Deadline: 01-Dec-2025
The “Grant Program: Japan-U.S. Global Partnership”, JF seeks to support Japan-U.S. collaborative projects that will help resolve current global issues of common concern, build partnerships among diverse professions and backgrounds necessary to successfully address those issues, and support the individuals who organize and participate in such projects.
This program supports policy-oriented research conducted jointly by Japanese and U.S. non-profit organizations and dialogue and exchange projects at various levels, including academic researchers, experts, citizens, and grassroots practitioners, to resolve the issues of modern society and global issues facing the world.
The program’s focus areas, objectives, and priorities include promoting collaboration between Japan and the United States with the goal of fulfilling shared global responsibilities and contributing to improvements in the global welfare, and enhancing dialogue and interchange between Japanese and U.S. citizens on a wide range of issues to strengthen bilateral relations.
Examples of thematic areas include but are not limited to climate change, disaster prevention, post-disaster recovery, pandemics, public health, food and energy security, environmental issues, sustainable cities, overcoming social and economic disparities, demographic issues such as low birthrates and aging populations, societal issues related to children/family and women, rural revitalization, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, bioethics, cyber security, digital transformation, and green technology. Projects can also be eligible if they meet the goals of the grant program even if they are outside the thematic areas.
Priorities for the program include ideas and/or participants that comprise a broad range of viewpoints, inclusion of a broad spectrum of participants including ethnicity, gender, geography, and fields of expertise relevant to the project, participation from countries other than the U.S. and Japan that are relevant to the issue, participants from outside of major metropolitan areas, results that contribute effectively to the existing body of knowledge and/or shape policy, and demonstration of outcomes widely shared and with an impact on society, including support of people important for addressing the global issues/project themes.
The grant can cover personnel and honoraria, travel and per diem, conference costs, report and publication costs, and other direct project costs. JF will also support indirect costs of no more than ten percent of the actual direct costs it supports. JF will not consider funding for capital fund and endowment drives, debt reduction, operating costs unrelated to the project, or procurement of equipment. The grant amount is decided based on the scale and necessity for each project.
U.S. non-profit organizations with 501(c)(3) status under the Internal Revenue Code can apply to the JF New York office. Projects must begin between April 1, 2026 and March 31, 2027. Projects must have a minimum of one symposium, conference, or workshop each year to support dialogue and networking, and a strong Japan-U.S. collaborative partnership must be at the core of the project. A minimum of 20% of the total project budget each year must be secured from non-JF sources. The grant period can extend up to three consecutive years.
To apply, a Project Narrative and a Detailed Project Budget using the JF budget template must be submitted. The narrative should detail the project’s objectives, rationale for the Japan-U.S. collaborative effort, methodology, preparation status, and anticipated outcomes. The deadline for applications is December 1, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
For more information, visit The Japan Foundation.
