KRC History

While KRC has operated for over three decades, it did not begin to seek funding beyond the Korean American community until 1999. For example, KRC purchased its current home with community donations from literally thousands of individuals who contributed between $1 to a $1,000. No corporate or foundation support was sought. Yet, in the late 1990s, as KRC deepened its work on local issues ranging from health access to immigrant rights, the organization saw the need to institutionalize its work in order to present a progressive Korean American voice to larger civil rights and immigrant rights agenda. In 1999, KRC received a significant grant from a local foundation enabling it to pay its then volunteer staff. Since that time, KRC’s budget has increased from less than $40,000 to $400,000 in the late 2000's.

Today, KRC has a dozen full time and part time staff ranging from their early twenties to over 65 years of age, who are bilingual or proficient in Korean, and who all have a deep political commitment to KRC’s mission. KRC is supported by over a hundred active leaders/volunteers trained to work in various programs. KRC has thousands of dues-paying members, organizing committees, supporters, campaign participating members and 11,000 community members who receive services and assistance annually.