Our local AAPI community thrives most when we support one another. The Asian Giving Circle (AGC) is a grassroots philanthropic initiative under The Chicago Community Trust, and this year, they are showing the true power of collective generosity. During the 2025 grantmaking cycle, AGC proudly awarded $100,000 to 10 incredible organizations dedicated to shaping the future of the AAPI landscape.
Since its founding in 2002, AGC has been a steady force for good, distributing over $1 million to organizations dedicated to supporting and uplifting our communities.
The heart of this funding is rooted in collaboration. By bringing people together, they ensure these vital organizations receive the financial support required to thrive, advocate, and serve our local neighborhoods.
So, who are the change-makers leading the charge this year? The 2025 cohort represents a beautiful, diverse cross-section of our community.
Organizations like CIRCA Pintig and the National Cambodian Heritage Museum and Killing Fields Memorial are using art, history, and storytelling to preserve our rich cultural heritage and educate the next generation. Civic engagement and advocacy are getting a massive boost through the Muslim Civic Coalition, the South Asian American Policy & Research Institute (SAAPRI), and the South Asian American Coalition to Renew Democracy (SACRED), ensuring that our voices are heard in policy rooms and our rights are protected.
Community care and direct support remain a top priority, with grants going to HAIBAYO Cares, Nepalese Aid, and Korean Adoptees of Chicago, all of which provide crucial resources, safe spaces, and dedicated connection for specific AAPI experiences. Finally, groups like People Matter and Umuwi Ethnic Studies are doing the essential groundwork of localized empowerment, anti-racism, and ethnic education.
What can we look forward to with these grants in action? The short answer: a stronger, more resilient, and deeply connected AAPI ecosystem.
These grants are not just financial gifts; they are seeds planted directly into the neighborhoods, businesses, and causes we care about most. For anyone passionate about seeing local community leaders flourish and grassroots initiatives succeed, AGC’s 2025 cycle is a massive win.
As we look ahead, we can expect to see more vibrant cultural events, stronger advocacy for our safety and rights, and a deeper sense of solidarity across the diverse Asian American and Pacific Islander diaspora. The Asian Giving Circle truly reminds us that through shared generosity and a commitment to uplifting our own, there is absolutely no limit to what we can build together.
For more exciting articles, keep in touch and stay connected by following us on our socials Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Tiktok and we’ll make sure you’re updated!
References
The Chicago Community Trust. (2025, November 24). Asian Giving Circle awards $100,000 in its 2025 grantmaking cycle. https://www.cct.org/stories/asian-giving-circle-awards-100000-in-its-2025-grantmaking-cycle/
The Chicago Community Trust [@thechicagocommunitytrust]. (2025). Asian Giving Circle, an initiative of The Chicago Community Trust @thechicagocommunitytrust, is a grassroots philanthropic initiative uniting donor to [Instagram post]. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/DSSdGepCCRI/?igsh=MWN5dGFhcmlqaW1r
More from
Community
category
%20-%20%20320x400%20(1).png)
%20-%20%20%20728x90%20(1).png)
