Our Commitment to Justice

Masto Foundation is a Japanese-American family foundation that gives resources to support marginalized communities, particularly those who have or are currently experiencing systemic institutionalized discrimination, to build leadership, power, and strength. Our approach to this giving is heavily influenced by our history, culture, and community.

We recognize and acknowledge that the system of philanthropy itself is built on a historically inequitable system of wealth accumulation and the extraction of land, labor, and resources from communities of color. In addition, the long and continued history of racism in America has created barriers to financial and legal systems for marginalized communities and perpetuates a white-dominant culture in philanthropy.

To address these issues, we incorporate a lens of race, class, gender, immigration status, and sexual orientation into our giving. We work to deploy all of our resources, including financial and otherwise, to promote a more equitable world. We recognize that we too have benefited from the privileges awarded to the wealthy. As such, it is our obligation to advocate for those who have been excluded and fight to change the status quo. Our work is guided by compassion, trust, listening, taking risks, and a commitment to lead by example.

Sutherland JA camp - 1922

Workers at the farm labor camp during WWII

Sherrie, Masto Foundation's President, with Obāsan and Ojīsan in 1944

At the farm

End of the war

Masuto Family reunited after WWII

The whole family - 1977

With the girls - 1980

The family - 1982

Grandpa with the girls - 1983

After Grandpa's stroke - 1984

Grandma & the Aunties - 1995

Land Acknowledgement

Masto Foundation started from the wealth that was accumulated by farming on the traditional and ancestral land of the škwáxčənəxʷ(Moses-Columbia tribes) in what is now called Washington State. We respectfully acknowledge, honor, and pledge to support the First Nations People who steward the land throughout generations past, present, and future.