About Us

Based in Washington, D.C., the Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund (APIASF) is the nation's largest non-profit organization devoted to providing college scholarships for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI). APIASF works to create opportunities for students to access, complete, and succeed after post-secondary education; thereby developing future leaders who will excel in their career, serve as role models in their communities, and will ultimately contribute to a vibrant America. Since 2003, APIASF has distributed more than $50 million in scholarships to deserving AAPI students. APIASF manages two scholarship programs: APIASF's general scholarship and the Gates Millennium Scholars/Asian Pacific Islander Americans funded by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

The Need for Scholarships for Asian American and Pacific Islander Students

FACT: In America today, 13 percent of Asian Americans and 18 percent of Pacific Islanders live at or below poverty, compared to 12 percent of the general population, with some ethnicities at 29 percent (Cambodian) and even 38 percent (Hmong and Marshallese) of the population at or below poverty.

FACT: Nearly half of all AAPIs attend community college, not four-year institutions and many AAPI ethnicities have some of the lowest high school graduation and college degree attainment rates in America.

FACT: According to the U.S. Census, the fastest growing race groups will continue to be Asian American and Pacific Islander Populations. By 2050, it is expected to reach 41 million.

FACT: Studies show that AAPI students are often marginalized and overlooked in leadership development programs and in leadership positions on college campuses; many do not readily relate to or embrace the label of "leader" relative to their white peers.

Based on these and other statistics, APIASF provides scholarships to deserving underserved AAPI students in our community with a special focus on those who:

• Live at or below the poverty level, or are otherwise of low socioeconomic status;
• Are the first in their families to attend college;
• Are representative of the AAPI community's diversity, geographically and ethnically, especially those ethnicities that have been underrepresented on college campuses due to limited access and opportunity; and
• Have placed strong emphasis on community service and leadership as well as solid academic achievement.

Vision and Mission of APIASF:

Our vision is to see that all Asian American and Pacific Islanders have access to higher education and resources that cultivate their academic, personal and professional success regardless of their ethnicity, national origin or financial means.

Our mission is to make a difference in the lives of AAPI students by providing them with resources that increase their access to higher education which serves as the foundation for their future success and contributions to a stronger America.

We carry out our mission by:

• Providing scholarships to AAPI students;
• Forging partnerships among corporations, foundations, community organizations and individuals to provide adequate financial and other resources to carry out our mission;
• Providing guidance, mentorship and programs to facilitate students' academic success, leadership and professional growth;
• Establishing strategic alliances within AAPI and educational communities; and
• Building a clearinghouse of higher education research on AAPI high school and college students and continue to increase awareness of AAPI education issues and challenges.

Our Scholarships

APIASF manages two scholarship programs: APIASF's general scholarship and the Gates Millennium Scholars/Asian Pacific Islander Americans (GMS/APIA), funded by a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and administered by UNCF.