The Li Lu Humanitarian Foundation concentrates its giving on a small number of relatively large grants that support higher education and Asian American social justice. Recent awards show a mix of major university support (both business and STEM-focused institutions) and a sizable, targeted contribution to an Asian American equity and opportunity initiative. The foundation appears to prioritize developing academic institutions and programs that advance faculty/student development alongside racial, social, and economic justice for Asian American communities.
A $1 million grant to the Asian American Equity Opportunity Fund anchors The Li Lu Humanitarian Foundation’s 2023 giving and makes its priority clear: racial, social, and economic justice for Asian Americans. The foundation pairs that large community-focused award with significant support for higher education, including Columbia Business School and Columbia Law School, both in New York, where grants also support faculty, students, and related university development. Its recent pattern shows a funder comfortable writing both seven-figure and five-figure checks, using larger gifts for core priorities and smaller grants for science, education, legal advocacy, and humanitarian work. Alongside university support, the foundation also backed the California Institute of Technology and the American Association for the Advancement of Science, pointing to interest in STEM and research. Other grants extend to organizations serving Chinese Americans, local schools, free multilingual content, and families affected by conflict, disaster, or military loss. The mix suggests a grantmaker that invests in institutions, public-facing advocacy, and service organizations at the same time, with a consistent emphasis on development, access, and opportunity rather than a single program niche.
Asian American racial, social, and economic justice is one of the clearest throughlines in the foundation’s recent grants. It gave $1 million to the Asian American Equity Opportunity Fund for racial, social, and economic justice for Asian Americans, and $25,000 to United Chinese Americans for the human rights of Chinese Americans. Higher education is another major theme. Columbia Business School received $215,000 to support faculty and student development, while Columbia Law School received $100,000 for the same purpose. The foundation also supported STEM and research institutions: California Institute of Technology received $200,000 for education, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science received $50,000 for the advancement of science. Smaller grants extended into local education and public-service efforts, including City Year and The Wikimedia Foundation.
The Li Lu Humanitarian Foundation’s typical grant size sits at $5,000 at the 25th percentile, a $25,000 median, and $62,500 at the 75th percentile. That distribution shows a structure built around modest grants with a handful of much larger awards, including a seven-figure gift in 2023. The foundation is a regular funder rather than a donor-advised fund, and the 2023 grant list suggests mostly one-year awards rather than repeated multi-year commitments visible in the data. Grants are made to organizations rather than individuals, and the available record does not show an application process.
$3.9M
$102.9M
$18M
$4.3M
Most grants fall between $5K and $63K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$63K
About 5% of grants go to recipients in NY.
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for Li Lu Humanitarian Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 56 | $10.9M | 96.5% |
| 2 | China |
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Concentrated, high-dollar gifts to a small set of national organizations — few but large grants rather than many small awards; mix of tuition/academic development and mission-driven program support.
Notable grantees: Asian American Equity Opportunity Fund, Columbia Business School, California Institute of Technology
The foundation gives nationally, with all listed 2023 grants going to U.S. recipients. New York is the top state by grant count, driven by awards in New York, NY to several institutions and nonprofits. Other recurring grant locations include Pasadena, CA; Washington, DC; and San Francisco, CA. Washington state appears as a smaller part of the portfolio, with one grant to St Thomas School in Medina, WA, and 5% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state.
Recent grants point most strongly to Asian American racial, social, and economic justice, alongside higher education support. The largest award went to the Asian American Equity Opportunity Fund for justice work, while other major gifts supported university faculty and students at Columbia and STEM-related education and research at California Institute of Technology and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Its grant-size profile is centered on relatively small awards, with a $5,000 25th percentile, a $25,000 median, and a $62,500 75th percentile. At the same time, the 2023 record includes a $1,000,000 grant, showing that the foundation occasionally makes much larger strategic gifts.
The top state by grant count is New York. In the 2023 grants listed, New York, NY appears repeatedly across university and nonprofit awards, while other recipients are in Pasadena, Washington, San Francisco, Cambridge, Medina, Tiburon, Montgomery, Los Angeles, Boston, and Arlington.
No. The recipient country distribution in the data shows 20 grants, all to U.S. organizations, which is 100% of the listed grants.
