United States-Japan Foundation (USJF)

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $1,970,599 (2024); $407,579 (2023)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: 30 days from LOI submission deadline; 30 additional days for full proposal submission if invited
• Grant Range: $810 - $132,255 (typical range from 990 filings; individual project grants in 2024 ranged from ~$20,000 to ~$99,785)
• Geographic Focus: United States and Japan (bilateral projects); primary US recipients in New York, Washington DC, and California
• Total Assets: $102,425,848
• Total Cumulative Giving: More than $100 million since founding

Contact Details

• Website: us-jf.org
• Grants Page: us-jf.org/en/grants
• Email (Grant Applications): programs@us-jf.org
• Email (Dissertation Award Nominations): scholars@us-jf.org
• Proposal Guidelines: us-jf.org/guidelines/proposal-guidelines/

Overview

The United States-Japan Foundation (USJF) is an independent, endowed, private philanthropic foundation incorporated under US law in 1980. It was founded with a grant of $44.8 million from the Japan Shipbuilding Industry Foundation (now the Nippon Foundation), initiated by Japanese industrialist Ryoichi Sasakawa and co-founded by American diplomats Angier Biddle Duke and Robin Duke. The Foundation's mission is to strengthen bilateral ties between the US and Japan by empowering next-generation leaders and funding innovative initiatives that catalyze collaboration, exchange, and joint problem-solving.

With total assets of approximately $102 million and more than $100 million awarded cumulatively since founding, USJF is the largest independent American foundation dedicated to US-Japan relations. Its grantmaking focuses on education, philanthropy, cultural exchange, human services, and international relations — funding projects that address shared challenges in both countries, in the Asia-Pacific region, and globally. The Foundation has significantly expanded its grantmaking activity in recent years, awarding 72 grants totalling nearly $2 million in 2024 alone, compared with 10 grants in 2023.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• Main Grants Program: $20,000 - $99,785 (typical project grants; full range $810 - $132,255). Supports projects that enhance US-Japan relations, address shared bilateral or global challenges, or promote mutual understanding. Applications accepted on a quarterly cycle via Letter of Inquiry (LOI) submitted by email.
• USJF Scholar Dissertation Award: $2,500 honorarium. Annual award for the best social sciences doctoral dissertation on Japan produced in the US. Nominations submitted by department heads; self-nominations not accepted.

Priority Areas

• Education and student exchange programs, particularly those involving underserved or low-income youth
• Cultural exchange and mutual understanding between US and Japan
• Women's leadership and empowerment in US-Japan contexts
• STEM and innovation collaboration
• Arts, media, and documentary projects illuminating US-Japan ties
• News coverage and journalism about Japan for US audiences
• Research on the US-Japan alliance and shared policy challenges
• Disaster relief and recovery efforts (especially in bilateral contexts)
• Historical preservation related to Japanese American experience
• Environmental and sustainability collaboration
• Japan studies scholarship at the doctoral level

What They Don't Fund

• Individuals (only nonprofit organizations)
• For-profit organizations
• Lobbying activities
• Election campaigns or candidates for public office
• Costs incurred before the grant agreement is signed
• Overhead exceeding 10% of the total project budget

Governance and Leadership

President & CEO - Jacob M. Schlesinger joined USJF as its sixth president after a 36-year career at The Wall Street Journal, where he covered economics, elections, and international affairs across Washington DC and Tokyo. Schlesinger was part of the Journal team that won a 2003 Pulitzer Prize for explanatory journalism.

On his vision for USJF: "I look forward to consulting in the coming weeks with a wide range of stakeholders to discuss how we can think creatively to update our mission and address the new challenges for the U.S., Japan, and the Asia-Pacific region."

Board Chair - Lawrence K. Fish (Former Chairman and CEO, Citizens Financial Group)
Vice Chair - Kohei Itoh (President of Keio University; quantum computing pioneer)

Other notable trustees include Caroline Kennedy (Former US Ambassador to Japan and Australia), Stan Kasten (President and CEO, Los Angeles Dodgers), and Santa J. Ono (President, Ellison Institute of Technology Global).

