Grant Program: Japan-U.S. Global Partnership
U.S. Application Guidelines
For Fiscal 2024-25 [GP-GP 2024]

1.

Objectives
In recognition of the importance of the Japan-U.S. relationship, a fund was established in 1991 for theJapan Foundation (JF) to support grant programs and special projects that would strengthen andfurther Japan-U.S. relations.
For over 30 years, JF has worked towards these goals:(i) To promote collaboration between Japan and the United States with the goal of fulfilling sharedglobal responsibilities and contributing to improvements in the global welfare(ii) To enhance dialogue and interchange between Japanese and U.S. citizens on a wide range of issues
to strengthen bilateral relations.
In addition to the global spread of COVID-19, more frequent extreme weather and natural disasters
due to global warming, events that have shaken the international order have shown how necessary
long-term Japan-U.S. cooperation is to create a more peaceful, stable, and prosperous world.
Through the "Grant Program: Japan-U.S. Global Partnership", JF seeks to support Japan-U.S.
collaborative projects that will help resolve global issues of common concern, projects that build
partnerships among diverse professions and backgrounds necessary to successfully address thoseissues, and to support the individuals who organize and participate in such projects.
More specifically, this program targets policy-oriented research conducted jointly by Japanese andAmerican non-profit organizations (universities, think tanks, NPOs, etc.) aimed at resolving the issuesof modern society and global issues facing the world, as well as dialogue and exchange projects at
various levels, including academic researchers, experts, citizens, and grassroots practitioners. The
inclusion of other countries that are important and pertinent to the issue at hand is welcome, provided
the project is built on a framework of Japan-U.S. cooperation. The participation of relevant experts
from the fields of science and technology is also welcome.
Thematic Areas: (1) Building a resilient society, (2) Developing an inclusive society, and (3) Creating asociety enriched by science and technology.
Examples as below:
Climate change, disaster prevention, post-disaster recovery, pandemic, public health, food and energy
security, environmental issues, sustainable city, overcoming social and economic disparities,
demographic issues such as low birthrate and aging population, societal issues related top. 1 [GP-GP 2024]

children/family and women, rural revitalization, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, bioethics, cybersecurity, digital transformation, green technology.
Projects outside of the thematic areas can also be eligible if they meet the goals of the grant program.
In addition to funding, JF can provide advice and guidance based on our experience and network.
Please feel free to contact staff to discuss potential project ideas. U.S.-based applicants can contact
our New York office at global_partnerships@jpf.go.jp.
2.

Eligible Projects(1) Requirements:-

Projects must begin between April 1, 2024 and March 31, 2025;-

Projects must have a symposium, conference, workshop to support dialogue and networking(virtual events and projects with a combination of these elements are all acceptable);-

Projects must be U.S.-Japan collaborations (for U.S.-based applicants, inclusion of Japaneseperspective is critical and conversely, for Japan-based applicants, inclusion of U.S perspectiveis critical);-A minimum of 20% of the total project budget each year must be secured from non-JF sources
such as the applying institution, the collaborating institution, and/or other sources.

(2) Priorities:-

Ideas and/or participants that comprise a broad range of viewpoints (e.g. collaborative project
involving both academics and practitioners);-

Inclusion of a broad spectrum of participants including ethnicity, gender, geography, andfields of expertise relevant to the project;-

Participation from countries other than the U.S. and Japan that are relevant to the issue;-

Participation and/or participants from outside of major metropolitan areas;-

Demonstration of outcomes, impact on society (including support of people important foraddressing the global issues/project theme(s)).

-

Applications for policy-oriented initiatives to resolve global issues of common concern.

(3) JF will not consider proposals for the following:3.

-

Projects focused on academic research in medical, technical or natural sciences;-

Commercial activities;-

Projects that can be utilized for goals that are religious and/or political in nature;-

Projects in direct support of specific doctrines or claims.

Eligibility
Proposals are accepted by JF New York from U.S. non-profit organizations with 501(c)(3) status underthe Internal Revenue Code.

4.

Grant Periodp. 2 [GP-GP 2024]

(1) For the Fiscal Year 2024 round, projects must begin between April 1, 2024 and March 31, 2025.
(2) Multi-year projects (up to 3 consecutive years) can be considered based on necessity and the
project goals stated in applications; grants for multi-year projects support will be provided in oneyear increments.
5.

Grant Coverage(1) The grant amount will be decided based upon scale and necessity for each project. JF is able toconsider support for the following items:-

Personnel & Honoraria (honoraria for lecturers, researchers, collaborators, interpreters andstaff salary, etc.)-

Travel (international and domestic transportation costs, accommodation costs, and meal
costs)-

Conference costs (room rental, audio and visual equipment rental, event advertising costs,
etc.)

