The Gold Futures Challenge is an exciting new online grant competition to benefit Asian American and Pacific Islander organizations in the United States.  A departure from traditional philanthropy, the challenge invites experts on the ground (community leaders) to submit their innovative proposals that will help AAPI individuals and communities be Seen, Heard, Empowered and United.

SEEN means accurate and meaningful representation for AAPI individuals and communities. HEARD means a strong, unified voice that effectively advocates for AAPI needs and causes. EMPOWERED means ensuring that all AAPIs have the resources and agency to positively affect their own lives and the lives of others. UNITED means having a unified, pan-Asian identity, lifting up other AAPI ethnic groups and allying with other communities of color, rather than struggling against each other.

Once organizations submit their application, a Selection Committee of AAPI identifying philanthropists, academics, community leaders, and celebrity judges will select a minimum of  10 finalists, and the public will vote for the grand prize winners.

Applications open on Wednesday, June 2nd and are due Saturday, July 31st.

The history of the term Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI)  is nuanced and we seek to be intentional and inclusive. 

We understand AAPI to broadly encompass approximately 50 ethnic groups, speaking over 100 languages. We understand Asian Americans to include anyone with an ethnic origin or ancestry originating from East Asia, Southeast Asia, and/or South Asia. We understand Pacific Islanders to include those with an ethnic origin or ancestry native to the islands which encompass Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia, including Native Hawaiians. 

Applicants must be a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, for-profit, fiscally-sponsored project, or governmental organization serving AAPI individuals or communities. The organizational work can be in a particular neighborhood, community, city, county, region, state, or have a national impact. Both new and existing projects are eligible for submission.

Only one proposal can be submitted per organization for the Gold Futures Challenge per year. Multiple organizations can work collaboratively to submit one proposal, but must designate one lead organization that will receive the funds.

Voting will be open once finalists are announced on October 11, 2021, and will remain open until October 31, 2021. In order to vote, you must first create a voter profile on the Gold Futures Challenge website. Then follow the online instructions for how to vote. Only one vote per person is allowed.

We will be giving out 10 prizes ranging from $25,000 – $100,000, with a total of $500,000 being granted. All finalists will receive a prize, but the amount each organization receives will be determined by the public vote. The organization with the most votes will be the grand prize winner.