irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2020
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $63KMyanmar Human Rights Documentation and Advocacy Program Asia Catalyst applies its core curricula, Know It, Prove It, Change It: A Rights Curriculum for Grassroots Groups and The Nonprofit Survival Guide to empower and train community-based organizations to understand and advocate for their human rights, particularly the right to health. We work with marginalized and underserved communities in the context of HIV and generally to build sustainable, transparent, and functional organizations to conduct effective community mobilization and policy advocacy at the local and national levels to improve their health and lives. Through a year-long capacity-building program, we tailor our curricula to selected groups identified through an open application program, to achieve their advocacy goals, including through intensive tailored coaching, training workshops, and supplemental funding for research and advocacy activities. Partner groups include LGBT, HIV-positive, and ethnic minority groups. 2020-21 cohort groups were Kachin Positive Womens Network, Lotus, Youth Star, and SWiM, working on drug use, HIV, sex work, and LGBTQI as well as youth issues.
named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Know It, Prove It, Change It: A Rights Curriculum for Grassroots Groups
Core training curriculum that empowers grassroots organizations to understand, document, and advocate for their human rights, particularly the right to health.
Myanmar Human Rights Documentation and Advocacy Program
Year-long capacity-building program that trains community-based organizations in Myanmar on human rights advocacy, organizational development, and research, focusing on HIV, LGBTQI rights, sex work, and drug use.
Practical Field Guide for Community-based Human Rights Documentation
Resource and training tool developed to support community groups in conducting rigorous human rights research and documentation, available in multiple languages including Chinese, English, Khmer, Vietnamese, and Burmese.
The Nonprofit Survival Guide
Training program that helps community-based organizations build sustainable, transparent, and functional operations to support advocacy and community mobilization.
Transgender Leadership Project
Multi-year initiative in China to strengthen advocacy capacity among transgender communities, including leadership development and rights training.
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Disability Rights Advocacy & Self-Advocacy Empowerment 1 activity
- Advocacy for health and human rights policy reform in AsiaEngages in national, regional, and global advocacy to influence health and human rights policies, including submissions to UN mechanisms (e.g., Universal Periodic Review), participation in international conferences (e.g., World AIDS Conference, UN High-Level Meeting on Ending AIDS), and campaigns targeting discriminatory laws and practices in healthcare, law enforcement, and air travel. Advocacy efforts have contributed to national policy changes, such as improved disability access in Chinese aviation.
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Community Capacity Building & Leadership Networks 1 activity
- Capacity building for community-based organizations and grassroots leaders in AsiaProvides training, coaching, mentorship, and organizational development support to community-based organizations and emerging leaders from marginalized communities across Asia, focusing on human rights research, advocacy, organizational sustainability, and peer networking. Since 2006, directly supported over 250 organizations across 11 countries through workshops, strategic planning, and long-term capacity-strengthening programs.
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Human Rights Advocacy & Accountability 1 activity
- Conducting collaborative human rights research and documentation in AsiaProduces original, evidence-based research reports in partnership with marginalized communities and local organizations to document human rights abuses—such as healthcare discrimination, police harassment, and legal barriers to health services—with findings used to inform policy advocacy. Research includes multi-country studies, surveys, and field documentation published in multiple languages and covered by international media.
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Distribution of PPE and Crisis Supplies 1 activity
- Direct support to marginalized communities during emergenciesDelivers emergency assistance to marginalized populations—including transgender people, sex workers, migrants, and people living with HIV—during crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, including food, masks, transportation, quarantine support, and continuity of HIV treatment and prevention services in Thailand and Myanmar.
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Human Rights Advocacy Funding 1 activity
- Funding community-led advocacy and research projectsProvides sub-grants and supplemental funding to participants and partner organizations to implement rights-based advocacy, research, and documentation initiatives, particularly through its Regional Rights Training Program and country-specific empowerment initiatives.
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financials · form 990 · fy2021
revenue
Total revenue$135K
Contributions & grants$127K94%
Program service revenue$7K5%
Investment income$30%
Other revenue$1K
expenses
Total expenses$588K
Program expenses87%
Admin / overhead12%
Fundraising2%
Salaries & benefits$151K
Grants paid out$48K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$0
Cash$455K
Investments$0
Liabilities$86K
Net assets$0
Liquid reserves9.3 mo
3 years on record · 2019–2021 · YoY revenue -78.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2021
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KAREN KAPLAN | Executive Dir. | 40 | $140K |
board members · 10
- BRUCE RABB — Director
- JOANNE CSETE — Director
- LEON MAR — Director
- LINDA LAHKDHIR — Director
- MARK SIDEL — Director
- MINKY WORDEN — Director
- Narissara Udomvongsa — Director
- RANDALL CHAMBERLAIN — Director
- STEVE RASIN — Director
- YVONNE CHAN — CHAIR&TREASURER
relationships · 29
Who they work with
- AMA Partner — Collaborating with Myanmar Positive Group on joint advocacy activities following participation in Asia Catalyst’s training program.
