The United States-Japan Foundation is an independent, endowed charitable organization based in Washington, DC. It makes grants for projects that strengthen U.S.-Japan relations and understanding or address shared challenges in the two countries.
Key facts about United States - Japan Foundation
In short: United States - Japan Foundation gave $2.0M across 72 grants in 2024 (avg $27K), top state District of Columbia. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 13-3054425
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,970,599
- Grants made (2024)
- 72
- Average grant
- $27,369
- Median grant
- $19,022
- Total assets
- $102,425,848
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (24% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to apply
- The Foundation accepts unsolicited requests through a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) process. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- The revised fourth-quarter 2026 LOI deadline is December 4, 2026.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$102.4M
+4.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.0M
+303.6% YoY
Grant Count
72
+620.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$27K
-44.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, United States - Japan Foundation reported a distributable amount of $5.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
How United States - Japan Foundation gives
- Giving grew 37% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 85% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation describes its grants program as a way to help communities confront shared challenges and find ways for the United States and Japan to work together. It identifies issues such as climate change, natural disasters, and geopolitical disruptions, alongside efforts to strengthen bilateral relations.
Its 2024 grants included support for news coverage of Japan, cultural exchange and education, nonprofit-sector analysis, documentary films, and research comparing laws against child sexual abuse. Among its grantees, PRX Inc. describes its mission as expanding public media as a trusted source of knowledge, information, and inspiration; Together for Girls describes its vision as a world where young people are safe, protected, and thriving; and The Film Collaborative describes its work as providing independent filmmakers with educational materials and distribution, sponsorship, and impact-marketing services.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the Foundation awarded 72 grants totaling $1,970,599. Grants ranged from $810 to $99,785, with a median award of $19,022. Notable awards included $99,785 to the Center for International Private Enterprise for work involving Japanese and American business leaders; $84,080 to Vivarsity for a scholarship program for women immigrants and refugees in Japan; and $82,643 to the University of Tokyo Institute of Industrial Science for a U.S.-Japan STEAM education program focused on coral conservation. Other awards included $80,000 to PRX Inc. for Japan news coverage and a global classroom, and $70,000 to the Maureen & Mike Mansfield Foundation for work on women’s voices in democratic governance.
Review Cycle
; selected applicants are invited to submit a full proposal, and uninvited proposals are not considered. Full proposals must be in English, follow the Foundation’s format, and have a narrative of approximately 4,000 words or fewer. Grants are limited to organizations with nonprofit status and may not support lobbying or elections. The Foundation generally allows eligible projects to include indirect costs of up to 20% of total direct project costs, within the requested grant amount; some grant and organization types are handled separately.
Open Grants
8 open opportunities from United States - Japan Foundation
Communication and Public Opinion Grant
United States - Japan Foundation
Amount
Up to ¥1,900,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Japanese Teaching Material Purchase Grant
United States - Japan Foundation
Amount
Up to US $1,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Japanese-Language Education Project Grant
United States - Japan Foundation
Amount
Up to US $5,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Ready to take the next step with United States - Japan Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation’s grant program concerns relations between the United States and Japan and challenges facing both countries. In 2024, reported grant-dollar shares included the District of Columbia (24%), New York (13%), California (12%), and Massachusetts (10%). The largest awards also included projects concerning Japan and U.S.-Japan collaboration.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 72 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
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
131 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL PRIVATE ENTERPRISE INC Wahington, DC | SUPPORTING FURTHER COOPERATION BETWEEN JAPANESE AND AMERICAN BUSINESS LEADERS JAPAN TO ADVOCATE FOR RULES AND STANDARDS THAT UPHOLD THE INTERNATIONAL RULES-BASED ORDER | $99,785 |
| VIVARSITY | SUPPORTING A SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR WOMEN IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES IN JAPAN | $84,080 |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL SCIENCE | CORAL CONSERVATION TOGETHER - A US/JAPAN STEAM EDUCATION PROGRAM | $82,643 |
| PRX INC Cambridge, MA | SUPPORTING DEDICATED NEWS COVERAGE OF JAPAN, AS WELL AS DEVELOPMENT OF A GLOBAL CLASSROOM RUN BY "THE WORLD" NEWS TEAM | $80,000 |
| MAUREEN & MIKE MANSFIELD FOUNDATION Washington, DC | SUPPORTING A MULTINATIONAL TEAM FROM JAPAN, THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA, AND THE UNITED STATES TO DISCUSS HOW THE THREE NATIONS CAN JOINTLY AMPLIFY THE VOICES OF WOMEN IN DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE | $70,000 |
| VOLUNTEERS IN ASIA (DBA VIA) Palo Alto, CA | SUPPORTING A SEVEN-MONTH CULTURAL EXCHANGE AND SOCIAL IMPACT LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR FEMALE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THE U.S. AND JAPAN | $69,228 |
| INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR NOT-FOR-PROFIT LAW INC Wahington, DC | SUPPORTING A PROJECT TO CONDUCT AN ANALYSIS OF JAPANS LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN ORDER TO FACILITATE U.S.-JAPAN PHILANTHROPIC COLLABORATION | $68,143 |
| THE FILM COLLABORATIVE INC Los Angeles, CA | SUPPORTING THE DOCUMENTARY FEATURE FILM, "ROW DON'T DRIFT | $66,500 |