-

Report & Publication costs (editing, website creation, translation, printing costs, etc.)-

Other direct project costs (costs for reference materials, etc.)*

For requests that are unusual or new to JF, estimates for the relevant line items may be needed.

(2) JF will support indirect costs totaling no more than ten percent (10%) of the actual direct costs JF
supports. Rent and other administrative costs are not to be included as direct costs; JF considers
these costs to be included within the category of indirect costs.
(3) JF will not consider the following items:-

Capital fund and endowment drives, debt reduction;-

Operating costs unrelated to the project being supported;-

Design, construction, or maintenance of buildings or monuments;-

Procurement of equipment or other durable goods or purchase of land.

(4) The grant amount will be decided based upon scale and necessity for each project by JF. A
minimum of twenty percent (20%) of the total project budget each year must be secured from
non-JF sources such as the applying institution, the collaborating institution, and/or other sources.
6.

Application Procedures(1) Application deadline
December 1, 2023, 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time)(2) How to applya.

Download the application documents from the website below:
https://ny.jpf.go.jp/grants/grants-for-global-partnerships/grant-program-japan-u-s-globalpartnership/b.

Complete the application documents according to the Application Instructions (page 9).

c.

Send your application documents to global_partnerships@jpf.go.jp(3) JF welcomes inquiries on projects from applicants prior to the deadline; please contact us via email at global_partnerships@jpf.go.jp. If you would like to receive feedback on a project idea,

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please submit a concept note or a draft application with objective, method, overview of projects
to global_partnerships@jpf.go.jp no later than November 1, 2023. Submitting a concept note is
not a requirement and does not guarantee that a grant will be awarded.
(4) JF may consult relevant area experts during the review process as necessary.
(5) Applicants will be notified of the results in April, 2024.
7.

Number of Grants(1) The number of approved applications in the previous year was 4 out of 11 applications.
(2) Please see our website for details:
https://ny.jpf.go.jp/grants/grants-for-global-partnerships/grant-program-japan-u-s-globalpartnership/

8.

Terms of Agreement
By applying to our program the applicant has understood and agreed to the following:(1) Regulations and laws
Grant programs of JF are operated in accordance with the relevant regulations and laws of theJapan Foundation.
JF is intolerant of any fraudulent activity from the application process through the grant duration.
Once a grant has been provided, committing any form of fraud with regard to JF grant funds could
result in penalty measures such as revocation of decision to provide a grant in whole or in part,request return of rescinded portions of the grant including late payment charges, suspension of
the application for a certain period of time, and/or other legal actions (Ref. “Act on Regulation of
Execution of Budget Pertaining to Subsidies, etc.” (Act No. 179 of 1955)).
(2) Receiving of grants
Applicants who have received support for the past three consecutive years will be ineligible toreceive support for a fourth year under the same program. This measure enables JF to extend its
support to as many applicants as possible by de-emphasizing repeated long-term funding to thesame recipients. However, there may be exceptions for projects that JF finds significant reason tocontinue supporting. Applicants subject to this principle and not accepted are eligible to apply forthe next fiscal year, and applications will be screened accordingly.
(3) Grantee obligations
The Grantee shall acknowledge JF’s financial support when the Grantee produces any materials
related to the Grant Project such as publicity materials (e.g. websites, catalogs, posters, flyers, etc.),
conference materials, books, videos, etc.
The Grantee shall include the designated quantity of publicity materials and deliverables to JF with
the Final Report.
The Grantee shall submit the Final Project Report and Financial Report, when the project has been
completed.
(4) Disclosure of information
When a request for information, based on the “Act on Access to Information Held by Independent

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Administrative Agencies” (Act No. 140 of 2001) is received, materials such as submitted application
forms will be disclosed (unless stipulated by law as not to be disclosed). Japanese law requires that
all material submitted to JF be subject to public disclosure after the screening process is completed,with the exception of personal information.
Information concerning projects that we support, such as the name of the grantees and projectdescriptions, will be made public in the Annual Report, on the website, and in other public relations
materials of the Japan Foundation.
(5) Handling of Personal Informationa.

