Communication and Public Opinion Grant

The Communication and Public Opinion Grant, offered by the United States-Japan Foundation, aims to foster understanding between American and Japanese people through various projects. This initiative supports exchanges, media projects, and cultural activities that enhance bilateral relations. It prioritizes unique approaches that demonstrate originality and broad appeal while addressing contemporary issues that impact public opinion. The Foundation encourages collaborative efforts between NGOs and civil society to build stronger ties between the two nations.

The Foundation supports projects that seek to enhance communication and mutual understanding between the American and Japanese people.
The Foundation will consider communication and public opinion projects that not only raise awareness about Japan in the US and/or US in Japan, but also deal with concrete issues that affect the bilateral relationship (or are faced by the two nations). As foreign policy increasingly is subject to public opinion (and is often influenced by non-governmental actors), there is a need in both countries for increased and more diversified coverage of international news and current events, as well as strong links between certain non-government organizations (NGOs) to enhance bilateral and multilateral cooperation.
In addition, since mutual understanding between American and Japanese society requires deeper cultural knowledge, the Foundation occasionally supports documentary films, performances, exhibitions, and lectures that focus on Japanese/American culture.
Focus Areas
Communication and Public Opinion grants focus on the following areas:
Print Media – Exchange programs, Fellowships, Research, Symposia, etc. involving journalists, editors, or other print media professionals leading to professional development and/or an article series or publication.
Broadcast Media – Exchange programs, Fellowships, Research, Symposiums, etc. involving broadcast journalists, editors, or other broadcast media professionals (radio or TV) resulting in professional development and/or a story series or other special coverage.
Internet – Communication platforms, moderated discussion groups, links between non-profit organizations (NPOs) or other projects that take advantage of new Internet technologies to enhance communication in support of the Foundation’s mission.
NGO / NPO Links – Projects of cooperation, communication, education and/or collaboration between US and Japanese Civil Society organizations (in support of the Foundation’s mission).
Documentary Film / Video(and other multi-media) – The Foundation supports documentary films about Japan and the US-Japan relationship.
Opinion Polling / Public Opinion Research – Occasionally the Foundation will support such a project if there is demonstrated need and lack of other support from more traditional sources.
Exhibitions – The Foundation occasionally supports artistic and cultural performances and exhibitions that communicate Japanese and/or American cultural issues and background to American and Japanese audiences.
The categories listed above are not intended to be exhaustive. The Foundation is always looking for unique approaches to strengthening the US-Japan relationship.
The Foundation accepts no responsibility for keeping any part of a request confidential and reserves the right to discuss a proposal with outside consultants to assist the program staff in its evaluation.
The Foundation limits overhead expenses to 10% of the total project budget.

Eligibility

The Foundation only funds non-profit organizations legally incorporated in the United States and/or Japan. We do not consider or respond to inquiries made from entities outside of these countries.

Ineligibility

The following types of projects fall outside of the Foundation’s guidelines: undergraduate education, sports exchanges, publication subsidies (unless directly related to a current USJF project), and scientific research. Grants cannot be made to individuals or for-profit organizations. Foundation grants may not be used for lobbying or to support election to public offices. The Foundation does not award grants as contributions to capital campaigns, endowment funds, deficit operations or for the construction or maintenance of buildings or other physical premises.