Ja Community Foundation
JA Community Foundation is a private foundation based in Oakland, California, established in 2016. The organization identifies and invests in solutions that meet the needs, interests, and concerns of Japanese American and broader Asian American communities throughout the United States.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$376K
-55.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$346K
-13.5% YoY
Grant Count
22
-35.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$16K
+33.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ja Community Foundation reported a distributable amount of $40K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation funds nonprofit organizations serving Japanese American and greater Asian American communities. The current focus is specifically on Japanese American communities, with emphasis on programs and projects addressing senior health and related community needs.
Grantmaking
1. Letter of Inquiry (LOI) submission
How to Apply
** The grant application process operates in two stages:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation funds nonprofit organizations in the United States serving Japanese American and Asian American communities.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
2024 Financial Data:
- Total revenues: $142,494
- Total expenses: $603,492
- Total assets: $376,192
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $376,192 | $835,897 | $1,418,884 |
| Revenue | $142,494 | $52,305 | $159,656 |
| Expenses | $603,492 | $635,911 | $611,919 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $572,113 | $603,917 | $575,176 |
| Net Investment Income | $82,983 | $4,928 | $72,983 |
| Distributable Amount | $40,025 | $62,337 | $89,756 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
136 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Ja Community Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Little Tokyo Nutrition Services ($50,000), Japanese American National Museum ($25,000), Sonoma County Jacl ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| FRED T KOREMATSU INSTITUTE SAN FRANCISCO, CA | COMMUNITY OUTREACH | $16,000 |
| FRESNO PHILHARMONIC FRESNO, CA | COMMUNITY OUTREACH | $10,000 |
| JAPANESE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF SAN JOSE SAN JOSE, CA | COMMUNITY OUTREACH | $10,000 |
| JCC OF HAWAII HONOLULU, HI | COMMUNITY OUTREACH | $10,000 |
| SAKURA KAI EL CERRITO, CA | COMMUNITY OUTREACH | $8,876 |
| TAIKOPROJECT LOS ANGELES, CA | COMMUNITY OUTREACH | $2,500 |
| VENTURA COUNTY JACL WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA | COMMUNITY OUTREACH | $4,000 |
| JAPANTOWN COMMUNITY CONGRESS OF SAN JOSE SAN JOSE, CA | COMMUNITY OUTREACH | $7,000 |
| JACL HONOLULU CHAPTER HONOLULU, HI | COMMUNITY OUTREACH | $8,000 |
| JAPANESE AMERICAN MEMORIAL PILGRIMAGES APTOS, CA | COMMUNITY OUTREACH | $20,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Stephen Divizich serves as Chief Executive Officer.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAROL NISHITA | SECRETARY & DIRECTOR | 2 | $2,500 |
| CAROLE YAMAKOSHI | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| DOUG URATA | VICE-PRESIDENT & DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| DR LEROY MORISHITA | PRESIDENT & DIRECTOR | 0.5 | $2,500 |
| EDWARD ODA | DIRECTOR | 2 | $2,500 |
| GAYLE KONO | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | $2,500 |
| GREGORY MUKAI | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | $2,500 |
| JAMES OSHIMA | TREASURER & DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| PETER NAKASO | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| STEPHEN DIVIZICH | CHIEF EXECUTIVE | 20 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Manzanar Committee received a grant from JA Community Foundation in fall 2023. The Foundation continues to support organizations through its grantee spotlight program, highlighting impact stories such as Las Vegas Okinawan Club and Keiro Senior Care's work training volunteers in certified nursing assistant and Alzheimer's care.
JARI Receives $50,000 from CFA's Community Initiatives Fund - Community FoundationFrequently Asked Questions
What does Ja Community Foundation fund?
The Foundation funds nonprofit organizations serving Japanese American and greater Asian American communities. The current focus is specifically on Japanese American communities, with emphasis on programs and projects addressing senior health and related community needs.
How do I apply for a grant from Ja Community Foundation?
**Grant Amounts:** JA Community Foundation awards grants ranging from $2,500 to $50,000. **Application Process:** The grant application process operates in two stages: 1. Letter of Inquiry (LOI) submission 2. Full proposal (by invitation only) The Foundation maintains two LOI application periods annually. **Grant Activity:** Since 2016, the Foundation has awarded grants totaling over $3 million to more than one hundred organizations. Recent grants include: • Little Tokyo Nutrition Services: $50…
Where does Ja Community Foundation make grants?
The Foundation funds nonprofit organizations in the United States serving Japanese American and Asian American communities.
What size grants does Ja Community Foundation award?
In 2024, Ja Community Foundation awarded 22 grants totaling $346K — an average of about $16K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Ja Community Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Ja Community Foundation reported a distributable amount of $40K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Ja Community Foundation's EIN?
Ja Community Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-5147963. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Ja Community Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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