Compliance with applicable laws
To the extent applicable, the Japan Foundation will comply with the “Act on the Protection of
Personal Information” (Act No. 57 of 2003) (the “Act”), relevant cabinet and ministerial orders,various guidelines stipulated by the Personal Information Protection Commission or otherorganizations to which the Personal Information Protection Commission has delegatedauthority, the “EU General Data Protection Regulation (the “GDPR”),” the Personal Information
Protection Law of the People’s Republic of China and related laws and regulations (the“Chinese Laws”), and other laws and regulations in relation to protection of personal
information in relevant countries and regions, etc., and when handling any personal
information, the Japan Foundation will properly collect, use and control the same. For more
information on the Japan Foundation’s efforts to protect personal information (privacy policy),
please visit the following websites:(Related to the Act):(Japanese) https://www.jpf.go.jp/j/privacy/(English) https://www.jpf.go.jp/e/privacy/(Related to the GDPR): https://www.jpf.go.jp/e/privacy/index.html#gdrp(Related to the Chinese Laws): https://www.jpfbj.cn/jp/personal_information/b.

Acquisition of personal information
The Japan Foundation may acquire the following personal information (the “Personal
Information”) from the applicants through the application forms, attachments, project reports,
deliverables, etc. (the “Project Materials”). In addition, the Japan Foundation may acquire theapplicants’ Personal Information through publicly available websites.
[Basic information of applicants]Name, date of birth, nationality, permanent residence, gender, place of employment, job andwork duties, home address, postal code, telephone number (including mobile phone number),
fax number, e-mail address, photographs taken during or prior to the program, etc.
[Information on applicants’ educational background, career history and abilities]
Resume (including educational background and career history), major achievements, foreign
language proficiency, overseas residence history, overseas residence plan, contact information
during the residence period, etc.

c.

Purposes of use and period of personal information(a) Based on the consent of the applicant, the Japan Foundation will use the Personal
Information acquired from the applicant for screening, notification of screening results,
implementation of the project, post-evaluation, communication to successful applicantsp. 5 [GP-GP 2024]

and for any and all other purposes for management of applicants and successful
applicants (the “Purposes of Use”).
(b) For the proper and smooth operation of the Japan Foundation projects, any informationsuch as the applicants’ names, genders, jobs, titles, affiliations, project periods, projectcontent, etc. will be: posted on published materials, such as the Detailed Annual Reportsof the Japan Foundation (Kokusai Koryu Kikin Jigyo Jisseki), the Annual Report and theJapan Foundation’s website; used for preparation of statistics materials; and used forformulation of future Japan Foundation projects.
(c) In addition to the information specified in b) above, the applicants’ contact information(i.e., address, e-mail address and phone number) will be used to: request the applicants
to answer questionnaires as follow-up to the project after completion thereof; provide a
notice regarding other Japan Foundation projects; request the applicants to provide
information for formulation of future Japan Foundation projects, and so on.
(d) The Japan Foundation will handle the Personal Information of the applicants for theperiod necessary to achieve the Purposes of Use stated above.
d.

Provision of personal information(a) The Japan Foundation may provide the Personal Information acquired from the applicants
to the following organizations, to the minimum extent necessary. The Japan Foundation
will make sure that the recipients take measures to ensure the security of the Personal
Information.
i.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Embassies or Consulates-General of Japan,
etc. (for arrangement of visas, handling of security control, support for project
implementation, etc.)

ii.

Evaluators such as outside experts, etc. (for screening, post-evaluation, etc.)

iii. News media and other organizations (for public relations for the projects)
iv. Other organizations and individuals who receive the information as needed for the
projects(b) The Personal Information acquired from the applicants may be used or provided for
purposes other than those specified in the Purposes of Use, in accordance with Article 69,
Paragraph 2 of the Act, such as providing such Personal Information for administrative
organs, other incorporated administrative agencies, local public entities or local
incorporated administrative agencies (the “Administrative Organs”) as long as the
Administrative Organs use the same within the scope necessary to conduct the affairs orservices prescribed by applicable laws and regulations and where there is a reasonableground for such use.
e.

Cross-border transfer of personal information(a) The Japan Foundation may handle the Personal Information acquired from the Personal
Information acquired from the applicants by transferring the same to the base located inJapan (including the Japan Foundation headquarters) or other countries or regions for
the Purposes of Use specified above. The Japan Foundation shall appropriately control
the Personal Information in such countries or regions.
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(b) In addition to the case specified in the preceding paragraph, the Japan Foundation may
provide the Personal Information acquired from the applicants to necessary organizations
or individuals in Japan or other countries or regions for the Purposes of Use specified
above as needed for the projects, only when the conditions stipulated in laws andregulations are satisfied.
f.

Security control of personal information
The Japan Foundation shall endeavor to prevent unauthorized access and leakage of the
Personal Information of the applicants by way of taking appropriate security control measuresand control means.

g.

