EVERYDAYVOICES
April 8, 2010
Dien Yuen
Chief Philanthropy Officer
Give2Asia
Redefining Philanthropy
On Her Own Terms for the Benefit of Others
By XuanThu Pham
Thumb-scrolling her iPhone, she
scans her calendar to digest the
meetings and appointments
scheduled for the day. Hours later,
she shuffles from place to place to
ensure that she is present to
participate in meetings where she
is needed to keep projects moving
forward. While there never seems
to be enough time in the day for
her, one thing I observe about
Dien Yuen was that she spoke with
conviction and passion when
fighting for something important.
Her energy and drive are admired
by many of her colleagues.
“I know we can do this. Let’s look
into this idea,” Dien said with
excitement in a staff meeting one
day. In the past, I had the
opportunity to work alongside
with Dien at Give2Asia. Such
exclamations in brainstorming
sessions were not unusual - and
welcomed. I witnessed her work
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ethic and her great sense of team career and carve out a unique
collaboration. These traits have voice for herself.
served her well in the world of Dien took a moment to share
philanthropy. some of her thoughts with me
about her life, career, and
The intrinsic desire to help others, influences that helped shape her as
belief in altruism, willingness to an individual.
contribute one’s talents, and the
ability to be an effective leader are Me: Please tell me about your
all positive qualities a person work and why you do it.
should possess when working for a
nonprofit organization that is Dien: I am the Chief
exceptionally passionate about Philanthropy Officer at Give2Asia,
benefiting others. While I think it’s
a U.S. based nonprofit
possible that someone without organization supporting charitable
these qualities can achieve target projects in Asia. Give2Asia is a
goals and meet the bottom line, I donor-directed foundation. That
don’t think it is sustainable and is, we work with individuals,
would set a certain tone within an families, corporations and
organization that could influence foundations that care about Asia
what it stands for and its growth and want to support projects and
trajectory for the future. causes that they are interested in.
Philanthropy is inherently
Known in philanthropy and donor individual and the causes one
circles the world over - Dien person supports may be different
continues to achieve growth in her from someone else’s. It is
EVERYDAYVOICES April 8, 2010

“My father and mother inspire me in life.

My parents came to the U.S. with two
suitcases and four kids. They were able
to buy a home, build a business and
ensure that all six children graduated
from college. My mother is the most
resilient person I have ever met. I am
humbled by her quiet strength.”

Dien Yuen

Photo Courtesy: Venkatesh Iyer

I am a philanthropic advisor in that I help donors strategize able to buy a home, build a business and ensure that all six
and determine not only what projects or evaluation strategies children graduated from college. My mother is the most
make sense but I also help donors understand the various resilient person I have ever met. I am humbled by her quiet
giving vehicles. I work closely with the donor's tax, legal or strength.
financial advisor to strategize and find options to fulfill their
philanthropic intentions.  I have two other friends that inspire me.  My childhood friend
is the most ethical person I know. In her work and in her
I enjoy my work because I can use my legal and financial personal choices, she focuses on doing the right thing. She is my
background to help various individuals and organizations. The ethical guide.  My law school friend is my eternal optimist. She
work is also focused in Asia and since I was born there, I have a has taken blows in life with grace and returned them by
close connection to the people and the issues they face. I am creating her own opportunities. When I am stuck in situations,
amazed everyday at work. I find that I use various skills and my I always ask, what would be the right thing to do and how do I
"liberal arts" perspective comes in handy. Some people have face this with grace and dignity?
technical knowledge expertise while others have people skills. In
my line of work, you need a little of everything because Me: What projects are you working on now?
philanthropy has emotional and analytical elements.
Dien: I blog about philanthropy in the Asian American
Me: What inspires you in work and/or life?
Dien: My father and mother inspire me in life. My parents
came to the U.S. with two suitcases and four kids. They were

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EVERYDAYVOICES April 8, 2010 community on Asian American Giving (AAG). AAG is now
three years old. I am exploring a possible expansion that makes
it more than just a platform for disseminating information. In
the U.S., there are approximately 900 Asian American
organizations. The economic crunch has hit them too and
unfortunately, the work they do is not in the mainstream media.
They support new immigrants, provide critical health services,
and advocate for their community. Some are small with limited
staff while others are large. There are several organizations that
bring these groups together, but with very limited support. I am
researching the possibility of gathering a majority of Asian
American groups together under one technology/social media
platform that allows donors to easily find them and learn more
about their work. The other purpose is help them network,
share ideas, and hopefully encourage joint programs and
collaborations.   life. Inspiration comes from inquiry, silence and perspective and
time
Me: Where do you normally work? Do you go to your office
everyday or do you have multiple offices including in your
car? :-) 
Dien: I have a tendency to wake up at 3:30 am. With my
laptop and coffee, I sit at the kitchen table and start writing
away. When I am traveling, I work best in bed with CNN in the
background. Also, I do work in my car. I drive so much that I
feel as if it is my third home :-)
to find my own voice. Today, I write two philanthropy blogs
and find myself looking over his writings to find my rhythm.
Me: If you have three simple advice to give to young people of
today, what would that be?
Dien: My first advice is a phrase from my father that I
remember every time I think about taking career risks. He said,
"You have two hands and two feet, what can you not do?" Each
time I think about venturing into the unknown, I am reassured
by these words. We need to take calculated risks if we want to
be more than what are. If the worse that can happen is fixable,
then what else is there to be afraid of ?
My second advice is to cultivate moments of inspiration in your
not from forced thought and manipulation. Maybe once in
awhile, we just need to be still and inspiration will meet us
somewhere along the road.
My third advice is to find ways that help you get above the day
to day routines at work or in your life. Without understanding
the larger purpose of a project or why you are doing the work,
your daily wins are meaningless. Having a healthy emotional
attachment to your project, purpose, or organization can keep
you going even when everything else is going wrong.

Me: Who do you admire and why? How has their work Me: Please tell us about one factoid about yourself.
influenced you?
Dien: I have a garden and I am fascinated by the science and
Dien: I have been very lucky to meet some of the most practice of composting.
successful, wealthy and powerful people in the world. All of
them have provided me with inspiration and I admire their
abilities. Many have become my guides. Some I share my Learn more about Dien Yuen at:
struggles and successes with. In particular, I admire the • Give2Asia
founding CEO of Give2Asia, Mike Rea. Mike worked within a
• Asian American Giving
very traditional, fifty-year old institution to craft a new global
• Asian Philanthropy Forum
giving model. He was only in early thirties then. His
inspiration, determination, and approach built the largest
giving platform to support charitable projects in Asia. The first
time I met Mike, Give2Asia was incorporated but not publicly
launched. He shared the idea of Give2Asia and my former
boss at that time dismissed him. I was inspired by the idea and
within several months, I had quit my full-time job to consult for
Give2Asia.

Mike is a master of words and understood the value of

marketing and partnerships. When he left Give2Asia, he
XuanThu Pham Marketing Communications
delivered a memo to the staff and encouraged us to be "poets
xuanthu@xuanthupham.com
of philanthropy." He urged us to share the stories of individuals
www.xuanthupham.com
being impacted by our work. The fluidity and gracefulness in
Mike's writings can never be replicated but he has inspired me