The Asian American Foundation and Norman Chen, CEO

2026 Visionary Impact Award

The Asian American Foundation (TAAF) serves the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community by promoting safety, fostering belonging, and advancing prosperity. Launched in 2021 in response to the rise in anti-Asian hate, TAAF was established to address the long-standing underinvestment in AAPI communities across the United States.

Through innovative programs, groundbreaking research, and cross-sector partnerships, TAAF works to build a permanent and irrevocable sense of belonging for millions of AAPIs. The organization actively drives change by building safety and economic prosperity, advocating for AAPI history in school curricula, ensuring leadership representation, shaping cultural influence, and conducting vital research. 

A cornerstone of this mission is TAAF Cities, an initiative partnering with local leaders to increase opportunity, safety, and cultural pride, starting with cross-sector solutions inspired by data from the State of AAPIs: NYC report.

Led by Chief Executive Officer Norman Chen, TAAF leverages his thirty-year career in entrepreneurship, healthcare, and community leadership across the United States and Asia. Passionate about societal impact, Norman co-founded the nonprofit Leading Asian Americans to Unite for Change (LAAUNCH) and helped create The STAATUS Index landmark study on attitudes toward Asian Americans. 

His background as a healthcare entrepreneur includes founding Asia Renal Care and co-founding DeltaHealth Hospital, alongside leading life sciences investments at Fidelity Asia Ventures and 6 Dimensions Capital. Norman grew up on the East Coast, lives in the Bay Area, and holds a B.S. from MIT and an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. He has served on boards for The Nature Conservancy (CA), Children’s Medical Foundation (HK), SF Marine Science Institute, and Positive Coaching Alliance.