Obirin Gakuen Foundation
Obirin Gakuen Foundation is a private foundation based in Kenmore, Washington. It supports cultural and educational exchange connected with J.F. Oberlin University in Japan, including study-abroad scholarships and student exchanges between North America and Japan.
Obirin Gakuen Foundation at a glance
In short: Obirin Gakuen Foundation gave $28K across 14 grants in 2025 (avg $2K), mostly in Kansas. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $28,090
- +56.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 14
- +16.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,006
- +34.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,000
- Total assets
- $705,358
- -40.6% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Kansas (52% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Obirin Gakuen Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s filing says students must attend a university affiliated with its program. Applicants are to submit a one-page scholarship application, an academic transcript (preferably showing a GPA of 3.0 or better), a 500-word essay describing their motivation for study abroad, evidence of financial need, and two faculty recommendations by email. The executive director screens applications and forwards them to the board’s scholarship committee for review and selection. The foundation’s website also describes an application form and two recommendations. The stated May 1 deadline for fall programs and November 1 deadline for spring programs have passed for 2026.
- Contact
Application contact: Obirin Gakuen Foundation Of America
Mailing address: 720 14Th Street, Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: (704) 968-2102
Email: office@obirin-gakuen.org
Website: https://www.obirin-gakuen.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Obirin Gakuen Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
41 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 41 grants of 41 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation describes its exchange work as focused on the Pacific Rim, especially North America and Japan. In 2025, grant dollars went to recipients in Kansas (52%), Maryland (18%), Pennsylvania (15%), Tennessee (14%), and California (2%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $5K (2020) to $43K (2023). In 2025 it made 14 grants totaling $28K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 14 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $28,090 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $705,358 | $2,419,888 | $2,610,749 | $28,090 | 14 | $28,090 | $6,542 |
| 2024 | $1,186,696 | $2,202,055 | $2,269,487 | $17,924 | 12 | $17,924 | $24,813 |
| 2023 | $963,385 | $3,520,281 | $3,546,978 | $42,767 | 15 | $42,854 | $12,701 |
| 2022 | $1,465,253 | $993,890 | $1,036,747 | — | — | — | $126 |
| 2021 | $1,988,233 | $331,810 | $294,490 | — | — | — | $596 |
| 2020 | $2,367,964 | $2,191,340 | $2,021,260 | $4,564 | 2 | — | $1,722 |
| 2019 | $1,280,407 | $3,395,728 | $3,121,576 | $6,829 | 2 | — | $993 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission centers on person-to-person international exchange and cross-cultural study. Its website describes support for student study-abroad programs, faculty and staff exchanges, and cultural and artistic exchanges. Its scholarship program provides merit- and need-based assistance toward study-abroad expenses for qualified students in affiliated programs.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 14 grants totaling $28,090. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $3,000, with a median of $2,000. The largest reported grants included:
Each of these grants was for a scholarship to study abroad at J.F. Oberlin University in Japan.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Officers and directors listed on the 2025 filing are Hiroaki Henri Hatayama, chair; James Jim Williams, vice chair; Norma Fogelberg, CFO; Careen Shannon, secretary; Mari Maruyama Carpenter, executive director; Yoshiro Tanaka, board member; and Masaaki Adachi, board member.
Obirin Gakuen Foundation is led by Mari Maruyama Carpenter, Executive Director on every filing since 2019; 1 of 7 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Mari Maruyama Carpenter
Executive Director
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$109K (2019) → $135K (2025)
Hiroaki Henri Hatayama
Chair
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Careen Shannon
Secretary
Vice Chair → Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Norma Fogelberg
CFO
Board Member → CFO, 2022
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Yoshiro Tanaka
Board Member
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James Jim Williams
Vice Chair
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Masaaki Adachi
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Hiroakihenri Hatayama (2019–2021) — CFO
- Former: Jamesjim Williams (2019–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Kelly Franklin (2019–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Toyoshi Satow (2019–2021) — Chairman
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $135K, to Mari Maruyama Carpenter (Executive Dir.).
Frequently asked questions about Obirin Gakuen Foundation
How much does Obirin Gakuen Foundation give each year?
Obirin Gakuen Foundation gave $28K across 14 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $18K across 12 grants.
What is Obirin Gakuen Foundation's typical grant size?
Obirin Gakuen Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $2,000, and its average grant was $2,006, across 14 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Obirin Gakuen Foundation give grants?
Obirin Gakuen Foundation gives mostly in Kansas: 52% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Maryland (18%) and Pennsylvania (15%).
Does Obirin Gakuen Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 14 grants with a stated purpose on Obirin Gakuen Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
How large is Obirin Gakuen Foundation?
Obirin Gakuen Foundation reported $705K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $2.4M.
What does Obirin Gakuen Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission centers on person-to-person international exchange and cross-cultural study. Its website describes support for student study-abroad programs, faculty and staff exchanges, and cultural and artistic exchanges. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Obirin Gakuen Foundation?
The foundation’s filing says students must attend a university affiliated with its program. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Obirin Gakuen Foundation's EIN?
Obirin Gakuen Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-2874405. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS February 25, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 12, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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