Grants

Investing in our collective strength

Through our grants program, we empower our community to illuminate and confront shared challenges, such as climate change, natural disasters, and geopolitical disruptions. Moving forward, we will continue to focus on projects that support this mission and strengthen U.S.-Japan relations.

Applying for a grant

We are committed to making the grant application process as clear and accessible as possible. If you have any questions about applying, or about our grants in general, please contact us at programs@us-jf.org.

The application deadline for the current grant cycle has passed, and we are not accepting new submissions at this time. Please check back periodically as we may launch another grant cycle later this year (2024).

Full details of the 2024 grant cycle timetable, can be found at the bottom of this page.

Step 1: Write a Letter of Inquiry (LOI)

Write a 3-4 page LOI that clearly expresses your project’s goals and outlines how the project will enhance US-Japan relations and understanding, or address a challenge facing both nations.

Letters may be written in Japanese or English.

Step 2: Submit your LOI and cover sheet to programs@us-jf.org

Download this cover sheet and fill in all required fields. Save both your LOI and your completed cover sheet as PDFs and send them to programs@us-jf.org. You will receive an automated response once we’ve received your initial application. Please allow 30 days for our grant-making committee to review and respond to your application. We will notify all candidates of their application status within 30 days of the application deadline. If your application is selected to move to the next phase, you will receive an invitation to submit a full proposal.

Step 3: Submit a full proposal

Those invited to submit a full proposal will have 30 days to do so. Uninvited proposals will not be considered.

Proposal Guidelines:

Proposals must adhere to the format outlined here.

The narrative portion of the proposal—from Abstract to About the Applying Institution(s)—should be approximately 4,000 words or less.
Proposals can be single-spaced or double-spaced.
Proposals must be written in English.
Proposals should be sent electronically to programs@us-jf.org. You do not need to send a hard copy of the proposal.

2024 Funding Cycle
By June 28	Submission deadline for Letters of Inquiry. Please attach the Letter of Inquiry “Cover Sheet” along with your LOI
June 29 – August 29	Letters of Inquiry will be reviewed and responses sent via email, inviting select applicants to submit full proposals.
September 30	Deadline for receipt of Full Proposal (only invited Full Proposals will be considered)
October 1 – November 30	Internal / External /Board review of Full Proposals
December 2	Applicants will be notified of Foundation final decisions

Grants

Investing in our collective strength

Applying for a grant

2024 Funding Cycle