Project by Project

Project by Project San Francisco Fact Sheet

What makes PbP different from other Asian American non-profit groups?

• Project by Project (PbP) is a national 501(c)3 non-profit organization with chapters in New York City, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.  We are pan-Asian and focus on issues affecting Asian Americans in the US.
• PbP selects a national theme every year and each chapter selects a local, non-profit organization within that theme to partner with.  Past themes: 2009—The Economy; 2008—Political Empowerment.
• The chapter then tailors a year-long campaign to help its fundraising, community outreach, and public awareness efforts.
• This method of focusing on one issue at a time for a period of a year allows PbP to work in-depth with the partner and thoroughly educate its volunteers on the cause.

What do you guys actually do? Do you merely serve as outsourced help?

• We invest our time, fundraising efforts, and volunteer base to build a relationship with the non-profits we work with and hone leadership skills in our volunteers to make a long lasting impact.
• Our steering committee is made of professionals with experience in a wide variety of professions such as strategy, finance, marketing, design, law, marketing and technology.
• This diverse experience enables us to take a project based approach to address both broad and specific issues.

How does each chapter choose the non-profit they will work with?  How does the partnership work throughout the year?

• We look for organizations within the theme that we can make an impact in terms of fundraising, community outreach, and public awareness.
• PbP works with our partner to customize each campaign according to their needs.  PbP then mobilizes its diverse network of public, private and community resources to achieve these goals.

What events does PbP host to raise funds for its local non-profit partner?

• PbP organizes several events throughout the year ranging from silent auctions to launch events that kickoff a new chapter such as San Francisco.  PbP’s signature event is the Annual Tasting Benefit, ‘Plate by Plate’.
• “Plate by Plate” features the city’s best restaurants and is attended by over 750 food and wine enthusiasts.  All net proceeds are donated to the local cause each chapter partners with.
• In previous years, the organization and benefit has been featured on Bravo TV’s ‘Top Chef’ as well as several culinary publications.
• The success of “Plate by Plate” would not be possible without the hundreds of planning and prep hours dedicated by our steering committee and volunteers.
• If you are interested in volunteering for ‘Plate by Plate’ or some of our other events throughout the year, please sign up by sending an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

How does PbP choose its theme each year?

• Once the theme is selected by the National Steering Committee, the local chapters go through an RFP (Request for Proposal) process to seek local organizations that fit the theme.
• Local beneficiary partners are considered based on a number of criteria including level of need, impact in the APIA community, potential for volunteer opportunities, and pan-Asian reach.

What is the 2009 PbP theme?  What non-profits did PbP work with that year?  

• The Economy.
• The NY chapter worked with Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE) which focuses on community service and the empowerment of immigrants, low-income families, and minorities throughout New York City.
• The SoCal chapter worked with Asian Pacific Islander Small Business Program (API SBP) which assists the development of small and micro businesses in Los Angeles in Chinese, Korean, Japanese Thai and Filipino business communities.
• The SF chapter will not be selecting a local beneficiary partner in 2009, but will be selecting one in 2010.

What is the 2010 PbP theme?

• Healthcare.
• We sought organizations that served the APIA community in the following ways:
  • Healthcare reform
  • Providing access to affordable healthcare
  • Working with immigrant communities to provide information in-language
  • Educational and cultural assistance to healthcare
  • Working with the elderly community on senior healthcare matters
  • Childcare and motherhood
  • Wellness and holistic living
  • Building awareness for medical issues highly prevalent in the APIA community (Lupus, Hep B, Aids)
• In 2010, the SF chapter worked with APA Family Support Services.

What is the 2011 PbP theme?

• Asian Americans and Education.
• The SF Chapter has selected Oakland Asian Student Education Services (OASES) as its 2011 Partner.
• For more information about volunteer opportunities and upcoming events with Project by Project and the Oakland Asian Students Educational Services, please visit www.projectbyproject.org and www.oases.org.

What is the 2012 PbP theme?

• Celebrating PbP's 15th Anniversary.
• In 2012 we will focus on further branding ourselves as a significant player within the San Francisco non-profit community by raising money and awareness for PbP.  We will reinforce the idea that PbP not only helps local Pan-Asian non-profits in need, but also motivates and mobilizes young professionals to serve this cause.  Additionally, we will continue our service to the Pan-Asian community and our past partners of APA Family Support Services and OASES.

How long has PbP been around?

• PbP was founded in New York City in 1998 by a group of young Asian American professionals.
• The organization then expanded to Southern California in 2001, and more recently the Bay Area in 2009.
• We have partnered with about 20 organizations since PbP was founded.
• PbP now has more than 1500 volunteers nationwide.