n 2012, two Asian-Pacific Islander (API) leaders in our region met to discuss the dearth of charitable giving in the API community. Founder May O. Lee and former Executive Director of Asian Resources Inc. and current Principal Consultant for Everyday Impact Consulting Elaine Abelaye-Mateo decided to address the issue. As trailblazers who worked tirelessly to raise funds and advocate for health, social, and educational services for newcomers and immigrants to their community, they mobilized their resources and networks to take action.

Two facts struck Elaine and May – that the API community was one of the fastest growing groups in the region with over 20% of the Sacramento population identified as API according to the recent Census, yet the average annual giving per local API household is at one third of the average for all households in our region* Further, API community organizations nationwide received only 0.4% of all national foundation funding between 1990 and 2002, although the API population doubled during that time**.    

Energized to make a change, the two women spent two years recruiting other leaders in the API community who were as passionate as they were about the idea of increasing philanthropy in the region. With the Foundation’s guidance and the support of a matching grant from the national organization, Asian American Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy, they decided to create a giving circle and focus on API leadership as a key issue that its members would support through their gifts.

“APIs RISE Fund is a unique model of philanthropy that empowers everyone to be part of our community giving. We are thrilled to have such a generous membership and strong partnership with the Foundation, and know that APIs RISE Fund will offer a unique outlet for the collective power of the API community to express itself through local charitable giving,” said Elaine.

* 2010 Give Local Now Generosity Study
** 2007 study by Asian American Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy: “Growing Opportunities: Will Funding Follow the Rise in Foundation Assets and Growth of AAPI Populations?”

Our why…

Our mission is to increase the capacity and impact of Asian Pacific Islander philanthropic giving in the Sacramento region

APIs RISE Fund, comprised of API philanthropists and community leaders, aims to build and strengthen the next generation of API leadership for the Sacramento Region. By empowering APIs toward sustainable civic leadership, we are laying the foundation for a stronger tomorrow.

In the Sacramento region, the API population has been steadily growing. According to recent census data, over twenty percent of the Sacramento population identify as Asian and/or Pacific Islander. Yet, philanthropic giving and charitable donations have not evolved to reflect the growing population and its needs. The APIs RISE Fund responds to the disparities in funding to the API communities.

We will advance our mission by cultivating and securing resources and by engaging with locals to learn about the issues affecting our community. 

Our all volunteer team meets monthly to strategize, eat good food and talk story. The team members who have been involved since the start are:

  • Mona Tawatao, Co-Chair, APIs RISE Fund; Legal Director, Equal Justice Society

  • Christine Tien*, Co-Chair, APIs RISE Fund; Senior Program Manager, The California Endowment

  • Elaine Abelaye-Mateo*, Principal Consultant, Everyday Impact Consulting

  • Jennifer Ablog*, Community and Government Relations Manager, Kaiser Permanente

  • Priscilla Enriquez*, Chief Executive Officer, James B. McClatchy Foundation

  • Tim Fong, Sacramento State University

  • Kaying Hang*, Vice President of Programs and Partnerships, Sierra Health Foundation

  • Jason Jong*, Arts Program Specialist, California Arts Council

  • May O. Lee*, Founder, Asian Resources Inc.

  • Tam Ma*, Board Member, The Women's Foundation of California

  • Christine Nguyen

  • Vince Sales*, Fund Development Consultant, Everyday Impact Consulting

  • Yumi Sera

  • Jonathan Tran, The California Endowment

    * Co-founders

    Organizations are listed for affiliation purposes