The Lunar Project Funder's Briefing: Building Asian-Black-Indigenous Solidarity

Sponsored by AAPIP, Justice Funders, Neighborhood Funders Group

Last year’s racial justice uprisings against the state-sanctioned murders of Black people and increased anti-Asian xenophobia and violence fostered heightened awareness of the undeniable harms that white supremacy and anti-Blackness cause to Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) communities.

Despite the progress that philanthropy has made in confronting systemic racism and mobilizing grant dollars to BIPOC communities, we are just scratching the surface in recognizing and resourcing the BIPOC-led organizing, movement building, and cross-cultural solidarity that is needed for a just future. The struggles of communities of color have always been intertwined and the moment to act to shift the narrative from individual silos to collective liberation has never been more ripe than now.

Prior to the increase in funding for Black-led organizations in 2020, philanthropic support for Black communities accounted for only 1.8% of total U.S. grantmaking. Funding designated for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities still only accounts for 0.2%, a percentage that has remained the same for the past three decades. AAPIP’s recent Seeking to Soar report also identified that the top 5 funders accounted for nearly 40% of all philanthropic support for AANHPI communities. This concentration amongst a handful of large foundations--of which are largely not AANHPI led--creates risk of any incremental change in priorities to drastically reduce an already inadequate pool of resources flowing to our communities.

Philanthropy can and should do more. What are community-led solutions we can invest in that combat racist violence, promote solidarity across communities, and move financial resources to those facing the greatest systemic oppression?

The Lunar Project is a community building and funding vehicle for Asian American solidarity and participation in the movement for Black and Indigenous-led liberation. During these times of escalated violence against both Asian American and Black communities, The Lunar Project organizes Asian Americans with wealth to demonstrate solidarity with Black and Indigenous communities who are most impacted by racist and gendered violence in the US and also those who are most vulnerable within our AANHPI communities (migrants, elders, criminalized and stigmatized workers, poor and working class folks).

The Lunar Project is equal parts a community circle and a fund. Asian Americans with wealth engage in transformational learning, community building, and resource mobilization through a giving circle model and move integrated capital to Black and Indigenous communities as a form of wealth redistribution and reparations, with the aim of building a $20M solidarity fund.

You will hear from funders, giving circle members, and community partners about why they are excited to be part of The Lunar Project and why you should be, too.

If you are committed to moving dollars to BIPOC-led organizing, movement building, and solidarity, and looking to invest in or learn about innovative and strategic interventions, we invite you to join us!