Asian American Families Give Together
Emerging philanthropists see their financial contributions as a way to have greater impact
Minneapolis, Minn, September 17, 2013: Building More Philanthropy with Purpose (BMPP) is a new giving circle of Asian American families on a mission. A mission to use their financial resources to celebrate, learn about, and raise more money to fuel the change they want to see in the world. Because Minnesota is home to this multi-generational giving circle, BMPP has made their first grants to three local Minnesota nonprofits that are innovatively working to build vibrant and healthy communities.
The three organizations that will receive inaugural funding from BMPP include:
Hmong American Farmers Association for a project that will record, track, and analyze purchasing data to help Hmong farmers make more educated decisions about their farming operations towards efficient and profitable businesses.
Center for Hmong Arts and Talent and its partners to support young people to host a series of community socials in the vacant lots in the Frogtown Neighborhood that creates dialogue about the resources, cultures, and issues that exist in the diverse neighborhood.
Minnesota Food Association for a project to build an efficient water source for the elder gardeners (all of whom are immigrants and refugees) to ensure little or no water wastage to help increase production and reduce vegetable wastage.
Bo Thao-Urabe and Dennis Urabe remark, “What an incredible privilege it is that our family can give and have this kind of impact for our communities. We are a community of philanthropists who have given much of our time and energy in the past, but this giving circle allows us to also practice financially giving together to build beyond our immediate families.” Bo and Dennis founded this giving circle along with seven other families in 2012.
While giving for the greater good is not a new concept in the Hmong and other Asian American communities, becoming donors who are intentional about growing financial resources to direct to community nonprofits is a newer practice. Paul and Ola Vang comments, “We believe in supporting those who are passionate about making a difference; this effort is led by great people we know.” Kaohly and Kong Her along with their two daughters are a donor family to BMPP and say, “We give because we know it makes a difference. Not only is our community better, but our family bond also improves through philanthropic giving.”
A giving circle is an important cultivation tool for new American communities learning about American philanthropy. It’s a practical way for those who want to pool and direct their funds together. Kaosong and Choua Yang’s family decided to join BMPP remarking that, “At some point in our lives we have been recipients, so it’s an honor for us to participate and give now.”
Asian American/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy (AAPIP), a national organization that tracks organized philanthropy’s giving to Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders found that less than one percent of philanthropic dollars goes to the community. Instead of waiting for things to change, these families want to be a part of the solution. Terri Thao’s family participates in BMPP and she says, “We’ve always been taught to give, but through BMPP we can choose where our money goes.”
BMPP taps into the human asset in its communities. All of BMPP’s founding families are part of the one point five (1.5) generation or first generation in America. Bo Thao-Urabe shares, “We know that it’s those of us who’ve had the privilege of education and opportunity in this country who are most poised to be donors. Combine that with the fact that the majority of our community is very young means we are our greatest asset.”
“I wanted to help empower the amazing change agents in our community. As I’ve gone through this process I now realize this giving circle has also empowered me to be a change agent,” says Philip Vang, who is 29 years old and an engineer at 3M. Dia Lee, 27-year-old Operations Manager at MOM Brands remarks, “It’s magical to see what others can do when you give. Being a part of a giving circle lets me be a part of seeding something so that the magic happens.”
BMPP now looks to grow the number of donor families so that they can fund more community projects that may otherwise go unfunded. Elizabeth Yang and Ele Vang’s family joined BMPP and say, “We give to make a difference. We are where we are today because it started with one person believing in us.”
To learn more about their funding opportunities, visit http://www.headwatersfoundation.org/ways-to-give/giving-circles/building-more-philanthropy-with-purpose.
