May 2026 | Five Years of Impact in the AAPI Community

Dear Friends,

This May is a particularly special month for TAAF. Not only are we excited to be celebrating the richness and diversity of our community during the 35th annual AAPI Heritage Month, but we’re also celebrating TAAF’s 5 year anniversary. When we launched TAAF in 2021, we were responding to the moment—meeting the urgent safety needs of our community in the face of rising anti-Asian hate. Five years later, we are proud of the progress we have made building research that shapes the national conversation, partnerships that unlock new opportunities, and programs that directly serve our communities.

As part of our continued work to advance safety, belonging, and prosperity for AAPIs, we just released the findings of our 6th annual STAATUS (Social Tracking of Asian Americans in the United States) Index. STAATUS is the leading national study of Americans’ perceptions of AAPI communities, and it informs our work across initiatives. Among this year’s findings, the question of what it means to be “truly American” shows a divided country. We’ll share some of the key findings below, and what they mean for the work ahead.

You’ll also read some highlights from our annual Impact Report, which was released today. We are proud of what we have accomplished together in the past year, and in the five years since our founding.

In solidarity,

Norman Chen
CEO, The Asian American Foundation

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TAAF NEWS

‍Celebrating TAAF’s 5 Year Anniversary

Discover who and what motivates us to continue our impact for the next 100 years.

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STAATUS Index Finds U.S. Public Divided Over Who is "Truly American."

Last week, TAAF unveiled the findings of our 2026 STAATUS Index, the leading national study of Americans' perceptions of AAPIs. Against a backdrop of federal immigration raids and ongoing debates over birthright citizenship in the Supreme Court, the question of who is “truly American” has become a divisive issue in the United States. 

This year’s study finds widespread uncertainty about the status of the nation’s 25 million AAPIs, revealing stark gaps in how U.S. adults think about the impact of federal policies on Asian Americans and the growing cultural influence of AAPIs. It also shows AAPIs are anxious amid mounting federal crackdowns on immigration, trade wars, safety concerns, and other pressures.

Among the key findings from the 2026 STAATUS Index:

• The public is divided over who counts as "truly American” and the status of Asian Americans ahead of America’s 250th anniversary.
  

• Many Americans are forming views of AAPIs without any direct connection or information, and views of AAPI status differ sharply by race and ethnicity. 
  

• 1 in 5 U.S. adults believe Chinese Americans pose a threat—but views may be persuadable.
  

• Worry is more top of mind for AAPIs than for other groups, as safety challenges remain years after the pandemic surge in anti-Asian violence. 
  

• AAPIs are more likely than the general public to say recent federal policy changes have hurt Asian American communities. 
  

• Few U.S. adults believe AAPI communities have a great deal of influence on U.S. culture. But perceptions may be shifting, and the American public wants to know more about AAPIs.

While STAATUS is a reflection of where we are today, it also shows us where we can go from here. TAAF’s work is critical to addressing the continued misperceptions about AAPIs, and the disconnect that exists between the public’s beliefs and the lived experiences of AAPIs. TAAF’s initiatives to support safety, belonging, and prosperity for the AAPI community include expanding the teaching of AAPI history through our AAPI History Hub, supporting small businesses through TAAF Cities: NYC, and uplifting AAPI narratives across media and entertainment. 

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IMPACT UPDATE

Look Back at a Year of Progress in our 2025 Impact Report

2025 was a pivotal year of growth, meaningful change, and measurable impact for TAAF—from investing in the safety and revitalization of our local communities, to building brighter futures for our young people, to creating a campaign that celebrates our unique identities.

‍Here are a few highlights of our work in 2025:

We took  a locally driven approach to make a national impact.

In June, we launched TAAF Cities in Seattle to advance safety, economic opportunity, and cultural pride in neighborhoods where AAPI communities live and thrive. In partnership with the City of Seattle, Amazon, and CIDBIA, the CID Ambassador Program brings trained Safety Ambassadors to support small businesses, welcome visitors, and strengthen community safety. 88% of business owners have already reported improved safety in the Chinatown International District. Following this early success, the City of Seattle announced a $300,000 expansion in 2026 to grow the program and increase culturally competent, language-accessible support.

We invested in the future of our youth

In September, we launched TALA, a career and leadership development program that supports the economic mobility and holistic wellbeing of AAPI college students from under-resourced backgrounds. The inaugural cohort includes 75+ students representing 30+ colleges and 15+ AAPI ethnicities. In partnership with Asian American Dream and Asian Pacific American Leadership Institute, TALA provides culturally rooted career guidance, mental wellbeing support, and intergenerational community building—so students can confidently bring their full identity into every space they enter.

We reclaimed AAPI stories and celebrated our narratives

TAAF launched the “Asian+American” PSA campaign in partnership with Wieden+Kennedy New York to encourage Asian Americans everywhere to celebrate the complexity and beauty of their dual identities. The PSA film “Beyond, Together”, narrated by award-winning actor/producer Sandra Oh and directed by Academy Award–nominee Sean Wang, inspired AAPI voices across the country to share their own stories—reclaiming what it means to be Asian+American.

These are just a few of the initiatives that we’re proud to have launched together over the past year. We are energized by the progress made together and are grateful for your continued commitment to the work. 

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ON THE BLOG

In case you missed it, these are the stories we’ve featured recently on our blog, The Takeaway.

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Make an Impact

Did you know that AAPI communities receive only 0.3% of philanthropic giving from foundations and less than 1% of corporate giving?

When you make a gift to TAAF, 100% of your donation goes toward strengthening groundbreaking programs, essential research, and cross-sector partnerships to address our community's most persistent challenges. Donate today to increase Safety, Prosperity and Belonging for the AAPI community. You can also leverage your corporate matching program to double your impact.

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