| TOGETHER FOR GIRLS INC Wahington, DC | SUPPORTING RESEARCH TO COMPARE LAWS AGAINST CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE IN JAPAN AND THE OTHER G7 COUNTRIES | $65,900 |
| INTERNATIONAL HOUSE OF JAPAN | SUPPORTING THE POLICY ENTREPRENEURS PLATFORM PROJECT TO ADVANCE NON-PROFIT STARTUPS IN JAPAN | $62,816 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $102,425,848 | $2,473,764 | $5,161,530 | $1,970,599 |
| 2023 | $97,662,123 | $3,465,780 | $4,043,475 | $488,304 |
| 2022 | $88,607,675 | $2,372,982 | $4,446,786 | $863,481 |
The Foundation is classified as a private foundation.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $102,425,848 | $97,662,123 | $88,607,675 |
| Revenue | $2,473,764 | $3,465,780 | $2,372,982 |
| Expenses | $5,161,530 | $4,043,475 | $4,446,786 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $4,247,831 | $3,120,531 | $3,309,047 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,243,590 | $3,189,413 | $2,161,389 |
| Distributable Amount | $4,986,129 | $4,479,735 | $4,793,705 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Jacob M. Schlesinger as President and CEO; Lawrence K. Fish as Board of Trustees Chairman; and Wendy Cutler as Board of Trustees Vice Chairman. Trustees listed include Richard E. Dyck, Colleen Hanabusa, Craig Mullaney, Santa Ono, Donna Tanoue, Kohei Itoh, and James Kondo.
United States - Japan Foundation is led by Jacob M. Schlesinger, President & CEO on every filing since 2023; 1 of 11 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Jacob M. Schlesinger
President & CEO
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$184K (2023) → $284K (2024)
Lawrence K. Fish
Board of Trustees Chairman
Trustee → Board of Trustees Chairman, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Richard E. Dyck
Board of Trustees
Trustee → Director, 2022
Director → Board of Trustees, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Wendy Cutler
Board of Trustees Vice Chairman
Vice President → Board of Trustees, 2023
Board of Trustees → Board of Trustees Vice Chairman, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Colleen Hanabusa
Board of Trustees
Trustee → Board of Trustees, 2023
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Craig Mullaney
Board of Trustees
Trustee → Board of Trustees, 2023
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Donna Tanoue
Board of Trustees
Trustee → Board of Trustees, 2023
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James M. Kondo
Board of Trustees
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Keiko Tashiro
Board of Trustees
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kohei Itoh
Board of Trustees
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Santa Ono
Board of Trustees
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (13)
- Former: Richard J. Samuels (2020–2023) — Board of Trustees
- Former: Takeshi Ueshima (2020–2023) — Board of Trustees
- Former: Takeshi Niinami (2023) — Board of Trustees Vice Chairman
- Former: Akinari Horii (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: James T. Ulak (2020–2022) — President
- Former: James W. Lintott (2020–2022) — Past Chairman
- Former: Tak Niinami (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Yukako Uchinaga (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Yuko Kawamoto (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Akihiko Tanaka (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Caroline B. Kennedy (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Maria Manapat-Sims (2020–2021) — Former Assistant Secretary & Treasurer
- Former: Satoru Murase (2020–2021) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
Contact
Application contact: United States-Japan Foundation
Mailing address: 1816 Jefferson Place Nw, Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (212) 481-8753
Email: programs@us-jf.org
Website: https://www.us-jf.org
Frequently asked questions about United States - Japan Foundation
How much does United States - Japan Foundation give each year?
United States - Japan Foundation gave $2.0M across 72 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $488K across 10 grants.
What is United States - Japan Foundation's typical grant size?
United States - Japan Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $19,022, and its average grant was $27,369, across 72 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does United States - Japan Foundation give grants?
United States - Japan Foundation's top state is District of Columbia, with 24% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were New York (13%) and California (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were Wahington, DC (6 grants), Washington, DC (6 grants), New York, NY (5 grants) and Brooklyn, NY (3 grants).
Does United States - Japan Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 72 grants with a stated purpose on United States - Japan Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are United States - Japan Foundation's largest grantees?
United States - Japan Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Center for International Private Enterprise Inc ($99,785), The Film Collaborative Inc ($86,500 across 2 grants) and Vivarsity ($84,080), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 14% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is United States - Japan Foundation?
United States - Japan Foundation reported $102.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $4.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $5.0M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does United States - Japan Foundation fund?
The Foundation describes its grants program as a way to help communities confront shared challenges and find ways for the United States and Japan to work together. It identifies issues such as climate change, natural disasters, and geopolitical disruptions, alongside efforts to strengthen bilateral relations. Its 2024 grants included support for news coverage of Japan, cultural exchange and education, nonprofit-sector analysis, documentary films, and research comparing laws against child sexual…
How do I apply for a grant from United States - Japan Foundation?
The Foundation accepts unsolicited requests through a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) process. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is United States - Japan Foundation's EIN?
United States - Japan Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3054425. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does United States - Japan Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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