Slant’d is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a mission to nurture self-discovery and unlock creative expansion for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs). Our goal is to build a world where all AAPIs are empowered to express themselves in pursuit of their wildest dreams.

We are currently 100% volunteer-run and we commit every $1 back to independent artists, writers, and creatives and our programs.

The state of publishing & AAPI nonprofits

Publishing is an industry that has historically been inaccessible and unsupportive for the AAPI community. Only 7% of published authors identify as AAPI, despite being the fastest growing ethnic group in the United States and AAPIs make up a mere 8% of publishing staff. Traditional publishing systems often exclude emerging AAPI creatives due to barriers like agent representation, educational requirements (e.g., Master’s Degree in Fine Arts), and industry access. Because of this, so many diverse, authentic AAPI voices and stories are missing from the mainstream conversation.

Nonprofits have been dealing with unprecedented challenges with funding for the past few years. According to AAPIP, AAPI communities receive less than 0.5% of all philanthropy. On top of that, literature is the least-supported artistic discipline in the US, receiving less than 2% of the $5 billion in arts grants awarded.

As a small nonprofit, the odds may be stacked against us, but we’re not going anywhere.

How we're reimagining publishing for the better

Slant'd exists as a catalyst for the AAPI community to believe in the power of their story and their inherent creativity, regardless of credentials, training, and career path. At a time when AAPI voices remain marginalized in mainstream publishing, Slant'd demonstrates that radical inclusion and literary excellence are not opposing forces. In creating spaces for these voices to shine, we are reimagining publishing to be more equitable, accessible, and joyful, and expanding the very definition of who gets to call themselves “creative.”

Since 2017, we've empowered 200+ AAPI writers and artists to share their stories through thought-provoking publications, engaged 1,000+ AAPIs through a mix of in-person and virtual events, and partnered with 150+ brands and organizations around the U.S.

Our goals for 2026 (aka: the Year of the Fire Horse)

📕 Publishing our 8th literary magazine issue: We publish an annual literary magazine that showcases authentic stories told by diverse AAPI writers and artists across generations, geographies, and experiences. Your support will help pay for contributor stipends, team stipends, production, and more. Our next issue will be themed Wild. We'll be opening up for submissions in March 2026!
📚 Publishing our first 2 books: Our book publishing arm intentionally specializes in genres that have been historically tougher for debut AAPI authors to break into via traditional publishing. Last year, we acquired our first 2 books (a children's picture book and a visual memoir), which are slated to be published this Fall. Your support will help us pay for artist and author commissions, production, printing, and book tour costs.
🛍️ Expanding our footprint through local retailers and events: We plan to bring more AAPI stories to the community by attending as many zine festivals and book fairs as possible. We're actively building relationships with local retailers and independent bookshops to bring Slant'd magazines to more readers. Your support will help cover tabling fees and transportation costs, allowing us to connect these voices with a broader audience.
🎤 Hosting Beyond the Page, our virtual storytelling program: Our multi-week virtual live storytelling development program centers, affirms, and celebrates the nuanced lived experiences of AAPI communities in the U.S. who are often overlooked and aims to dismantle the imagined Asian American monolith narrative by teaching them the fundamentals of the personal narrative. This year's program will center the stories of queer and gender-expansive AAPIs from all over the US.

🌁 Hosting Blank Page Revival (BPR), our signature creative writing intensive, in a NEW city: This month-long creative writing intensive is a hybrid program that supports AAPI writers (aged 25+) to challenge perfectionism, channel communal creativity, and create a new piece of work with a writing partner and a coach from start to finish. This year, BPR will be hosted in San Francisco this Summer!

Donate today to support indie publishing!

The AAPI community deserves a publishing house where our stories are essential and enduring, not a fleeting trend. Join us in supporting this work by making a tax-deductible donation today. Your donation uplifts diverse voices, fuels organizational sustainability, and makes creative programs possible!

Recurring donations (at any size) make a BIG impact. Every recurring donations helps us with long-term sustainability and security, reducing our reliance on sporadic, EOY campaigns or grants. Become a recurring donor today and get a special thank you gift (value: $20)! 🎁

FAQ

What did my donation last year support?
Thank you for your gift last year! Your contribution helped us make incredible strides as a young nonprofit.

With your support, we published the 7th issue of our literary magazine, which featured 11 heartfelt stories by 20 AAPI creatives (the highest number of submissions to date!), hosted Blank Page Revival in Chicago, launched Beyond the Page, new virtual storytelling program, developed our first 2 books (coming out this fall), and more.

How can I get more involved?
There are so many ways to make a difference:

📣 Help us spread the word: Keep an eye on our official Slant'd channels for real time updates (Instagram, Facebook, Email). Repost and share our content to help us reach bigger audiences!
💫 Double Your Impact: Find out if your company offers donation matching programs. If they do, your contribution could go even further. If you need assistance with this, don't hesitate to email development@slantd.com.
🎤 Fundraise on our behalf: It's a straightforward process that only takes two steps, and it can have a massive impact on our fundraising efforts.

Don't forget, we embrace all ways of giving (including DAFs and stock donations). If you would like to support in a way that is not listed, please email development@slantd.com.

We are so excited to take part in a year of bold action. Let’s build something amazing together, now and for the future of AAPI creativity.

Slant'd 2026 Fundraising Campaign 🐴

Donate to help make Slant’d the go-to creative home for AAPIs

Team Members