Korean American Community Foundation

📣EXCITING NEWS: The Korean American Community Foundation is thrilled to announce that we have received a one-time, unrestricted grant of $5 million from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott! This transformative gift is a powerful affirmation of trust in our track record and vision. With it, we will accelerate the next chapter of our growth as a national foundation, doing more for our most vulnerable neighbors and bridging connections between Korean Americans across the country and generations to ignite an even greater philanthropic movement by and for our community. Read our full press release: bit.ly/kacf-yieldgiving #KoreanAmerican #Philanthropy #KGiving

How can entrepreneurs integrate culture and philanthropy into their brand strategy? Join us for a conversation on “Bridging Korean Culture with Entrepreneurship & Philanthropy” co-hosted by KACF's Associate Board and The Korea Society: tr.ee/dP65NLtUcc. Hear from three #KoreanAmerican entrepreneursㅡEunice Byun (Material), Melissa Shin Mash (Dagne Dover), and Wonny Lee (ELOREA)ㅡabout how they celebrate their culture and give back to the community through their respective brands. 📅 When: July 11th @ 6:30PM 📍 Where: The Korea Society (350 Madison Avenue)

Thank you for joining us at our summer reception in Washington DC! It was incredible connecting with so many of you, hearing your stories, and having an opportunity to share more about the impact we're making in the DC metro area with our Philanthropic Network of DC and grantee partners: • Last year, we launched the Philanthropic Network of DC, a group of Korean American donors committed to fostering a vibrant culture of giving among Korean Americans in Washington, D.C. • In our latest grantmaking cycle, we awarded our very first grants to Korean-led nonprofits in the Greater Washington area. The Philanthropic Network of DC helped us underwrite funding for three organizations: kacfny.org/pndc. • 'Toward Better Aging,' our new national study of #KoreanAmerican seniors released in partnership with the Asian American Federation provides data and insights that highlight the challenges faced by older adults in seven key study areas, including Washington D.C.: https://lnkd.in/eU7iTQ8B. We look forward to deepening our connections to make a greater impact on the DC metropolitan area and beyond together!

📊 𝟔 𝐢𝐧 𝟏𝟎 𝐊𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐖𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐨𝐧, 𝐃.𝐂. 𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐜 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬. Last week, KACF held a press conference in Washington, D.C. to present the findings from '𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠,' a new national study released in partnership with the Asian American Federation that highlights the barriers that Korean seniors in the U.S. face in accessing basic needs and support: 𝐚𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧/𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝-𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫-𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠. The population of Korean adults aged 65 and older in the U.S. has grown by 69% from 2011 to 2021, but their unique needs continue to be overlooked in research, funding, and policymaking. We formed a collaborative of Korean American philanthropies—including the Judith Ehm Foundation, the Korean American Community Foundation of San Francisco, and the Southpole Foundation—to commission this first-of-its-kind research led by the Asian American Federation. Conducted through in-language surveys and focus groups across seven areas, including the DC metro area, the study provides critical insights into issues of housing, caregiving, transportation, personal finance, healthcare access, and social engagement. KACF is committed to mobilizing our community for action to ensure that Korean American older adults are seen and represented in funding and policymaking decisions that impact their ability to healthily and safely age in place. Special thanks to the Korean Community Service Center of Greater Washington for being a crucial study partner and for hosting the press conference.

EXCITING NEWS: Our President and CEO, Kyung B. Yoon, has been appointed to the inaugural New York State AAPI Commission by Governor Kathy Hochul! At the Governor's AAPI Heritage Month Reception in Albany, Kyung was named one of the first six appointments to the Commission. This group will be advising on policies and coordinating programs that impact our community. We look forward to working with the Commission to build a thriving future for AAPI New Yorkers. #AAPIHeritageMonth

Thank you for joining us for an incredible evening celebrating our community and the Power of Jeong(정)! The joy and energy emanating from a sold-out room of over 750 guests was palpable, and as we came together, we felt a profound sense of connection strengthened by our shared commitment to lift up our community. Together, we exceeded our fundraising goal and raised over $2.6 million! Highlights of the evening included: • KACF President and CEO Kyung B. Yoon's remarks on "K-giving" and our vision to advance a national philanthropic movement by and for our community: youtu.be/5P-TMmuhge8; • spotlighting the story of our grantee partner Community Inclusion and Development Alliance, the only federally-funded parent center in the nation serving Korean American children and families with disabilities: youtu.be/ELxIpwHEybo; and • celebrating our 2024 honorees In Seon Hwang, Tiger JK, and Yoon Mirae, who reflected on their struggles with finding belonging and how these experiences helped to shape the way they are making a difference. To date, KACF has invested $14 million in grants in nonprofits and initiatives strengthening the economic security of #KoreanAmericans, and we aim to double that amount in the next five years! After over two decades of intentional investment in the greater New York area, we are expanding our reach and impact nationwide, advancing a national philanthropic movement by and for our community to build a future in which all Korean Americans can thrive. Thank you for making this possible with your deep generosity and jeong. See all photos: flic.kr/s/aHBqjBn2Gi

