Non-profit

Asian American Advocacy Fund (AAAF)

Website:

www.asianamericanadvocacyfund.org

Tax ID:

83-1198242

Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(4)

Budget (2020):

Revenue: $2,641,627
Expenses: $1,700,737
Assets: $1,220,549

Executive Director:

Aisha Yaqoob Mahmood

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Asian American Advocacy Fund (AAAF) is an advocacy group that pushes a left-of-center agenda centered around Asian identity. Its stated goal is to create a “politically-conscious, engaged, and progressive Asian American base” in the state of Georgia. 1

Background

Asian American Advocacy Fund is a 501(c)(4) that aims to organize left-progressive Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Native Hawaiians in Georgia. It advocates for “progressive” policies at local, state, and federal levels and supports left-progressive political candidates. 2

Activities

Asian American Advocacy Fund supports lenient immigration laws, lenient voting laws, redistricting in favor of Democratic candidates, and welfare and educational systems that allow people access “regardless of their immigration status.” 3

More specifically, AAAF supports immigrant “family reunification” and “family-based immigration,” endorses “pathways to citizenship for all immigrants,” opposes law enforcement checking suspects’ immigration statuses, advocates that Georgia refrain from “cooperating with ICE” by detaining immigrants, and seeks to end of the so-called “mass detention of immigrants at the U.S. border.” 4

AAAF also seeks to expand the ability to register to vote online, create same-day voter registration, create “independent” redistricting commissions, and make “absentee and provisional ballots” more widely available. Other items AAAF advocates for include raising the minimum wage, getting rid of E-Verify, having Census takers be “members of the communities they canvass,” and allowing illegal immigrants to attend colleges and receive financial aid. 5

Starting in August 2019, AAAF began seeking the services of consulting firm SwashLabs. From this relationship came several collaborative projects such as Asians for Ossoff & Warnock, a campaign of Asian Americans affiliated with AAAF showing support for U.S. Senate candidates Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and Raphael Warnock (D-GA). SwashLabs helped AAAF with brand identity, email actions, digital campaigns, social media consultations, motion graphic videos, video scriptwriting, and digital risk assessment. 6

Funding

According to its 2019 filings with the IRS, the Asian American Advocacy Fund had a total revenue of $337,400, total expenses of $152,922, and net assets of $221,062. 7

Asian American Advocacy Fund has received funding from America Votes, Georgia Investor Action Fund, Groundswell Action Fund, See Forward Fund, State Engagement Fund, Tides Foundation, and Way to Win Action Fund. 8

AAAF, through its 527 political action committee (PAC), committed over $1 million in funds to Democratic candidates in the 2020 election cycle. At least $30,147 went to then-presidential candidate Joe Biden, $467,918 to Senate candidate Jon Ossoff, and $600,587 to Senate candidate Raphael Warnock. 9

Leadership

AAAF is led by executive director Aisha Yaqoob Mahmood, political director Vyanti Joseph, and communications director Chany Chea. 10

References

  1. “About Us.” Asian American Advocacy Fund. Accessed 28 July 2022. https://www.asianamericanadvocacyfund.org/about.
  2. “About Us.” Asian American Advocacy Fund. Accessed 28 July 2022. https://www.asianamericanadvocacyfund.org/about.
  3. “Advocacy.” Asian American Advocacy Fund. Accessed 28 July 2022. https://www.asianamericanadvocacyfund.org/advocacy.
  4.  Policy Agenda.” Asian American Advocacy Fund. Accessed 28 July 2022. https://www.asianamericanadvocacyfund.org/advocacy/policy-agenda.
  5. “Policy Agenda.” Asian American Advocacy Fund. Accessed 28 July 2022. https://www.asianamericanadvocacyfund.org/advocacy/policy-agenda.
  6.  “Client: Asian American Advocacy Fund.” SwashLabs. Accessed 28 July 2022. https://swashlabs.com/asian-american-advocacy-fund/.
  7. [1] Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Asian American Advocacy Fund. 2019. Lines 12, 18, 22.
  8. “Full-Text Search: Asian American Advocacy Fund.” ProPublica. Accessed 28 July 2022. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/full_text_search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=%22asian+american+advocacy+fund%22.
  9. “Asian American Advocacy Fund PAC Independent Expenditures.” OpenSecrets.org. Accessed 28 July 2022. https://www.opensecrets.org/political-action-committees-pacs/asian-american-advocacy-fund-pac/C00739557/independent-expenditures/2020.
  10. “Meet the Team.” Asian American Advocacy Fund. Accessed 28 July 2022. https://www.asianamericanadvocacyfund.org/meet-the-team
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: February 1, 2020

  • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2020 Dec Form 990 $2,641,627 $1,700,737 $1,220,549 $58,597 N $2,508,803 $0 $0 $89,916
    2019 Dec Form 990 $337,400 $152,922 $224,820 $3,758 N $337,400 $0 $0 $25,455 PDF
    2018 Dec Form 990EZ $95,050 $58,466 $42,849 $6,265 $0 $0 $0 $0