Pledges to Asian American groups soar nearly 4,000% in wake of Atlanta shooting

Donations and contribution pledges to Asian American and Pacific Islander groups have spiked dramatically since the March 16 shooting in Atlanta that killed eight people, including six women of Asian descent, and brought renewed attention to violence against Asian Americans across the U.S.

About $24 million has been pledged for such groups or causes by nearly 30 philanthropic donors in the aftermath of the shooting, according to a preliminary analysis that the philanthropy research group Candid shared with the Associated Press. By comparison, $595,000 had been committed before the attacks, an increase of nearly 4,000%. For all of 2020, the group's latest data shows that about $54 million was directed to Asian American groups or causes. Candid's analysis does not include small donations given to organizations or other contributions that are made directly to the families of victims. Instead, it reflects sizable pledges and donations by philanthropists and other donors to organizations representing Asian Americans.