Asian Giving Circle

🐴 Happy Lunar New Year!

Last week, Asian Giving Circle (AGC) members had the joy of welcoming the Year of the Fire Horse alongside a gathering of philanthropic and nonprofit leaders, fundraisers, and community members at our 4th annual Lunar New Year social — in collaboration with our friends at Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy - AAPIP Chicago /PAAAC and Association of Fundraising Professionals Chicago Chapter AFP Chicago API Affinity Group. Thank you to the planning and logistics team that brought everything together, and a special thank you to the Robert R. McCormick Foundation and their team for being such wonderful hosts. 🙏

The Year of the Horse brings strength, courage, and balance. At the social, we also reflected on themes from our 2025 Inaugural Nonprofit & Philanthropic Leadership Series, where leaders across our community reminded us how we can all lead right now:

🤝 Seek human connection and collaboration
🌱 Make hope a discipline through small, everyday acts
🚀 Think with a growth mindset about the things you haven't done yet

So as you step into this Lunar New Year — what is the thing you haven't done YET?

Here are a few ways to answer that call:

✅Get connected with AAPIP Chicago /PAAAC
✅If you're a fundraising professional (or aspiring to be one), connect with AFP Chicago API Affinity Group
✅Join AGC at the AGC Annual Meeting on April 16 at The Chicago Community Trust — learn about our strategic plan, growth priorities, and how to get more deeply involved

Register here: bit.ly/IL09Forum


On Saturday, February 7th, the Pan Asian Voter Empowerment Coalition (PAVE) is hosting a forum for candidates running for Illinois’ 9th Congressional District in advance of the March 17 primary election. Live, simultaneous interpretation will be provided.

Asian Americans are the fastest growing racial demographic in Illinois, and 70,000 Asian Americans reside in IL-09 alone. Candidates will respond to key issues facing Asian American communities, such as immigration, language access, healthcare, senior services, and affordability.

IL-09 includes, but is not limited to, Chicago's Rogers Park, Uptown, Buena Park, Edgewater, and West Ridge neighborhoods; Skokie; Niles; Morton Grove; Wilmette; Glenview; Northfield; Buffalo Grove; Hawthorn Woods; Cary; and Algonquin.

The PAVE Coalition consists of 19 Asian American direct service and advocacy organizations in the Chicagoland area. Founded in 2011, the PAVE Coalition focuses on increasing voter turnout and civic participation among Asian Americans and improving the lives of Asian Americans through advocacy and policy change.

Disclaimer: This is an educational non-partisan candidate forum. The PAVE Coalition is made up of 501(c)3 organizations. Candidates must have raised at least $500,000 to participate.

Register here: bit.ly/IL09Forum

AGC In Community Spotlight

In early December, AGC hosted a grant partner and funder's convening for our Year 2 Asian American Community Development Fund (AACDF grant). It was a great convening with lots of community building and learnings. We enjoyed getting to see our friends from grant partners Chinese Mutual Aid Association - Chicago Office , SpaceShift Collective, HEART Women & Girls Chinese American Service League , KAN-WIN , Vietnamese Association of Illinois , FILIPINO AMERICAN COUNCIL OF GREATER CHICAGO / Rizal Center . We were also thrilled that funders from Grand Victoria Foundation , MacArthur Foundation , and The Chicago Community Trust spoke about the funding landscape, and what funders are doing to support grantees, and to move forward.

In November, AGC leaders had the opportunity to connect in person with our fellow leaders from the other affinity funds at The Chicago Community Trust in the spirit of building thought collaboration and connection across our giving funds/circles. We got to connect with Young Leaders Fund, an initiative of The Chicago Community Trust , African American Legacy, an Initiative of The Chicago Community Trust , Nuestro Futuro, Disabilities Fund , LGBTQ Community Fund learn more about these funds at https://www.cct.org/affinity-funds/

Asian Giving Circle, an initiative of The Chicago Community Trust, is a grassroots philanthropic initiative uniting donor to make a greater collective impact on the work of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI)-serving nonprofit landscape. Since its founding in 2002, Asian Giving Circle has distributed over $1 million to organizations supporting the AAPI community.⁣
⁣
This year, 2025 , Asian Giving Circle made 10 grants totaling $100,000 to the following organizations:⁣
⁣
-CIRCA Pintig
-Haibayô Cares
-KAtCH: Korean Adoptees of Chicago
-Muslim Civic Coalition
-⁣National Cambodian Heritage Museum and Killing Fields Memorial
-Nepalese Aid
-People Matter
-South Asian American Policy and Research Institute - SAAPRI
-𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐑𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐲 (𝐒𝐀𝐂𝐑𝐄𝐃)⁣ .democracy
-𝐔𝐦𝐮𝐰𝐢 𝐄𝐭𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐜 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬⁣

We are deeply grateful for the work of all the incredible applicants who are making a difference in AAPI communities in the Chicago region, as well as to all AGC members whose annual contributions make these grants possible.

https://www.cct.org/stories/asian-giving-circle-awards-100000-in-its-2025-grantmaking-cycle/

Remembering Juju Lien

We are heartbroken by the recent passing of Juju Lien. Juju was a trailblazer. She was outspoken, passionate, caring and generous. She lived a life of service and activism.

