National CAPACD

National CAPACD National CAPACD is a coalition and nonprofit network focused on advancing civic engagement, affordable housing, economic development, health access, and civil rights for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. Founded in 1996, it brings together community-based organizations, service providers, and advocacy groups to address disparities in housing, voting, small business, and disaster recovery through policy advocacy, training, and technical assistance. The organization interfaces with federal agencies, Congressional offices, philanthropic foundations, and community partners to amplify the voices of immigrant, refugee, and indigenous populations across the United States.

History

National CAPACD was established in 1996 by leaders from community organizations who previously collaborated with entities such as the Ford Foundation, Open Society Foundations, Office of Management and Budget, Department of Housing and Urban Development, and National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium. Early partners included groups known to work with the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Japanese American Citizens League, Korean American Coalition, Catholic Charities USA, and Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service. During the late 1990s and early 2000s the coalition engaged with landmark initiatives involving the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, and interactions with the U.S. Congress that mirrored advocacy by the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and the National Council of La Raza. In response to crises such as the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, Hurricane Katrina, and the 2010 Haiti earthquake, member organizations collaborated with relief efforts coordinated by Federal Emergency Management Agency and international partners like United Nations Development Programme. In the 2010s National CAPACD worked alongside groups such as Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum, National Immigration Law Center, Asian Law Caucus, Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, and Asian Americans Advancing Justice on issues ranging from language access to disaster resilience. Its history includes engagement with policy debates during administrations of Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden.

Mission and Programs

The coalition’s mission aligns with civil rights and social service organizations such as NAACP, Human Rights Campaign, ACLU, Pew Research Center, and United Way Worldwide by prioritizing affordable housing, economic empowerment, civic participation, and health equity. Programs have included housing counseling and HUD-related initiatives that coordinate with Federal Home Loan Bank, Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, Low Income Housing Tax Credit stakeholders, and local housing authorities like the New York City Housing Authority and Los Angeles Housing Department. Workforce and small business programs partner with entities such as the Small Business Administration, Chamber of Commerce, Asian Chamber of Commerce, and the U.S. Department of Labor. Civic engagement and naturalization drives connect with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, National Voter Registration Act enforcement advocates, and grassroots networks like MoveOn.org and Rock the Vote. Health and aging initiatives intersect with programs from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and older adult services coordinated with the Administration for Community Living.

Organizational Structure

The coalition is governed by a board model similar to nonprofit networks like National Council of Nonprofits, Independent Sector, and regional associations including the Asian Pacific Fund and Hawaii Community Foundation. Member organizations reflect a broad spectrum from the Chinese Progressive Association, Filipino Community Center, Samoan Community Development Center, Tibetan Association, to state-level groups comparable to California Immigrant Policy Center and Asian Pacific American Legal Center. Staff roles mirror those at advocacy nonprofits such as PolicyLink and Center for American Progress, with departments for policy, communications, capacity building, and fiscal operations. The secretariat maintains relationships with Congressional committees including the House Committee on Financial Services, Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, House Committee on Ways and Means, and oversight bodies like the Government Accountability Office.

Advocacy and Policy Work

Advocacy efforts have targeted legislation and administrative actions similar to campaigns by Common Cause, Brennan Center for Justice, and Human Rights Watch. National CAPACD’s policy priorities frequently intersect with issues addressed by HUD Secretary, Health and Human Services Secretary, Attorney General of the United States, and agencies such as Department of Education and Department of Agriculture. Policy campaigns have engaged with debates over the Affordable Care Act, Civil Rights Act, Voting Rights Act, disaster recovery funding tied to Stafford Act, and federal budget appropriations overseen by Congressional Budget Office. The coalition works in coalitions alongside Coalition for Asian American Children and Families, Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council, National Urban League, and United States Conference of Mayors to pursue language access, anti-discrimination enforcement, and fair lending reforms promoted by Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and Federal Reserve Board.

Partnerships and Funding

Funding and partnerships span philanthropic organizations and government grantmakers such as the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, Bank of America Charitable Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Annie E. Casey Foundation, and federal grant programs administered by Corporation for National and Community Service and Community Development Block Grant recipients. Collaboration includes research and evaluation partners like Urban Institute, Brookings Institution, Migration Policy Institute, and RAND Corporation. The network leverages partnerships with local intermediaries such as Enterprise Community Partners, Local Initiatives Support Corporation, NeighborWorks America, and national intermediaries including National Low Income Housing Coalition and National Alliance to End Homelessness for program delivery, disaster recovery, and capacity building.

Category:Non-profit organizations based in the United States