The grant list includes universities, advocacy groups, science organizations, schools, and humanitarian or public-service nonprofits. Recipients include Columbia Business School, Columbia Law School, California Institute of Technology, United Chinese Americans, The Wikimedia Foundation, International Medical Corps, and Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors Inc.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
| 2 |
| $233K |
3.5% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE ASIAN AMERICAN FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $2,000,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT THE ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMUNITY IN THEIR PURSUIT OF BELONGING AND PROSPERITY THAT IS FREE FROM DISCRIMINATION, SLANDER, AND VIOLENCE. |
| COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $1,002,500 | 2025 | CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOMENT OF THE UNIVERSITY'S FACULTY AND STUDENT BODY AND SUPPORT |
| ENDOWMENT OF THE US INSTITUTE OF PEACE | WASHINGTON, DC | $300,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT ACTIVITIES IN FURTHERANCE OF THE UNITED STATES INSTITUTE OF PEACE |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN DIEGO | LA JOLLA, CA | $120,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT EDUCATION |
| THE PARADISE INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION | LUOHU DISTRICT, SH | $103,098 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSES |
| UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON FOUNDATION | SEATTLE, WA | $100,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT EDUCATION |
| COMMITTEE OF 100 | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | CONTRUBUTION TO SUPPORT PARTICIPATION OF CHINESE AMERICANS IN AMERICAN SOCIETY |
| EDWARD CHARLES FOUNDATION | BEVERLY HILLS, CA | $50,000 | 2025 | CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT IMPACTING LIVES AND COMMUNITIES IN WORTHWHILE CAUSES |
| SEATTLE UNIVERSITY | SEATTLE, WA | $50,000 | 2025 | TO |
| NYU STERN BUSINESS SCHOOL | NEW YORK, NY | $33,400 | 2025 | SUPPORT THE EDUCATION PROVIDED BY STERN BUSINESS SCHOOL |
| ST THOMAS SCHOOL | MEDINA, WA | $31,000 | 2025 | CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT EDUCATION |
| NATIONAL MINORITY SUPPLIER DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL | NEW YORK, NY | $15,000 | 2025 | TO SUPPORT EXCLUDED COMMUNITIES OF COLOR IN THE AMERICAN EXPERIENT OF FREE-MARKET CAPITALISM |
| THE ASIAN AMERICAN FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $2,000,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THE ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMUNITY IN THEIR PURSUIT OF BELONGING AND PROSPERITY THAT IS FREE FROM DISCRIMINATION, SLANDER, AND VIOLENCE. |
| COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY | NEW YORK, NY | $1,005,000 | 2024 | CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOMENT OF THE UNIVERSITY'S FACULTY AND STUDENT BODY AND SUPPORT RESEARCH AND TEACHING ON GLOBAL ISSUES. |
| RAND | SANTA MONICA, CA | $1,000,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THE GOAL TO IMPROVE POLICY AND DECISIONMAKING THROUGH RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS |
| ENDOWMENT OF THE US INSTITUTE OF PEACE | WASHINGTON, DC | $300,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT ACTIVITIES IN FURTHERANCE OF THE UNITED STATES INSTITUTE OF PEACE |
| THE PARADISE INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION | LUOHU DISTRICT, SH | $130,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSES |
| UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN DIEGO | LA JOLLA, CA | $120,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT EDUCATION |
| UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON FOUNDATION | SEATTLE, WA | $100,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT EDUCATION |
| COLUMBIA LAW SCHOOL | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2024 | CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOMENT OF THE UNIVERSITY'S FACULTY AND STUDENT BODY AND SUPPORT |
| CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | PASADENA, CA | $100,000 | 2024 | CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT EDUCATION |
| CENTER FOR HUMANE TECHNOLOGY | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $100,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT A COMPREHENSIVE SHIFT TOWARD TECHNOLOGY THAT STRENGTHENS OUR WELL-BEING, GLOBAL DEMOCRATIC FUNCTIONING, AND SHARED INFORMATION ENVIRONMENT |
| UNITED CHINESE AMERICANS | WASHINGTON, DC | $52,500 | 2024 | CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT HUMAN RIGHTS OF CHINESE AMERICANS |
| COMMITTEE OF 100 | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2024 | CONTRUBUTION TO SUPPORT PARTICIPATION OF CHINESE AMERICANS IN AMERICAN SOCIETY |
| GLADSTONE INSTITUTE | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $50,000 | 2024 | CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT SCIENCE OVERCOMING DISEASE |
| THE ASPEN INSTITUTE | NEW YORK, NY | $50,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT GATHERING DIVERSE, NONPARTISAN THOUGHT LEADERS, CREATIVES, SCHOLARS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE WORLD'S MOST COMPLEX PROBLEMS. |
| SEATTLE UNIVERSITY | SEATTLE, WA | $50,000 | 2024 | TO |
| EDWARD CHARLES FOUNDATION | BEVERLY HILLS, CA | $50,000 | 2024 | CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT IMPACTING LIVES AND COMMUNITIES IN WORTHWHILE CAUSES |
