Ethnic and/or racial associations and organizations frequently offer scholarships to students of particular backgrounds. For example, the Chinese American Citizens Alliance Foundation offers eight scholarships worth $1,000 each to college students of Chinese descent. The Japanese American Citizens League offers over thirty scholarships to high school or college students. Eligibility varies by organization; some require only that an applicant be of a particular ethnic heritage, while others have other restrictions such as membership or residency.
Organizations whose membership represent all Asian-American communities also offer a number of scholarships, including APIASF (Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund), the U.S. Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce, and the Asian Pacific Fund, which focuses on the Asian-American community in California's Bay Area.
Many Asian-American professional organizations also provide scholarships to Asian-American students who wish to pursue careers in specific fields. Examples include scholarships from the Philippine Nurses Association of America, the Asian-American Journalists Association, the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, the Asian Pacific American Librarians Association, Asian Women in Business, and the Asian American Architects/Engineers Association.
Many universities offer scholarships through their financial aid departments specifically for Asian-American students. These scholarships are usually endowed by individuals, families, foundations, or companies and vary in amount, duration, GPA minimums, and other restrictions. For example, Boston University offers a generous Asian-American Scholarship to a BU junior who---among other requirements---demonstrates a commitment to the advancement of the Asian-American community. Students interested in learning more about college-based scholarships should contact the college's financial aid office.
Even institutions that do not have a direct connection to the Asian-American community but whose mission or business operations target them nonetheless often offer scholarships to Asian-American students, among others. The Gates Millennium Scholars program targets disadvantaged minority students from the Asian and Pacific Islander American, African-American, American Indian/Alaska Native, and Hispanic-American communities who demonstrate community and leadership skills as well as an outstanding academic record. The Verizon Foundation partners with the National Association of Asian-American Professionals to offer the annual NAAAP/Verizon Foundation Leadership Scholarship.