TAAF Announces CEO Succession Plan; Norman Chen to Retire as CEO and Become Vice Chair of the Board

Board of Directors to launch a national search for TAAF’s next Chief Executive Officer as part of a long-planned leadership transition.

NEW YORK CITY – The Asian American Foundation (TAAF) announced today that Chief Executive Officer Norman Chen plans to retire as CEO at the end of 2026 and transition to a new role of Vice Chair of TAAF’s Board of Directors, marking the next phase of the organization’s long-planned leadership transition. Chen was appointed as CEO in 2021 and helped build TAAF from a startup responding to crisis into the leading investor, innovator, and convener for the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community.

The Board of Directors has launched a national search to identify the organization's next CEO to continue to drive the mission of the organization. Chen will remain in the full-time CEO role throughout the search process and work closely with the incoming CEO before transitioning to a new role as Vice Chair of the Board. The Board expects the search to take several months and is committed to finding the right leader for TAAF's next chapter.

"My time at TAAF has been the most personally rewarding experience of my career, and I’m deeply grateful to TAAF’s co-founders, board members, staff, and partners for their trust and dedication over the past five years,” said Chen. “Because of what we’ve accomplished together, I have no doubt that our community is safer, more visible, and better understood. I’m committed to working with the Board to help identify TAAF’s next CEO and ensure a smooth transition. I look forward to continuing my service to this organization and our community in the years ahead in my new role as Vice Chair of the Board.”

“Under Norman’s leadership over the past five years, TAAF has become a leading national organization investing in and building AAPI safety, essential research, and economic empowerment,” said Joseph Bae and Peng Zhao, Co-Chairs of TAAF's Board of Directors. “We are deeply appreciative of his contributions to TAAF and look forward to our continued partnership as he transitions to Vice Chair of the Board.” 

Under Chen’s five year term as CEO, TAAF made significant strides to advance safety, belonging, and prosperity for the AAPI community, including by investing over $46 million to strengthen the infrastructure of AAPI-serving organizations, and unlocking over $3 billion in resources through its AAPI Giving Challenge. TAAF has worked to tackle the community’s challenges, publishing more than 20 research studies to investigate pressing issues and building a National Safety Network to provide direct services to residents in 14 major metro areas. Chen also oversaw the launch of flagship initiatives including the AAPI History Hub for K-12 educators, TAAF’s award-winning “Asian+American” PSA campaign, and pipeline programs that have supported over 80 creatives and filmmakers.

Looking ahead, TAAF will continue expanding “TAAF Cities,” its initiative bringing cross-sector investment to cities with large AAPI populations, across the country, guided by a new research series, State of AAPIs, which uses granular city-level data to convene leaders across sectors and address the AAPI community's most pressing needs. TAAF will also continue its efforts to preserve and elevate AAPI stories and storytellers, including its ongoing docuseries The United States of Asian+America, spotlighting AAPI figures whose contributions to American history have often gone untold. To continue supporting leadership across all levels, TAAF is also investing in the next generation of AAPI leaders through TALA, a career and leadership program for college students, TAAF Board Accelerator to increase representation of AAPIs on corporate boards, and TEN (TAAF ERG Network) for employee resource groups at corporations. Through its Impact Strategy, TAAF will continue to lead with groundbreaking research, innovative programs, and cross-sector partnerships to build greater safety, belonging, and prosperity for the AAPI community for generations to come.

About The Asian American Foundation (TAAF)

TAAF serves the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community by promoting safety, fostering belonging, and advancing prosperity. Launched in 2021 in response to the rise in anti-Asian hate and to address the long-standing underinvestment in AAPI communities, we invest in initiatives to combat anti-Asian hate, integrate AAPI studies into school curricula, elevate authentic AAPI storytelling, and expand resources and representation for our communities. Through our high-impact initiatives, events, and investments in national and local nonprofits, we’re creating a permanent and irrevocable sense of belonging for millions of AAPIs in the United States. For additional information about TAAF, please visit www.taaf.org or follow @TAAForg on Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, or Facebook.