| NYU STERN BUSINESS SCHOOL | NEW YORK, NY | $33,300 | 2024 | SUPPORT THE EDUCATION PROVIDED BY STERN BUSINESS SCHOOL |
| ST THOMAS SCHOOL | MEDINA, WA | $20,000 | 2024 | CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT EDUCATION |
| POLYTECHNIC SCHOOL | PASADENA, CA | $15,000 | 2024 | CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT EDUCATION |
| ASIAN SOCIETY SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA | LOS ANGELES, CA | $10,000 | 2024 | DONATION TO SUPPORT THE MISSION OF UNDERSTANDING ASIA AND ITS ROLE IN THE WORLD |
| TEACH FOR ALL | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2024 | CONTRIBUTION TO DEVELOP LEADERS IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIESCONTRIBUTION TO SUUPORT MISSION TO ENSURE ALL CHILDREN CAN REACH THEIR ACADEMIC POTENTIAL |
| THE DAWN REDWOODS | TIBURON, CA | $10,000 | 2024 | CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT PEOPLE IN TIMES OF NEED |
| THE WIKIMEDIA FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $5,000 | 2024 | CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT THE GROWTH, DEVELOPMENT, AND DISTRIBUTION OF FREE, MULTILINGUAL CONTENT |
| PACIFIC COUNCIL ON INTERNATIONAL POLICY | LOS ANGELES, CA | $5,000 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT THE COUNCIL'S WORK TO PROMOTE GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT. |
| TRAGEDY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR SURVIVORS INC | ARLINGTON, VA | $5,000 | 2024 | CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT FAMILIES OF VETERANS WHO DIED IN SERVICE |
| INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CORPS | LOS ANGELES, CA | $5,000 | 2024 | CONTRIBUTION TO RELIVE SUFFERING OF THOSE INFLICTED BY CONFLICT, NATURAL DISASTER OR DISEASE OUTBREAK |
| ASIAN AMERICAN EQUITY OPPORTUNITY FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000,000 | 2023 | CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT RACIAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE FOR ASIAN AMERICANS |
| COLUMBIA BUSINESS SCHOOL | NEW YORK, NY | $215,000 | 2023 | CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOMENT OF THE UNIVERSITY'S FACULTY AND STUDENT BODY AND SUPPORT |
| CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | PASADENA, CA | $200,000 | 2023 | CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT EDUCATION |
| POLYTECHNIC SCHOOL | PASADENA, CA | $130,000 | 2023 | CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT EDUCATION |
| COLUMBIA LAW SCHOOL | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2023 | CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOMENT OF THE UNIVERSITY'S FACULTY AND STUDENT BODY AND SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE | WASHINGTON, DC | $50,000 | 2023 | CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE |
| ST THOMAS SCHOOL | MEDINA, WA | $40,000 | 2023 | CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT EDUCATION |
| COLUMBIA COLLEGE | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2023 | CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOMENT OF THE UNIVERSITY'S FACULTY AND STUDENT BODY AND SUPPORT CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOMENT OF THE UNIVERSITY'S FACULTY AND STUDENT BODY AND SUPPORT |
| UNITED CHINESE AMERICANS | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2023 | CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT HUMAN RIGHTS OF CHINESE AMERICANS |
| GLADSTONE INSTITUTE | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $25,000 | 2023 | CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT SCIENCE OVERCOMING DISEASE |
| AMERICAN ACACEMY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $25,000 | 2023 | CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT THE ARTS AND SCIENCES |
| TEACH FOR ALL | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2023 | CONTRIBUTION TO DEVELOP LEADERS IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIESCONTRIBUTION TO SUUPORT MISSION TO ENSURE ALL CHILDREN CAN REACH THEIR ACADEMIC POTENTIAL |
THE ASIAN AMERICAN FOUNDATION
$2,000,000TO SUPPORT THE ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMUNITY IN THEIR PURSUIT OF BELONGING AND PROSPERITY THAT IS FREE FROM DISCRIMINATION, SLANDER, AND VIOLENCE.
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
$1,002,500CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOMENT OF THE UNIVERSITY'S FACULTY AND STUDENT BODY AND SUPPORT
ENDOWMENT OF THE US INSTITUTE OF PEACE
$300,000TO SUPPORT ACTIVITIES IN FURTHERANCE OF THE UNITED STATES INSTITUTE OF PEACE
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN DIEGO
$120,000TO SUPPORT EDUCATION
THE PARADISE INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION
$103,098TO SUPPORT INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSES
TO SUPPORT EDUCATION
CONTRUBUTION TO SUPPORT PARTICIPATION OF CHINESE AMERICANS IN AMERICAN SOCIETY
CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT IMPACTING LIVES AND COMMUNITIES IN WORTHWHILE CAUSES
NYU STERN BUSINESS SCHOOL
$33,400SUPPORT THE EDUCATION PROVIDED BY STERN BUSINESS SCHOOL
TO SUPPORT EXCLUDED COMMUNITIES OF COLOR IN THE AMERICAN EXPERIENT OF FREE-MARKET CAPITALISM
THE ASIAN AMERICAN FOUNDATION
$2,000,000TO SUPPORT THE ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMUNITY IN THEIR PURSUIT OF BELONGING AND PROSPERITY THAT IS FREE FROM DISCRIMINATION, SLANDER, AND VIOLENCE.
