bUILDING A SUPPORTIVE, EMPOWERED, AND ENGAGED AFGHAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY

Advancing the Afghan-American community through education and outreach, and promote civic and social engagement

about us

This Giving Tuesday, Help AACO Amplify Impact

Join us in making a lasting difference for Afghan communities around the world. Your donation supports urgent humanitarian aid, scholarships for Afghan-American students, technology access for newcomers, and vital community programs that empower and uplift. Every dollar fuels AACO’s mission to provide relief, opportunity, and hope where it’s needed most.

Together, we can build a brighter, more resilient future. This Giving Tuesday, help us reach our goal and drive real, meaningful change. Donate now through Givebutter and be a part of a movement making a lasting impact. Every contribution, no matter the size, brings us closer to a better tomorrow.

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our focus areas

We are dedicated to creating a supportive, empowered, and engaged Afghan-American community.

OUR IMPACT

Since its founding, the Afghan-American Community Organization (AACO) has been a pillar of resilience and support, empowering Afghan communities locally and globally. In 2023, AACO took a significant leap by hiring its first paid staff to deepen its reach and impact. Through initiatives like aiding earthquake recovery in Afghanistan and funding urgent medical relief in Gaza, AACO remains steadfast in its commitment to humanitarian support. In the U.S., AACO provides educational scholarships, laptops for Afghan newcomers, and hosts the Afghan-American Conference—a vital space for community engagement, advocacy, and unity. Join us in shaping a brighter future, together.

2023 impact report

We’ve earned our 2024 Gold Seal with Candid

We are excited to share that AACO has received the esteemed Gold Seal of Transparency from Candid. This recognition reflects our dedication to transparency and accountability in all our activities. The Gold Seal of Transparency highlights our commitment to offering clear, accurate, and accessible information to our stakeholders, including funders, nonprofit members, and the community we serve.

We are delighted to have achieved this milestone and remain committed to our mission with renewed dedication, knowing that our efforts contribute to a more transparent and equitable nonprofit sector.

what we have been up to

📢 Organizing Committee Applications Open December 1st! Our volunteer Organizing Committee is the heart and soul of AACO. These inspiring leaders dedicate a year to serving the Afghan-American community, driving meaningful change, and supporting AACO’s mission. Behind every impactful initiative is their dedication, passion, and teamwork. We’re thrilled to announce that applications for the 2025 committee will open soon! If you’re ready to make a difference and join this incredible team, mark your calendars and stay tuned. ➡️ Want to be notified about applications when they are available? Join our newsletter via the link in our bio under “All Things AACO”.

🎉📚 A huge congratulations to our 2024 Scholarship Recipients! These outstanding Afghan-American students come from wide range of disciplines and schools across the country, making us so proud of their achievements. Since our scholarship program began in 2018, it has remained the only one exclusively dedicated to supporting Afghan-American students. This wouldn’t be possible without the unwavering generosity of our donors. Your support is helping these students achieve their dreams and build a brighter future. Thank you for believing in them! ____________________________________ #afghanamerican #aaco #scholarships #afghanamericancommunityorganization #aacoscholarship #sophiaandsabrinascholarship

No matter the outcome on Tuesday, one thing is clear—our community will need each other more than ever. On Wednesday, November 6th, we invite you to join us and connect with fellow Afghan-Americans in cities across the country. This is a chance to come together, reflect on the election results, share personal stories, and talk about how we can support each other and move forward as a community. Please RSVP using the link in our bio. We look forward to seeing you there and continuing to make our voices heard—at the ballot box and beyond.

This conference would not have been possible without the generous support from our donors and we wanted to take this opportunity to thank all of them for their partnership. And a special thank you to our gracious hosts at the UCSD ASA. See you all next year in...👀 ____________________ #AACO #AAC #AAC2024 #AfgAm24 #AfghanAmericanCommunityOrganization #AfghanAmericanConference #AfghanAmerican #AfghanAmericanCommunity

A huge thank you to The Halal Shack, and their Founder & CEO, Jamal Rasoully! Jamal first joined us as a conference participant in 2017, and over the years continues to give back to AACO. This year, we were thrilled to have The Halal Shack sponsor two meals at our conference! Jamal’s journey and success are incredible—he’s built a thriving company with locations on college campuses nationwide, bringing a taste of The Halal Shack’s mission and values across the country. We’re so proud of his achievements and deeply appreciative of his unwavering support for AACO. Thank you, Jamal and The Halal Shack team, for believing in our mission and community! ____________________ #TheHalalShack #AACO #AAC #AAC2024 #AfgAm24 #AfghanAmericanCommunityOrganization #AfghanAmericanConference #AfghanAmerican #AfghanAmericanCommunity

