Asian Prospects Require a Highly Personal Touch

While there are shared characteristics among all Asian-American donors, there are some differences. For one thing, Chao says Japanese Americans tend to be more focused on civil rights, civil liberties and political representation; Filipino Americans mostly give to the Philippines; and Chinese-American donors, while giving to a wide variety of missions, are strong supporters of cultural heritage. Acculturation also plays a role in the types of causes these donors give to. More Americanized Asian Americans give to formal nonprofit organizations in the United States and pan-Asian charities, while those less acculturated tend to give to their family, friends and charities in their home country.