- Amazon Smile Partner — Partner for donor-directed giving through the Amazon Smile program.
- Aye Myanmar’s Association Partner — Collaborated on a human rights documentation project addressing HIV-related discrimination in healthcare settings and co-developed the Practical Field Guide for Community-based Human Rights Documentation.
- Aye Myanmar’s Association Partner — Collaborated on research documenting discriminatory fees charged to people living with HIV accessing general health services in Myanmar.
- Baiyin Handicap Association Partner — Partnered with Asia Catalyst in conducting advocacy and staff trainings related to disability rights in air transportation.
- Bangkok Partner — Host city for three intensive workshops under the Regional Rights Training Program.
- CBO leaders Partner — Consults regularly with community-based organization leaders to inform training and advocacy initiatives.
- Cambodian Community for Women Living with HIV in Cambodia Partner — Collaborated on research documenting discrimination against women living with HIV accessing sexual and reproductive health services.
- Center for Disease Control (CDC) Government — Local CDC workers collaborate with outreach efforts but face challenges due to police raids that erode trust with sex workers.
- Chengdu Tongle Health Counselling Centre in China Partner — Collaborated on research documenting discrimination against men who have sex with men living with HIV accessing health services.
- China Doll Partner — Collaborated with Asia Catalyst and community activists to hold a seminar on air travel barriers for people with disabilities and submit a report to the Civil Aviation Administration of China.
- Consultation Centre for AIDS and Health Services in China Partner — Collaborated on research documenting discrimination against transgender women living with HIV accessing breast augmentation procedures.
- Dongjen Center for Human Rights Education and Action in China Partner — Collaborated to develop, pilot, and produce a human rights training curriculum for grassroots groups.
- Fordham Law School Partner — Collaborated to prepare a Universal Periodic Review shadow report on marginalized group needs in Myanmar.
- Kids Sun Group in Viet Nam Partner — Collaborated on research documenting discrimination against women living with HIV accessing sexual and reproductive health services.
- Ministry of Health Government — Referenced as issuing policies advising entertainment venues to display condoms, though enforcement by police undermines these health directives.
- Ministry of Health (Myanmar) Government — Reliable source of public health information referenced during the pandemic.
- Myanmar Positive Group Partner — Collaborated on a human rights documentation project addressing HIV-related discrimination in healthcare settings and co-developed the Practical Field Guide for Community-based Human Rights Documentation.
- Myanmar Positive Group Partner — Collaborated on research documenting discriminatory fees charged to people living with HIV accessing general health services in Myanmar.
- Myanmar Positive Group Partner — Participating in Asia Catalyst’s Regional Rights Training Program to address discrimination against People Living with HIV in healthcare settings.
- One Plus One Partner — Collaborated with Asia Catalyst and community activists to conduct staff trainings for China Eastern Airlines on disability rights.
- Pozible Partner — Invited Rick Chen, Co-founder and CEO of Pozible, to present on crowdfunding strategies for grassroots organizations during a bi-monthly call with program partners.
- Sex Workers’ Association Partner — Collaborated on research documenting discriminatory fees charged to people living with HIV accessing general health services in Myanmar.
- Thai AIDS Treatment Action Group Partner — Collaborated to develop, pilot, and produce a human rights training curriculum for grassroots groups.
- The Lingnan Partner Community Support Center Partner — Partner community-based organization in China serving people living with HIV and MSM populations.
- United Nations Partner — Collaborates with the United Nations to promote evidence-based policies aligned with international human rights standards.
- Vietnam Youth Network for HIV/AIDS Prevention in Viet Nam Partner — Collaborated on research documenting discrimination against men who have sex with men living with HIV accessing health services.
- community-based organizations (CBOs) Partner — Collaborates with CBOs across 11 Asian countries to strengthen organizational capacity and advocacy on human rights and health issues.
- local organizations Partner — Collaborates with local organizations to co-develop resources and shape advocacy strategies based on community needs.
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Community-Driven Capacity Building for Civil Society Strengtheningmethodology: community-driven_capacity_buildingBy supporting community-based organizations to identify their own priorities and strengthening their organizational and advocacy capacity, Asia Catalyst enhances civil society resilience and effectiveness, because locally-led initiatives are more sustainable and better positioned to advocate for their rights.
- Cross-Community Solidarity Through Inclusive, Coalition-Based Organizingmethodology: coalition_based_organizingBy building regional coalitions around unifying human rights issues and fostering connections among historically excluded groups, Asia Catalyst strengthens collective action and advocacy, because shared learning and solidarity across marginalized communities amplify impact and sustain movement-building.
- Evidence-Based, Rights-Focused Advocacy and Researchmethodology: evidence_based_advocacyBy generating community-led evidence on human rights violations and combining it with strategic advocacy, Asia Catalyst influences policy change and reduces discrimination, because empirical data grounded in lived experience strengthens the legitimacy and impact of rights-based claims at national and international levels.