United States - Japan Foundation

WASHINGTON, DC EIN: 13-3054425
Children and youthAdolescentsAdultsEducationElementary and secondary education

The United States-Japan Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) foundation based in Washington, DC, with offices in Owings Mills, Maryland. Established in 1981, the foundation is dedicated to promoting stronger ties between Americans and Japanese by supporting projects that foster mutual knowledge, education, and understanding between the two nations.

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.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation is committed to promoting stronger ties between Americans and Japanese by supporting projects that:

  • Foster mutual knowledge and education
  • Deepen understanding between the two countries
  • Create effective channels of communication
  • Address common concerns in an increasingly interdependent world

Primary funding areas include:

  • Communication and public opinion
  • Pre-college education
  • Policy studies
  • Education (elementary, secondary, and higher education)
  • Environment and natural resources
  • Social sciences, economics, and public policy
  • International relations and foreign policy
  • Community and economic development

Grantmaking

The foundation accepts applications and maintains an open application policy.

Grant Range

$39,000

Ready to take the next step with United States - Japan Foundation?

Assess fit for your org Draft an LOI Find open RFPs

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation supports projects across multiple U.S. states and Japanese cities, including:

  • U.S. locations: California, District of Columbia, Illinois, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Texas, Washington
  • International: Tokyo, Kyoto, and other Japanese cities

Grant Distribution by State

17states
+9 more states

States

CaliforniaDistrict of ColumbiaGeorgiaHawaiiIllinoisLouisianaMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaNew JerseyNew YorkOregonPennsylvaniaTexasVirginiaVermontWashington

Cities

AmericusAndoverAnn ArborArlington HeightsAtlantaBrooklynBurbankCambridgeChicagoEl CerritoGoletaIrvingtonJersey CityLong Island CityLos AngelesLubbockMiddleburyMinneapolisMoorheadMountain View

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of 2023:

  • Total assets: $97.7 million
  • Annual revenue: $3.47 million
  • Annual expenses: $4.04 million
  • Total liabilities: $513,000
  • Giving rate: 0.5% of assets
  • Number of employees: 5

As of 2022:

  • Total assets: $88.6 million
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$2M$4M$6M$8M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
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

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$493K$985K$1M$2M4 grants202029 grants202116 grants202210 grants202372 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL…$100KVIVARSITY$84KPRX INC$80KMAUREEN & MIKE MANSFIELD…$70KVOLUNTEERS IN ASIA (DBA …$69KINTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR…$68KTHE FILM COLLABORATIVE INC$67KTOGETHER FOR GIRLS INC$66KINTERNATIONAL HOUSE OF J…$63KLIGHT INDUSTRY CINEMA PR…$60K

Grant Size Distribution

109 grants across all recorded years

65<$50K40$50–100K4$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

Open Grants

8 open opportunities from United States - Japan Foundation

Show all 8 →
Foundation

Communication and Public Opinion Grant

UNITED STATES - JAPAN FOUNDATION

Amount

Up to ¥1,900,000

Deadline

Rolling / Open

Foundation

Japanese Teaching Material Purchase Grant

UNITED STATES - JAPAN FOUNDATION

Amount

Up to US $1,000

Deadline

Rolling / Open

Foundation

Japanese-Language Education Project Grant

UNITED STATES - JAPAN FOUNDATION

Amount

Up to US $5,000

Deadline

Rolling / Open

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Center for International Private Enterprise Inc ($99,785), Vivarsity ($84,080), Prx Inc ($80,000).

RecipientPurposeAmount
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION HEART KIDS JAPAN SUPPORTING THE EXPANSION OF HOME MONITORING FOR PEDIATRIC CARDIAC CARE IN JAPAN AND THE U.S.$9,505
LIGHT INDUSTRY CINEMA PROJECTS LTD BROOKLYN, NYSUPPORTING THE K-12 ARTS CURRICULUM: INVESTIGATING JAPANS EDO AVANT GARDE$60,000
LIGHT INDUSTRY CINEMA PROJECTS LTD BROOKLYN, NYSUPPORTING AN ARTS CURRICULUM BASED ON THE "EDO AVANT GARDE" DOCUMENTARY$5,000
THE SHIN KOYAMADA FOUNDATION (DBA KOYAMADA INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION) BURBANK, CASUPPORTING THE JAPAN-UNITED STATES SISTER CITY ASSOCIATION ANNUAL RECEPTION$10,000
PACIFIC ARTS MOVEMENT SAN DIEGO, CASUPPORTING THE SAN DIEGO ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL$3,000
VOLUNTEERS IN ASIA (DBA VIA) PALO ALTO, CASUPPORTING A SEVEN-MONTH CULTURAL EXCHANGE AND SOCIAL IMPACT LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR FEMALE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN THE U.S. AND JAPAN$69,228
HANA HAYASHI SUPPORTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A RESEARCH ORGANIZATION FOR THE GENERATION OF EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES IN HOME MEDICAL CARE IN JAPAN AND THE U.S.$9,795
DONALD SHERMAN WASHINGTON, DCSUPPORTING RESEARCH EXPLORING AREAS OF OVERLAP AND DIVERGENCE BETWEEN THE ENFORCEMENT OF ETHICS RULES FOR LEGISLATORS IN THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS AND JAPANS PARLIAMENT (DIET), AND CREATING POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR REFORM BASED ON THAT SHARED KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE$5,268
PEACE WINDS AMERICA WAHINGTON, DCSUPPORTING EARTHQUAKE RELIEF AND RECOVERY ON JAPAN'S NOTO PENINSULA$25,000
KARIN TANABE WASHINGTON, DCSUPPORTING A SHORT STORY ABOUT THE AFTERMATH OF THE ATOMIC BOMB DROPPED ON NAGASAKI AND A CHANCE MEETING BETWEEN AN AMERICAN SERVICEMAN AND A JAPANESE BOY$5,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