Rights pertaining to personal information of applicant
The applicant has the right to access his/her Personal Information, correct inaccurate Personal
Information, suspend the use of the Personal Information, etc., to the extent that the Act, theGDPR, the Chinese Laws and other laws pertaining to protection of the Personal Informationin the relevant country or region apply.

h.

Filing of objections against handling of personal information
In the case where the applicant is dissatisfied with the handling of the Personal Informationin the Japan Foundation, such applicant may state his/her objections to the Japan Foundation
to the extent permitted by the applicable laws and regulations. In accordance with theapplicable laws and regulations, the applicant may also file objections to the authority thathas jurisdiction over protection of the Personal Information in the country to which theapplicant belongs.

i.

Personal information of persons involved in the project
The Personal Information of persons involved in the project other than the applicant, which is
submitted by the applicant to the Japan Foundation, shall also be handled in the same manneras stipulated in a. to h. above, and therefore, the applicants should provide explanations inadvance to the persons involved in the project and obtain their consent.

j.

Contact information
Please use the contact details specified in "9. Contact” for any opinions, questions, etc.
regarding any matters specified in this “Handling of Personal Information” section.

k.

Revocation of consent
The applicant has the right to revoke his/her consent to any matters specified in this “Handlingof Personal Information” section at any time. The revocation of consent does not affect thelegality of the handling of the Personal Information prior to the revocation. In addition, when
the applicant does not provide his/her consent or revokes his/her consent, such applicant may
not be able to receive necessary information and/or services from the Japan Foundation.

(6) Response to infectious diseases
Depending on the impacts of infectious diseases, appropriate measures may be required when
implementing the project in accordance with the regulations and instructions of the relevant
authorities. Please understand that the Japan Foundation may unavoidably revoke its grant
decision, or change the substance of its grant or the conditions attached as a result of changes incircumstances that have occurred after the decision to provide the grant. Please also understandp. 7 [GP-GP 2024]

that the Japan Foundation may set certain conditions for overseas dispatch programs, dependingon the epidemic situation.
(7) Ensuring the necessary safety and security of projects
Considering the recent instability in global security, with the increase of terrorist attacks inparticular, the Japan Foundation highly recommends that you take the necessary security
measures to ensure safety when you conduct your projects, such as the following:a.

Check if there are any security alerts issued in the countries and/or cities where your projectis to be conducted;b.
9.

Provide information on security and safety issues for your international guests (if any).

Contact(1) In JapanThe Japan Foundation (Headquarters) Global Partnerships Department, International Operations
SectionⅠ
YOTSUYA CRUCE, 1-6-4 Yotsuya, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0004, Japan
Tel: +81-(0)3-5369-6072 / E-mail: gp1_grant@jpf.go.jp(2) In the United States
The Japan Foundation, New York
1700 Broadway, 15th Floor
New York, NY 10019 USA
Tel: 1-212-489-0299
E-mail: global_partnerships@jpf.go.jp*

Grant Program: Japan-U.S. Global Partnership U.S. Application Guidelines end here. Application
Instructions follow.

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Application Instructions
1.

List of Application Documents☑

Document

FormatTemplate Provided/Freeform

Application Form

Template Provided (PDF)

Project Narrative (approx. 10 pages)

Freeform (PDF/Word)

Budget Sheet

Template Provided (Excel)

Project Timeline

Freeform (PDF/Word)

CV and Bios for all collaborators and key

Freeform (PDF/Word)

participants
Materials on key collaborating organizations

Freeform (PDF)

and participantsInstitutional Information

Freeform (PDF/Word)

Proof of 501 (c) (3) Status

Copy of Letter from IRS

2.

Grant Program: Japan-U.S. Global Partnership Application Form*

Please use Adobe Acrobat Reader to complete this form. Other applications may cause compatibility
issues.
(1) Application Summarya.

Name of the applying organization: Submissions will only be accepted from one U.S.-based
non-profit organization with 501(c)(3) status. Other institutions involved in the project mustbe listed under collaborating or participating organizations/individuals. Please provide thename of the institution in both English and Japanese if possible.

b.

Project title: When choosing a project name, please consider that the project name will be
used publicly if the application is granted. It will be the name of the project in all future
documents. Please provide in both English and Japanese if possible.

c.

Proposed project duration: Please provide a start and end date for your project. When
determining the project duration, please keep in mind that JF grant funds must be expended
during the project duration. For multi-year grants, a separate grant letter is issued for eachyear (12 months); any funds remaining after each year will have to be returned. The maximum
project duration JF will consider is 3 years.

d.

Amount requested from JF: Please enter the amount requested from JF for each project year.

e.

Total project cost: Please enter the total project cost.

a.