We would like to give a special thank you to Deloitte for their sponsorship at AAC 2024. The Afghans Across Deloitte employee group have established a professional network at one of the largest firms in the world who continue to give back to their community and enhance diversity and inclusion at their company. They have been supporting AACO’s work since 2022 and have consistently been the conference’s largest sponsor. Their support, however, goes beyond financial. Throughout the weekend, they met with individuals and connected them with Deloitte networking & career opportunities, led a breakout session on Work-Life Balance, led a panel on the Consulting field, and even encouraged others to build their own networks and groups at other companies that can give back to the Afghan-American community. A sincere thank you to this team for their inspirational work! ______________ #Deloitte #AACO #AAC #AAC2024 #AfgAm24 #AfghanAmericanCommunityOrganization #AfghanAmericanConference #AfghanAmerican #AfghanAmericanCommunity

⭐️ [2024 AAC Day 3 - Recap] ⭐️ Day 3 of AAC Weekend tackled difficult conversations, explored healing, and shared stories that resonated across our community. It was a day of vulnerability, strength, and solidarity, reminding us of the power in coming together through even the toughest moments. 📸 pc: @shotsavant & @pixeledpoetry _________________ #AACO #AAC #AAC2024 #AfgAm24 #AfghanAmericanCommunityOrganization #AfghanAmericanConference #AfghanAmerican #AfghanAmericanCommunity

🌊 [2024 AAC Day 2 - Recap] 🌊 Day 2 of AAC Weekend was nothing short of remarkable! Experience the highlights of another day filled with community, dialogue, and celebration with our banquet! 📸 pc: @shotsavant & @pixeledpoetry ___________ #AACO #AAC #AAC2024 #AfgAm24 #AfghanAmericanCommunityOrganization #AfghanAmericanConference #AfghanAmerican #AfghanAmericanCommunity

⭐️ [2024 AAC Day 1 - Recap] ⭐️ Take a journey with us through the first day of the 2024 Afghan-American Conference Weekend! From thought-provoking panels on identity to dynamic career and industry discussions, Day 1 was full of impactful moments and meaningful connections. 📸 pc: @shotsavant & @pixeledpoetry ______________ #AACO #AAC #AAC2024 #AfgAm24 #AfghanAmericanCommunityOrganization #AfghanAmericanConference #AfghanAmerican #AfghanAmericanCommunity

⭐️ [Alumni Summit - Recap] ⭐️ Relive the energy of our Alumni Summit! From inspiring sessions on civic engagement to powerful conversations on community service, our alumni came together to share their impact and vision for the future. This summit set the tone for an unforgettable AAC Weekend. 📸 pc: @shotsavant & @pixeledpoetry ________ #AACO #AAC #AAC2024 #AfgAm24 #AfghanAmericanCommunityOrganization #AfghanAmericanConference #AfghanAmerican #AfghanAmericanCommunity

🧥❄️ Winter Coat Distribution! ❄️🧥 AACO and Welcome Home Jersey City are happily hosting a Winter Coat Distribution on Sunday October 20th from 1-4PM EST. Where: 📍Jersey City, NJ (Exact location to be shared upon sign up). We invite all community members to participate by helping set up and assist with the distribution of coats to families who attend the event. If interested in donating any items, please include the information in the sign up sheet. Join us in spreading warmth and kindness this winter! This event is open to both participants and non participants of past events. Link in bio to sign up as a volunteer! 💪🤍 _________________ #AACO #Welcomehomejersey #AfghanAmericanCommunityOrganization #AfghanAmericanCommunity #Afghanvolunteers #volunteerevent #donation #wintercoatdonation #wintercoats #volunteering #communityservice #coatdrive #wintercoatdrive

Sincerely, your AACO family 🤍

AACO and Afghan Refugee Relief are proudly hosting a School Supply Drive Sunday October 13th at 12:30 PM! Join us in supporting students in need by donating essential supplies. Where: Extra Space Storage 17 Shield, Unit #3277 Irvine, CA 92618 (949) 390-4871 _______________ #AACO #AfghanAmericanCommunityOrganization #AfghanRefugeeRelief #AfghanAmericanCommunity #Afghanvolunteers #volunteerevent #backtoschool #schoolsupplies #donation

Across SoCal, NorCal, DMV, and Tri-State, our AAC reunions were a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with old friends and make new ones. Thank you to everyone who came and brought something or someone to learn more about AAC! ______________ #AACO #AAC #AAC2024 #AfgAm24 #AfghanAmericanCommunityOrganization #AfghanAmericanConference #AfghanAmericanCommunity #AfghanAmerican #Reunions #RegionalReunions #AACReunion #AAC2024Reunion

“Qatra qatra, darya maisha.” (Drop by drop, a river forms) 💧🌊 From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for making the 9th annual Afghan-American Conference so special. With over 446 participants, representing 33 states & 6 countries, 100+ facilitators for over 50 sessions, 38 cohort leads, 9 conference ambassadors, and representation from several Afghan-led organizations, it was a reminder that, together, we create something powerful. As we move #2024Forward, we’re grateful for every qatra that formed this unforgettable experience. 🤍 pc: @pixeledpoetry & @shotsavant ________________ #AACO #AAC #AAC2024 #AfgAm24 #AfghanAmericanCommunityOrganization #AfghanAmericanConference #AfghanAmericanCommunity #AfghanAmerican

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