📊NEW STUDY! Toward Better Aging: A National Study of Korean American Older Adults 👉 https://lnkd.in/eK93fFEU The population of Korean older adults in the U.S. 65 years of age and over has grown nearly 70% from 2011 to 2021. However, they continue to be sidelined in aging research and policymaking, and their unique cultural, language, and healthcare needs are overlooked. We partnered with the Asian American Federation (AAF) to identify these challenges and gain insights into their daily life experiences and needs. AAF surveyed and held focus groups in Korean with older adults across seven major metropolitan areas: New York City, New Jersey, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Houston, and Greater Washington. The study delves into critical aspects of their lives, including: • housing • caregiving • healthcare • transportation • personal finances • social engagement These findings are a crucial step toward bridging funding and policy gaps and strengthening our infrastructures of support for Korean American older adults. Special thanks to the Judith Ehm Foundation, the Korean American Community Foundation of San Francisco, and the Southpole Foundation for their collaboration and support for this study.

We are thrilled to welcome eight new members to our Associate Board, a group of community-minded young professionals who serve as ambassadors of KACF's mission, helping to increase awareness of issues of economic security and shape the next generation of Korean American philanthropy: HeeJae An, aPHR Caroline Hong Andrew C. K. Minnie Kim Soyeon Kim Suzanne Kim John Lim Hyun Ho Yang Throughout the year, the Associate Board hosts various community-building activities and events such as the Annual 5K Run in support of the Foundation’s mission. Join us at Somm Cellars on Thursday, April 4 for the Spring Social hosted by our Associate Board to enjoy a great selection of wines curated by the sommeliers, get to know the KACF community, and learn about ways to engage with us throughout the year. Learn more about our Associate Board members: kacfny.org/associateboard. Connect with our Associate Board on Instagram: instagram.com/kacfny_ab.

Join us on April 17 in New York City for our biggest event of the year celebrating 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗝𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗴(정) and recognizing the impact of extraordinary #KoreanAmericans and organizations: 𝗸𝗮𝗰𝗳𝗴𝗮𝗹𝗮.𝗼𝗿𝗴. We are thrilled to announce our 2024 honoree: In Seon Hwang! In Seon Hwang is a Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Ascend Capital Partners, a growth-oriented private equity firm dedicated to improving the quality, affordability, and accessibility of healthcare for underserved and vulnerable communities.  Ascend was founded in 2019, successfully completed raising its $570 million Fund I in 2021, and has completed eight partnerships with leading physicians groups and technology companies that are driving the shift towards proactive, high-quality value-based healthcare. Prior to founding Ascend, Mr. Hwang was the global head of the Healthcare Group and member of the Executive Management Group at Warburg Pincus, a New York-based private equity firm that has invested more than $80 billion, including more than $12 billion in healthcare companies. Prior to joining Warburg Pincus, Mr. Hwang worked at GSC Partners, Goldman Sachs, and the Boston Consulting Group. Mr. Hwang serves on the boards of the Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics at the School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania, The Gillen Brewer School, and Hope for New York. Mr. Hwang received a B.S. in Economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. The Korean American Community Foundation (KACF) is the largest organization in the U.S. dedicated to mobilizing Korean American #philanthropy. Founded in 2002, KACF has invested $14 million in nonprofits and community initiatives promoting the economic security and visibility of under-resourced and underrepresented Korean Americans. #KGiving

Carnegie. Ford. Getty. Gates. Bloomberg. These are names which come to mind when thinking of American philanthropy. These industry titans and their legacy are etched across institutions, buildings, and initiatives across the country and beyond. But philanthropy is not reserved just for the elite. Philanthropy is a mindset. A mindset to be cultivated. A small group of Korean Americans in NY did just that. They were not billionaires nor legacy families. They were simply committed to a vision to meet the needs of the Korean American community. They started the Korean American Community Foundation. They pooled together $60K in their first year, awarding grants to five nonprofit organizations. And 20 years later, KACF has invested $14M in over 100 community service providers across the nation. Action powered by many small steps. Steps compounding upon each other. And now, those steps impacting many lives. So you need not be a Gates or a Getty. Be a force multiplier with your $10 or $1,000 even if your surname is Garcia, Patel, Smith, Wong, or a Kim like me. Do not undervalue… The power of collective giving. The power for collective action. The power of collective impact. P.S. Can I get a 👍 if your last name is also “Kim”? I think there are a few on here. 🤣 _________ Tell me about a community foundation making a difference in your area.👇 #socialimpact #publicaffairs #ShastaAdvisory