May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month — a time to celebrate the diversity, resilience, and contributions of our communities. But celebration alone isn’t enough.
As someone who’s worked in and around philanthropy for years, I’ve seen firsthand how AANHPI communities are often underfunded, overlooked, or treated as an afterthought in broader equity conversations. That’s why I was heartened to learn — first through a conversation with Miguel Lopez and later through the leadership of Amenah Gulamhusein — about the San Diego Foundation’s new AANHPI Fund.
The fund’s first round of grants focuses on youth mental health and suicide prevention — addressing a crisis that’s quietly become the leading cause of death among AANHPI youth.
I’ve spoken with countless AANHPI youth over the years who’ve shared stories of bullying, isolation, or feeling like they didn’t belong — and I carry those stories because I lived one of them, too. I grew up surrounded by other Asian Americans, yet I was still singled out for being different, for not fitting someone else’s idea of what an Asian kid should be. As a teenager, there were times when I quietly questioned whether I wanted to keep going.
I share that not for sympathy, but because I know similar stories are still playing out across our schools and neighborhoods. I know what it would’ve meant to hear someone say: Your pain is valid. You matter. You’re not alone.
That’s what makes the AANHPI Fund so vital. It’s not just a financial commitment — it’s a cultural one. It’s an acknowledgment that our youth deserve more than resilience; they deserve real support.
San Diego has the seventh-largest AANHPI population in the country, yet local philanthropic support has historically been limited or reactive. Many Asian Americans give generously, but often through informal channels like family, churches, or community mutual aid. Concepts like guanxi — a network of trust-based relationships — shape how many of us approach giving. Traditional philanthropy often overlooks these cultural nuances, and in doing so, misreads quiet generosity as disengagement.
We also have to move beyond the idea that AANHPI communities are monolithic. San Diego is home to a vibrant mix of Vietnamese, Filipino, Chamorro, Chinese, and South Asian residents — all with different histories, languages, and needs. Disaggregated data is essential to identify where support is most needed.
Research backs this up. AAPI Data and the Urban Institute have documented wide disparities in education, income, and health outcomes among AANHPI subgroups. The Center for Effective Philanthropy has found that AAPI nonprofit leaders report less favorable experiences with funders, highlighting the need for more culturally competent and equitable practices.
To break this cycle of invisibility, we need action on multiple fronts:
Community Engagement: AANHPI individuals must see giving as both a cultural value and a civic responsibility. Public generosity — from families, businesses, or individuals — sends a message that we are present, invested, and part of the solution. Institutional Commitment: Funders must prioritize AANHPI communities, not treat them as an afterthought. That means investing in AANHPI-led organizations before crisis hits, supporting leadership pipelines, and recognizing that “need” doesn’t always look the same across communities. Redefining Philanthropy: It’s not just about billionaires or naming rights. Philanthropy can be — and often is — an everyday act. Whether you give $20 or $20,000, it’s about aligning your resources with your values.I didn’t grow up seeing myself as a philanthropist. I thought that word was reserved for older, wealthy people whose names adorned buildings. It wasn’t until a friend and mentor, Dr. Anthony Heaven, challenged that definition that I began to see things differently. Philanthropy, he reminded me, is about intention, not just income.
Visibility isn’t vanity — it’s survival. The AANHPI Fund is a lifeline. But its success depends on all of us continuing to show up — for our youth, for each other, and for a future where no one has to suffer in silence.
Charles Lu is a San Diego–based education leader, former NIH executive, and real estate entrepreneur whose cross-sector work focuses on educational equity and economic mobility.
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