CREATIVITY
EXPERTISE
Illuminating Ideas. Creating Impact.
ABOUT
Lighthouse Global Foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to supporting artists and empowering New York's Asian diaspora through culture, mentorship, and creative exploration.
Conceived in 2021 and formally launched in 2023, the Foundation was built to serve Chinese students, immigrants, and young creatives navigating life in New York City — offering practical guidance, community, and a platform for cultural exchange.
Our programs engage international students, immigrant youth, American-born Chinese, and multi-passionate young professionals — as well as older adults through bilingual programming and intergenerational events.
With the right support, every young person can become a catalyst for change.
Education & Scholarships
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Youth & Community Programs
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Arts & Cultural Exchange
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Education & Scholarships · Youth & Community Programs · Arts & Cultural Exchange ·
HOW WE CREATE IMPACT
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EDUCATION & SCHOLARSHIPS
We expand access to education through scholarships, academic support, mentorship, and partnerships with schools and universities.
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YOUTH & COMMUNITY
We create programs that help young people build meaningful connections, develop professional skills, and engage with their communities.
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ARTS & CULTURE
Through exhibitions, public programs, and initiatives such as New York Asian Design Week, we support creative voices and encourage cross-cultural dialogue.
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GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS
We collaborate with schools, nonprofits, artists, community organizations, and industry leaders to turn shared ideas into meaningful action.
IMPACT THROUGH ACTION
Our work begins with real community needs. We expand access to education, support emerging creative voices, connect young people with opportunities, and build partnerships across cultures and industries. Every initiative is designed to create measurable value for the people and communities we serve.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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Yifan Zhao
FOUNDER- Oversight Committee
Yifan Zhao is an education entrepreneur, nonprofit leader, and community builder with more than a decade of experience in international education and cross-cultural engagement. She founded Lighthouse Global Foundation to expand access to education, support youth development, and create platforms for emerging creative voices. Her work has supported more than 1,000 students and contributed over $90,000 in scholarships and educational assistance. Yifan is also a co-founder of New York Asian Design Week and the founder of New York Slashies, a community connecting young professionals, entrepreneurs, and creatives across New York.
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Lihan Jin
CEO
Lihan Jin holds a Master of Architecture from Columbia University GSAPP and a bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture from South China University of Technology. He previously worked at KPF, Renzo Piano Building Workshop, and Atelier Alter Architects. His work has received honors from the MUSE Design Awards, A’ Design Award, French Design Awards, New York Architectural Design Awards, and Architizer A+Awards. -
Benjamin Chen
CFO
Benjamin Chen is the Chief Financial Officer of Lighthouse Global Foundation. With a background in tourism management, he later transitioned into a full-time design career. He brings experience in operations, project coordination, and creative problem-solving to the Foundation’s financial and organizational management. -
Vivian Zhang
COO
Vivian is the CTO and School Director of NYC Data Science Academy and CTO of SupStat. With her extensive experience working in the data science field. In August 2016, Forbes ranked her amongst one of the nine women leading the pack in data analytics. In 2013, she created the NYC Open Data Meetup group, which stands as one of the largest data science communities offering meetups, conferences, and a weekly newsletter. In her spare time, Vivian enjoys meeting people and sharing her motivational stories with our students and other professionals.