Asian Community Fund: How to Apply for FY24 Grants

Application Deadline: May 17, 2024, 5:00 p.m.

Asian Community Fund logo

About this Application Cycle:

ACF’s grantmaking approach focuses on strengthening the broader AAPI community ecosystem across Massachusetts and advancing policy and systems change. Through its grantmaking, ACF strives to catalyze new partnerships, expand the capacity of the local AAPI nonprofit and business sectors, and respond to emerging community needs. To this end, ACF encourages applicants to form cross-agency partnerships, collaborate with other communities, and mobilize multiple groups around a shared opportunity.

This grant application closed on Friday, May 17, 2024 at 5:00 PM.

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Applicants must be 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations based in Massachusetts or have a qualifying fiscal agent with 501(c)3 status.
  • Applicants will be evaluated based on the organization’s mission, impact, and alignment to ACF’s goals of strengthening the broader AAPI community ecosystem and advancing systems change.
  • Priority will be given to organizations that serve underrepresented AAPI ethnicities and geographical regions, organizations that have not previously received funding from ACF/TBF, and grassroots community organizations.
  • Organizations receiving funding will share their experience and impact of the grant in summer 2025 via a phone call with ACF staff or a brief survey.

The Asian Community Fund

The Asian Community Fund (ACF) at the Boston Foundation is the first and only philanthropic fund in Massachusetts dedicated to activating, convening, and supporting the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community.

Launched in 2020, ACF is a permanent resource designed to galvanize and unite the diverse ethnicities within our community, incubate new partnerships, and build a stronger advocacy voice. The Fund seeks to mobilize and support AAPI residents, businesses, and community organizations, and collaborate with other communities of color and oppressed communities to overcome injustice and racism.

Funding Considerations:

  • Grants will be made for general operating support to organizations and/or projects that primarily serve the AAPI community in Massachusetts.
  • Grants will range from $5,000 to $15,000. Applicants will be notified of funding decisions in June 2024.
  • Funding will support the following types of work:
    • Convening: Bringing communities together to elevate AAPI visibility, belonging, and narrative change, with a focus on advancing solidarity and partnerships.
    • Catalyzing: Fueling new collaborations or innovations to tackle systemic gaps and opportunities facing AAPI residents in Massachusetts.
    • Capacity Building: Expanding the reach and impact of programs that advance policy and systems change.

How to Apply:

  1. Visit our Grants Portal to create and/or verify your user account. Last year the Boston Foundation updated our grant management system, so we encourage you to activate your account well in advance of submitting your grant.
    • Please first try using the "Password Reset" link to access the system, as you may already be in our database. You should receive a password reset email after 10 minutes, with additional prompts and instructions.
    • If you do not receive this email, click the "Register" button underneath the Login box and follow the prompts to create a new account.
    • For detailed instructions on how to activate your account, please review this guide. If you have any difficulty logging in, please reach out to danielle.kim@tbf.org.
  2. Once in the grant portal, follow the instructions to open the Funding Opportunities and select "Asian Community Fund FY24".
  3. Fill out the application, and don’t forget to attach your Fiscal Sponsor Letter/Agreement (if applicable).
  4. Please complete the application on a computer (do not attempt to complete on a hand-held device).

Applications were due on Friday, May 17, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.

If you have any further questions, please email Danielle Kim at danielle.kim@tbf.org.