  • Jacob M. Schlesinger – President and CEO
  • Lawrence K. Fish – Chairman of the Board of Trustees

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

JACOB M SCHLESINGERPRESIDENT & CEO$284K

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
JACOB M SCHLESINGERPRESIDENT & CEO40$284,375
LAWRENCE K FISHBOARD OF TRUSTEES CHAIRMAN1—
WENDY CUTLERBOARD OF TRUSTEES VICE CHAIRMAN1—
RICHARD E DYCKBOARD OF TRUSTEES1—
COLLEEN HANABUSABOARD OF TRUSTEES1—
CRAIG MULLANEYBOARD OF TRUSTEES1—
SANTA ONOBOARD OF TRUSTEES1—
DONNA TANOUEBOARD OF TRUSTEES1—
KOHEI ITOHBOARD OF TRUSTEES1—
JAMES KONDOBOARD OF TRUSTEES1—
KEIKO TASHIROBOARD OF TRUSTEES1—

Recent News & Activity

Recent developments and announcements

The foundation maintains active engagement with its grantees and leadership network:

**U.S.-Japan Leadership Program (USJLP):** The foundation operates a flagship program that develops networks among generations of leaders in each country through conferences, a website, newsletters, and frequent reunions. Recent activity includes USJLP fellows returning to the Japanese Diet following general elections and the announcement of annual social impact stipends for leadership program members.

2024

**Recent Publications:** The foundation published a paper by Indivar Dutta-Gupta (USJLP 2024, 2025) on leveraging Japanese housing policy to improve U.S. outcomes.

**Dissertation Award:** The foundation honored Qiaoyan Li Rosenberg at an inaugural dissertation award ceremony in Vancouver.

**Upcoming Initiatives:** The foundation announced plans to host a symposium on connecting civil society across the Pacific and launched the U.S.-Japan Global Impact Grant to empower sister cities as catalysts for change.

JICUF Receives Grant from the United States-Japan Foundation to Support Afghan

**Grantee Recognition:** The foundation regularly profiles grantee work, including projects on feminist art and translation, civil society infrastructure building, and demographic challenges addressed through storytelling collaborations.

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Children and youthAdolescentsAdultsEducationElementary and secondary education

Frequently Asked Questions

What does United States - Japan Foundation fund?

The foundation is committed to promoting stronger ties between Americans and Japanese by supporting projects that: • Foster mutual knowledge and education • Deepen understanding between the two countries • Create effective channels of communication • Address common concerns in an increasingly interdependent world **Primary funding areas include:** • Communication and public opinion • Pre-college education • Policy studies • Education (elementary, secondary, and higher education) • Environment a…

How do I apply for a grant from United States - Japan Foundation?

**Grant Activity (2023):** • Total giving: $488,304 • Number of grants: 10 • Median grant size: $39,000 • Grant range: $20,000–$125,000 **Historical Giving:** • 2022: $863,000 across 16 grants (median $44,000) **Recent Grantees Include:** • Columbia University: $125,000 for academic research on disaster scenarios in megacities to enhance urban resilience • National Bureau of Asian Research (NBR): $63,425 for a project on achieving resiliency in an era of disruption **Active Grant Programs:** • …

Where does United States - Japan Foundation make grants?

The foundation supports projects across multiple U.S. states and Japanese cities, including: • **U.S. locations:** California, District of Columbia, Illinois, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Texas, Washington • **International:** Tokyo, Kyoto, and other Japanese cities

What size grants does United States - Japan Foundation award?

In 2024, United States - Japan Foundation awarded 72 grants totaling $2.0M — an average of about $27K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is United States - Japan Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, United States - Japan Foundation reported a distributable amount of $5.0M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

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.

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in United States - Japan Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database

Grants for EducationDistrict of Columbia GrantsCalifornia GrantsGeorgia Grants

Related Funders

Similar funders by location and focus area

Demand Justice Initiative

WASHINGTON, DC

Assets

$7.6M

Grants

1

Total Given

$225K

American Academic Leadership Institute

WASHINGTON, DC

Assets

$3.6M

Grants

2

Total Given

$50K

Cnfa

WASHINGTON, DC

International, Foreign Affairs & National Security

Assets

$18.3M

Grants

9

Total Given

$4.2M

Partnership for a Healthier America

WASHINGTON, DC

Youth Development

Assets

$10.8M

Grants

12

Total Given

$350K

Association of Schools of Allied Health

WASHINGTON, DC

Assets

$2.3M

Grants

2

Total Given

$60K

Fulcrum Foundation Inc

WASHINGTON, DC

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$53K

Grants

10

Total Given

$13K

Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.

What could you do with United States - Japan Foundation on Grantable?

  • Assess strategic fit with your organization
  • Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
  • Find open RFPs from this funder
  • Monitor for new funding opportunities
Start free — find your best funders See how it works

Go from researching United States - Japan Foundation to a real strategy.

Plan your approach