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Korean Americans are the fifth-largest Asian American ethnic group in the U.S., with a population of over 2.6 million and more than 500,000 in California alone. In the San Francisco Bay Area, we are the sixth-largest Asian population with approximately 100,000 residents. 

While Korean Americans are often seen as fitting into the “model minority” myth, data show that there are high levels of need for culturally and linguistically competent services for our under-resourced population.

 
  • 22% of Bay Area Korean Americans are low-income and 11% live in poverty
  • 39% of Bay Area Korean seniors are severely rent-burdened, spending more than half their income on rent and near or below the poverty line.
  • 40% of injury deaths of Koreans in Santa Clara County are suicides
  • 73% of Korean seniors in California have limited English proficiency
  • Only 23% of Koreans feel they receive emotional or social services support they need
  • The number of Korean Americans over 65 years old has increased by 69% in the past decade
  • Korean Americans constitute the highest percentage of undocumented immigrants in the Asian American community.
  • Less than $0.20 of every $100 of foundation funding is going to Korean American programs or nonprofits.
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    To address these critical needs, we focus our efforts in five issue areas through our Community Grants and Special Initiatives. You can read about our efforts in the latest Impact Report.

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    Physical & Mental Health

    We fund programs helping individuals and families to improve physical and mental wellbeing through activities such as counseling and support services, community education, and advocacy.

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    Senior Care & Empowerment

    We support programs that help seniors become or remain self-sufficient and that offer culturally competent and age-appropriate services, such as ESL classes, assistance with government benefits, and group activities that promote socio-emotional and physical well-being. 

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    Domestic & Family Safety

    We fund programs that help survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and trafficking to achieve emotional and physical safety through counseling, comprehensive support services, and community education and advocacy focused on prevention and victims’ rights.

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    Civic Engagement

    We support programs that work to increase civic engagement and participation among Korean Americans for a healthy democracy. We are particularly interested in programs that focus on methods to overcome barriers to civic participation and spur increased individual engagement in various civic activities.

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    Youth Empowerment

    We support programs that promote skills-based learning, critical thinking skills, leadership, community service and engagement, and academic achievement, including access to post-secondary education, for young people.