Applying institution: Please note that, in the U.S., only organizations with 501(c)(3) status are(2) Applicant

eligible to apply for this grant program.
b.

Authorized representative, Project director, and Legally authorized financial representative:
The Authorized representative is an individual at the organization who has authority to sign a
grant agreement. The Project director is in charge of project plan, and is the primary contact

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for project status and implementation. The Legally authorized financial representative is incharge of the financial aspects of the project.
c.

Previous JF grants: If the applying organization has received grants from JF in the past, pleaselist them here. Include the project name, when the grant was awarded, and the grant amount.

(3) Project Outlinea.

Project description: Please provide an overview of the project, including the purpose andoutline of activities.
(a) Project objectives: Include what issue will be addressed and why this issue is important(b) Methodology: Include concrete steps that will be taken to address the issue, methods,
and preparation status(c) Anticipated outcomes: Include anticipated outcomes (both tangible and intangible
outcomes/products)(d) Dissemination plan: Include target audience and how the target audience will be reachedb.

Project timetable: Please indicate the expected dates and location of major events. For those
applying for a multi-year grant please provide the reasons for and explain the necessity of amulti-year project.

c.

Collaborators and participants: Please list the other organizations and individuals who will be
involved in the formulation and implementation of the project plan. Please indicate countryof origin and organizational affiliation, as well as what form the participation/collaboration
will take.

3.

Attachments(1) Project Narrative:
The Narrative is a detailed explanation of the project and activities, as well as the issue(s) that will
be addressed by this project. Please include: objectives, why this issue needs to be addressed,
rationale for why U.S.-Japan collaborative efforts are essential to the project, methodology, statusof preparation, anticipated outcomes and dissemination plan, roles of each participant involved in
the project. For the status of preparation, please include information on the status of securing
collaborators and key participants; when possible, please provide commitment letters as
supporting evidence. For multi-year grant applications please provide the reasons for and explain
the necessity of a multi-year project.
Please be specific and concrete to the extent possible; explanations for any technical or fieldspecific terminology in the context of the project would be appreciated. While we encourage you
to use your discretion, a narrative of approximately 10 pages including project timeline is areasonable ballpark.
(2) Detailed Project Budget:
Please use the JF budget template to detail the expected expenditures and income for the projectfrom JF and other funding sources. Please include information on the status of funding requests
from other sources for the project. For information on the types of line items JF can consider under
this grant program, please refer to "5. Grant Coverage" in the Guidelines.

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a.

Expenditures:(a) For multi-year projects, a budget is required for each year. Please base each one-year
period on a 12 month cycle (e.g. June 1 - May 31).
(b) Please provide a detailed description (e.g. specific conference venues/spaces, nature ofbooks and materials, etc.) for each line item requested of JF. If necessary, explanations
and specifics can be provided separately.
(c) Please provide a breakdown for each line item requested of JF; the breakdown for eachline item needs to add up to the amount requested of JF.
(d) Please provide budget justification (how the line item is relevant to the project) for eachline item requested of JF.
(e) JF can support indirect costs of up to ten percent (10%) of the actual direct costs JF
supports.

b.

Income:Please categorize and show project income in the following way:(a) Funding requested from JF(b) Own funds (including in-kind contributions)(c) Revenue from project activities (e.g. entrance or ticket fees from project events)(d) Grants from other organizations (please include the status of the application)c.

The grant amount will be decided based upon scale and necessity for each project by JF.
JF cannot support all of the costs of the project. A minimum of twenty percent (20%) of thetotal project budget each year must be secured from non-JF sources such as the applying
institution, the collaborating institution, and/or other sources.

(3) Project Timetable:
Please include a timetable which indicates when each aspect of the project, from the planningstage through the dissemination stage, will be carried out.
(4) Curricula Vitae and Bios:
Please submit curricula vitae for the project director and bios for all collaborators and key
participants.
(5) Materials on key collaborating organizations and participants:
Please provide materials that would demonstrate commitment from key collaboratingorganizations and participants; commitment letters are preferred but e-mail communication is
also acceptable if formal letters cannot be obtained by the deadline. If the nature of the project(e.g., building a network) necessitates that participants be decided at a later point in the project,then commitment from those participants is not required at the time of application.
(6) Institutional Information:
Please submit annual reports and other pertinent information (e.g., project relevant staff
information, history, past activities, financial information from the past 3 years) about the applying
organization.
(7) Proof of 501(c)(3) Status:
Please include a copy of the official IRS determination letter stating the submitting institution has
501(c)(3) status.
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Grant Program: Japan-U.S. Global Partnership Application Steps

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