Sheng-Yen Lu Foundation

Sheng-yen lu foundation made 23 justice fund grants in 2024. The justice fund makes grants to immigrant and refugee serving organizations that are: 1) building an inclusive economy in which immigrants and refugees can thrive 2) conducting narrative change work to create a more welcoming, inclusive, anti-racist, and compassionate vision for our nation 3) engaging in advocacy and systems-change work to promote civic participation and immigrant justice including access to healthcare, education, housing, safety, and other basic human needs and 4) providing legal representation to immigrants and refugees.

Other grantmaking activity: sheng-yen lu foundation sponsored community events held by 40 partner organizations in 2024. One set of special projects is our disaster relief efforts. 100% of funds raised for disaster relief efforts go toward rebuilding the lives of those affected by disasters. In 2024, one organization received funds to help victims of the earthquake in taiwan, and another organization received funding for emergency response services in gaza. Sheng-yen lu foundation also made 13 rapid response grants in 2024. These grants are made to grantee partners who are facing an unanticipated need for funds to address an emergency situation. Sheng-yen lu foundation also made 10 community-led grants in 2024 to nonprofits that were nominated by our existing grantees. The goal of this funding stream is to broaden the scope of our philanthropic efforts and support newer and/or smaller organizations in their development. Finally, one additional special projects grant was made in 2024 to support a sabbatical fund for bipoc nonprofit leaders in washington state, and an additional special projects grant was made as a capital campaign gift to a healthcare organization.

Sheng-yen lu foundation operates the lotus scholarship program to benefit immigrant and refugee students who are graduating high school and wish to pursue a college degree. The scholarship helps these students who are often the first in their families to attend college and who face tremendous language, cultural, and financial barriers. A total of 33 individual scholarships were awarded in 2024 to assist with the cost of post-secondary education.