San Francisco, California, August 11, 2023 – The Diasporic Vietnamese Artists Network (DVAN) is thrilled to share some big news that we’ve received a generous donation of $500,000 from an anonymous donor to initiate an endowment to ensure that DVAN can sustain its efforts in the long run. The goal of the endowment is to raise $4 million over the next four years. While this seed investment is restricted and cannot be accessed until the endowment goals are met four years from now, we are affirmed by this commitment to DVAN’s future and grateful for this legacy gift.
The DVAN Endowment inaugurates the end of our first year as an official non-profit 501(c)3 organization. After nearly 20 years of providing space, support, and resources to the greater Vietnamese diasporic literary community, this legacy gift is a testament to DVAN’s vision and accomplishments. It also paves the way toward a sustainable future for the organization.
We invite those with means to match this donation and help us reach our goal of raising an additional $500,000 this year (prior to our fiscal year end: June 30, 2024). We need it to ensure that DVAN remains viable and can continue to carry out its critical mission for future generations.
DVAN fills a real need for our community and society at large. As stated in a recent article in USA Today, the success of a handful of Vietnamese American writers should not obscure the fact that the American publishing industry remains largely dominated by white voices. By supporting and uplifting Vietnamese and Southeast Asian diasporic literary and creative voices as a whole, DVAN breaks through our invisibility in mainstream media and challenges pre-existing stereotypes generated by the Vietnam War.
DVAN’s scope is bold and ambitious and it is vital in our current moment. DVAN is committed to building a robust organization that proudly represents Vietnamese Americans and diasporic Southeast Asian American communities.
We indeed strive to stand in solidarity with non-Vietnamese diasporic Southeast Asian communities and seek to be more inclusive in our programs and activities. This year we started a Southeast Asian Solidarity Collective with members Monica Sok, Souvankham Thammavongsa, and Mai Der Vang. Securing such an endowment would accelerate the process of including more diverse Southeast Asian voices across our programs.
The DVAN Endowment cannot and will not be used for day-to-day operational expenses. Only equity made from the Endowment—to be reviewed and deposited every year—will be calculated and used to support DVAN’s operation once our goal of a $4 million endowment is met. If you wish to provide a legacy gift through the DVAN Endowment, please contact our Finance Team at [email protected].
DVAN is a 501(c)3 that uplifts Vietnamese American and Southeast Asian literature and culture through events, publications, residencies, and workshops. For nearly 20 years, we have empowered artists in the diaspora. Find out more about DVAN at: DVAN.org.