Juju was the Asian Giving Circle’s biggest cheerleader and supported AGC from the start. Juju was very knowledgeable of the Asian American community in the Chicago area. She brought many potential grant applicants and donors to events and encouraged them to learn more about AGC. She was also a great convener who generously opened her home for numerous meetings and cooked delicious meals.

Juju’s legacy will live on through the lives of all she touched. Rest in peace.

Asian Giving Circle is honored to be selected as the recipient of her memorial donations.

Information on Juju’s memorial service on December 7, 2025 is listed in this link:
Https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/1259214md

Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy - AAPIP – Chicago Chapter, the AFP Chicago – Asian Pacific Islander Affinity Group, and Asian Giving Circle (AGC) wrapped up our inaugural Nonprofit and Philanthropic AAPI Leadership Series this September. This series was created to uplift leaders in our community and spotlight the critical work they’re leading.

For our third and final installment, we were thrilled to host a packed house at the Robert R. McCormick Foundation for a conversation between 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐢𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐚, 𝐌𝐃, President & CEO of The Joyce Foundation , and 𝐑𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐇𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐧, columnist and lead opinion writer at the Chicago Sun-Times. Both native Chicagoans, Julie and Rummana shared a dynamic exchange on leadership, equity, and navigating the current political climate.⁣
⁣
𝐑𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚, a columnist at the Chicago Sun-Times, where she also leads the paper’s opinion coverage, has held multiple roles during her more than two decades at the Sun-Times, including assistant metro editor, criminal courts reporter as well as being on the editorial board.⁣
⁣
𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐢𝐞, a pediatrician by training, spent over two decades in public health leadership at the Chicago Department of Public Health, eventually serving as commissioner. Her career has been guided by a deep commitment to racial equity, shaped by her parents’ experience during the WWII incarceration of Japanese Americans. She joined The Joyce Foundation to advance racial equity and economic mobility — knowing these are key drivers of better health outcomes.⁣
Here are a few highlights from the conversation:

☑️ 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞⁣
Leadership is coordination, collaboration, teamwork, and solidarity. It’s a big responsibility — because as a collective, we’re stronger together.⁣
☑️ 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐩𝐭⁣
In today’s political climate, philanthropy must be nimble. We’ve had to rethink how dollars get out the door while staying true to our mission⁣
☑️ 𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦⁣
Requests far outpace available resources. You have to be strategic — and find partners who share your core values and principles⁣
☑️ 𝐁𝐞 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲-𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐠𝐨𝐚𝐥-𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝⁣
There are many paths to one goal. Experience what you experience, and apply it to what comes next. You don’t know what’s next — so enjoy what you’re doing⁣
☑️ 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐚𝐦𝐞⁣
For future philanthropists: being mission-driven helps, but patience and long-term thinking are essential.⁣
⁣
🙏 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞?⁣
“Human connection gives me hope. Collaboration gives me hope. There are so many ways to connect in this city. Be open. Seek opportunities. Give space — even when you don’t see eye to eye.

🙏 Thank you to all the leaders who shared their insights throughout our AAPI Nonprofit and Philanthropic Leadership Series. Your stories, strategies, and spirit continue to inspire.
👏 And deep appreciation to the organizing teams at AAPIP Chicago, AFP Chicago – API Affinity Group, and Asian Giving Circle for bringing this series to life.
✨ Stay tuned for future events, collaborations, and conversations that uplift AAPI leadership and community power.

🎉The Association of Fundraising Professionals Chicago Chapter's (AFP Chicago) API Affinity Group, Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy - AAPIP -Chicago Chapter, and Asian Giving Circle (AGC) are thrilled to announce the 3rd part of our AAPI Nonprofit and Philanthropic Leadership Series. The leadership series was created to highlight the important community work that is being done in Chicago, and the new leaders that are leading this work

Please join us on 🗓️Thursday, September 25th at 4:00-6:00pm at the Robert R. McCormick Foundation (205 N Michigan Ave Suite 4300, Chicago, IL 60601) for a conversation with Julie Morita, President and CEO The Joyce Foundation and Rummana Hussain, columnist at the Chicago Sun-Times.

🖋️🎟️Register at the event page by September 19th . There will be light refreshments served and an opportunity for networking and building connections.
https://www.eventcreate.com/e/2025-aapi-leadership-series

▶️ Julie Morita, MD is President & CEO of The Joyce Foundation, where she oversees the charitable distribution of $65 million annually to advance racial equity and economic mobility across the Great Lakes region. Before joining Joyce in 2024, Julie served as EVP of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, where she oversaw all programs and grantmaking. Born and raised in Chicago, Julie spent nearly two decades at the Chicago Department of Public Health, serving as medical director and chief medical officer before being appointed Commissioner in 2015—overseeing the health needs of 2.7 million residents.

▶️Rummana Hussain is a columnist at the Chicago Sun-Times, where she also leads the paper’s opinion coverage. A Chicago native, she has held multiple roles at the Sun-Times, including assistant metro editor, criminal courts reporter, and assistant to columnist Michael Sneed. Her journalism career spans the Chicago Tribune and City News Bureau of Chicago.