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

USJF operates a two-stage, email-based application process on a quarterly cycle:

Stage 1 - Letter of Inquiry (LOI)

• Write a 3-4 page LOI clearly expressing project goals and demonstrating how the project will enhance US-Japan relations
• Download and complete the cover sheet from the USJF website
• Email both documents as PDFs to: programs@us-jf.org
• LOIs may be written in Japanese or English

Stage 2 - Full Proposal (by invitation only)

• If selected, applicants receive an invitation to submit a full proposal
• Full proposals must be written in English
• Narrative should not exceed 4,000 words
• Overhead costs limited to 10% of total project budget

Decision Timeline

• Quarterly 2026 LOI Deadlines:
  • Q1: March 27 (11:59 PM EDT)
  • Q2: June 26 (11:59 PM EDT)
  • Q3: September 25 (11:59 PM EDT)
  • Q4: December 18 (11:59 PM EDT)
• LOI review and notification: within 30 days of the application deadline
• Full proposal window (if invited): 30 days from invitation date

Success Rates

USJF does not publicly disclose acceptance rates. In 2024, 72 grants were awarded; in 2023, 10 grants were awarded.

Reapplication Policy

No formal reapplication waiting period. Unsuccessful applicants may reapply in subsequent quarters.

Application Success Factors

• Bilateral focus is essential: Projects must clearly enhance US-Japan relations, address a shared challenge, or strengthen bilateral understanding
• Specificity in the LOI matters: The 3-4 page LOI must clearly articulate project goals and bilateral value proposition
• Demonstrate impact and dissemination: Strong dissemination and sustainability plans are required
• Budget discipline is required: Overhead is capped strictly at 10% of total project budget
• Unique and innovative projects stand out: Previously funded projects range from documentary filmmaking to women in STEM leadership programs
• Youth exchange and underserved communities are well-regarded: Multiple recent grants support student exchange programs for low-income or Title I school students
• Recent grant examples: $99,785 to Center for International Private Enterprise; $80,000 to PRX "The World" for Japan-focused journalism; $60,000 to Center for Independent Documentary

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• The bilateral relationship must be central: Every successful grant must clearly demonstrate value to US-Japan ties
• Apply by email, not online portal: The entire process is email-based (programs@us-jf.org)
• The quarterly cycle gives you four opportunities annually: With deadlines in March, June, September, and December
• The full proposal is invitation-only: Focus energy on making the LOI compelling
• Overhead cap is strict at 10%: Ensure your budget is compliant before submitting
• Leadership is approachable: USJF explicitly invites potential applicants to contact programs@us-jf.org with questions
• Japan studies scholars should note the Dissertation Award: $2,500 honorarium for best social sciences doctoral dissertation on Japan

References

1. USJF Official Website - Grants Page: https://us-jf.org/en/grants (accessed February 2026)
2. USJF Proposal Guidelines: https://us-jf.org/guidelines/proposal-guidelines/ (accessed February 2026)
3. USJF About the Foundation: https://us-jf.org/en/about-the-foundation (accessed February 2026)
4. USJF Board and Staff: https://us-jf.org/en/board-and-staff (accessed February 2026)
5. USJF Grants Awarded - January 2024: https://us-jf.org/en/grants-awarded-january-2024 (accessed February 2026)
6. PR Newswire - United States-Japan Foundation Announces Latest Grants (March 2024): https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/united-states-japan-foundation-announces-latest-grants-302086278.html (accessed February 2026)
7. USJF Announces New Dissertation Award: https://us-jf.org/en/news/usjf-announces-new-dissertation-award (accessed February 2026)
8. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - United States Japan Foundation (EIN 133054425): https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/133054425 (accessed February 2026)
9. Instrumentl 990 Report - United States-Japan Foundation: https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/united-states-japan-foundation (accessed February 2026)
10. USJF Financial Statements 2023-2022: https://us-jf.org/hubfs/PDF/financial-statement-2023-2022.pdf (accessed February 2026)