CAPAL (Conference on Asian Pacific American Leadership) seeks to empower Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) youth by increasing access to public service opportunities and building a strong AANHPI public service pipeline. Join us in raising $10,000 this season to provide educational opportunities and public service scholarships for AANHPI students.

Despite the fact that Asian American, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPIs) are the fastest-growing demographic in the U.S. with over 20 million AANHPIs across the country, we make up only 0.9% of elected leaders. Since 1989, CAPAL has worked to create educational opportunities and resources for AANHPI students in the public service field in order to build a strong public service pipeline, and to close this gap. Since then, we have served over 600 students and young professionals through our Scholarship & Internship Program and professional development programming.

But our work is not done, and AANHPIs continue to be one of the largest underrepresented groups in our country. By drawing on our identities, histories, and backgrounds, we formed a close-knit community, united in our commitment to addressing and discussing the most pressing issues facing our youth. Help us empower the next generation as we envision a future with equitable AANHPI representation throughout all levels of government and public service and donate today! Learn more about CAPAL’s initiatives on our website: https://www.capal.org/site/.

Learn how YOUR donation can make an impact in 2026!

$25-$50: Funds a meal for a CAPAL summer event program
$100-$250: Funds the facilitation of a summer professional development workshop
$500: Funds travel to CAPAL summer program/internship site
$1000: Sponsors a Washington Leadership Program Session
$3000-$5000: Sponsors a scholarship for a 2026 CAPAL Scholar

Hear from our 2025 Scholars & Interns

Every summer, CAPAL supports ~30 scholars and interns from diverse AANHPI backgrounds. Our students undergo an interactive and identity-based curriculum, participate in internships across the country featuring groundbreaking work in public service and community organizations, and cultivate their knowledge and skills in consistent leadership development programming. Help us support more students on their public-service scholarship and internship journeys year-round by donating today!

“CAPAL was a wonderful experience and truly helped me solidify my commitment to a career in public service. As an Indian American, I have seen very few people who share my identity in the careers I hope to pursue. Being part of CAPAL was both empowering and inspiring, not only because I had the chance to hear from current professionals in policy and public service, but also because I was surrounded by a cohort of peers my age who are equally dedicated to that goal.”

Mostafa Khan, 2025 Public Service Intern

“My time with CAPAL was especially enlightening, from learning what public service is, and the careers that are involved, to getting more in touch with my Asian identity. As an environmental science major, I thought I was perfectly matched with my internship with the US Forest Service, but, I also enjoyed learning about how others were involved with public service through their internships, ranging from placements focusing on political science to those working with data science. I learned a lot through my internship, and it also served as a perfect way for me to learn more about myself.”

Jada Chow, 2025 Public Service Intern

Help Us Support 3 CAPAL Scholars in 2026!

Help us raise $10,000 to support Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander students in public service!

Team Members