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
$1,005,000CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOMENT OF THE UNIVERSITY'S FACULTY AND STUDENT BODY AND SUPPORT RESEARCH AND TEACHING ON GLOBAL ISSUES.
RAND
$1,000,000TO SUPPORT THE GOAL TO IMPROVE POLICY AND DECISIONMAKING THROUGH RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS
ENDOWMENT OF THE US INSTITUTE OF PEACE
$300,000TO SUPPORT ACTIVITIES IN FURTHERANCE OF THE UNITED STATES INSTITUTE OF PEACE
THE PARADISE INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION
$130,000TO SUPPORT INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSES
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN DIEGO
$120,000TO SUPPORT EDUCATION
COLUMBIA LAW SCHOOL
$100,000CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOMENT OF THE UNIVERSITY'S FACULTY AND STUDENT BODY AND SUPPORT
TO SUPPORT A COMPREHENSIVE SHIFT TOWARD TECHNOLOGY THAT STRENGTHENS OUR WELL-BEING, GLOBAL DEMOCRATIC FUNCTIONING, AND SHARED INFORMATION ENVIRONMENT
UNITED CHINESE AMERICANS
$52,500CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT HUMAN RIGHTS OF CHINESE AMERICANS
CONTRUBUTION TO SUPPORT PARTICIPATION OF CHINESE AMERICANS IN AMERICAN SOCIETY
THE ASPEN INSTITUTE
$50,000TO SUPPORT GATHERING DIVERSE, NONPARTISAN THOUGHT LEADERS, CREATIVES, SCHOLARS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE WORLD'S MOST COMPLEX PROBLEMS.
CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT IMPACTING LIVES AND COMMUNITIES IN WORTHWHILE CAUSES
NYU STERN BUSINESS SCHOOL
$33,300SUPPORT THE EDUCATION PROVIDED BY STERN BUSINESS SCHOOL
DONATION TO SUPPORT THE MISSION OF UNDERSTANDING ASIA AND ITS ROLE IN THE WORLD
CONTRIBUTION TO DEVELOP LEADERS IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIESCONTRIBUTION TO SUUPORT MISSION TO ENSURE ALL CHILDREN CAN REACH THEIR ACADEMIC POTENTIAL
THE DAWN REDWOODS
$10,000CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT PEOPLE IN TIMES OF NEED
THE WIKIMEDIA FOUNDATION
$5,000CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT THE GROWTH, DEVELOPMENT, AND DISTRIBUTION OF FREE, MULTILINGUAL CONTENT
TO SUPPORT THE COUNCIL'S WORK TO PROMOTE GLOBAL ENGAGEMENT.
CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT FAMILIES OF VETERANS WHO DIED IN SERVICE
CONTRIBUTION TO RELIVE SUFFERING OF THOSE INFLICTED BY CONFLICT, NATURAL DISASTER OR DISEASE OUTBREAK
ASIAN AMERICAN EQUITY OPPORTUNITY FUND
$1,000,000CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT RACIAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC JUSTICE FOR ASIAN AMERICANS
COLUMBIA BUSINESS SCHOOL
$215,000CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOMENT OF THE UNIVERSITY'S FACULTY AND STUDENT BODY AND SUPPORT
COLUMBIA LAW SCHOOL
$100,000CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOMENT OF THE UNIVERSITY'S FACULTY AND STUDENT BODY AND SUPPORT
CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE
COLUMBIA COLLEGE
$25,000CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOMENT OF THE UNIVERSITY'S FACULTY AND STUDENT BODY AND SUPPORT CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOMENT OF THE UNIVERSITY'S FACULTY AND STUDENT BODY AND SUPPORT
UNITED CHINESE AMERICANS
$25,000CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT HUMAN RIGHTS OF CHINESE AMERICANS
GLADSTONE INSTITUTE
$25,000CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT SCIENCE OVERCOMING DISEASE
CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT THE ARTS AND SCIENCES
CONTRIBUTION TO DEVELOP LEADERS IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIESCONTRIBUTION TO SUUPORT MISSION TO ENSURE ALL CHILDREN CAN REACH THEIR ACADEMIC POTENTIAL