justice

This non-profit legal aid organization is dedicated to advocating for civil rights, providing legal services and education while building coalitions on behalf of the Asian Americans, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. As the fastest-growing population in the U.S., Asian Americans Advancing Justice seeks to educate, litigate, and help enact public policy to benefit the AAPI community.

Act to Change

Hate can happen at any age, and for younger AAPI people facing bullying both in and out of school, Act to Change is a nonprofit that works to offer support and promote awareness. It’s more common than some might think: Half of Asian-American students in New York City public schools have experienced bias-based harassment — and that’s just what’s been reported. Conscious of the cultural and language barriers that often prevent AAPI youth from getting the help they need, this organization partners with students, families, and educators to put an end to bullying.

Center for Asian American Media

The Center for Asian American Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to presenting stories that convey the richness and diversity of Asian-American experiences to the broadest audience possible. We do this by funding, producing, distributing and exhibiting works in film, television and digital media. For 40 years, CAAM has exposed audiences to new voices and communities, advancing our collective understanding of the American experience through programs specifically designed to engage the Asian American community and the public at large.

Welcome to Chinatown

Chinatown in New York City is one of the richest Asian cultural centers across the globe, brimming with small businesses that help to drive the community’s narrative. Welcome to Chinatown offers pro bono, immediate financial assistance to businesses that need the support, while also examining long-term strategies to keep the area at its most vibrant and set up for future success. Their site also has a digital directory full of local businesses for perusal, with great options for any stop over or visit.

18 Million Rising

Back in 2012, progressive, young AAPI community members found themselves without a centralized hub. 18 Million Rising was created in response to the then entirely untapped  opportunity to educate, organize, and mobilize young Asian Americans. With a digital-first approach, the charity’s advocacy and cultural campaigns have highlighted AAPI community struggles while simultaneously celebrating Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans. The organization’s current campaign efforts include protecting refugees, funding Asian American futures, and a California-specific initiative to pardon a community member to stop deportation of another.

Keep reading about supporting the AAPI community:

10 AAPI People on How They’ve Become More Active in Their Community
Meet the AAPI Bestseller Beauty Collection
5 AAPI Women on the Surge of Anti-Asian Racism & What You Can Do