Frequently Asked Questions: Institutional Grant Programs inJapanese Studies
ContentsGeneral FAQs ................................................................................................................................. 2
Eligibility..................................................................................................................................... 2
Funding Priorities ........................................................................................................................ 3
Grant program FAQs ...................................................................................................................... 4
Institutional Project Support (IPS) Grant Program ..................................................................... 4
Institutional Project Support - Small (IPS-Small) Grant Program .............................................. 4
JFNY Grant for Japanese Studies ............................................................................................... 5
JFNY Grant for Online Japanese Studies .................................................................................... 5

General FAQs
Eligibility-What fields of Japanese Studies does the Japan Foundation (JF) support?
- JF supports the academic study of Japan in fields of the Humanities and SocialSciences.
- JF is open to supporting interdisciplinary and/or comparative proposals, as long asa significant portion of the project is focused on Japan.

-What kinds of projects can JF support?
- Academic events both in-person and online, such as symposia, workshops, guest
lecture series; and institutional enrichment, such as library resources, student
support and hiring new faculty.
- Proposals may include project components in arts, culture and Japanese-language
education, as long as there is a significant academic component. For example: aguest lecture for a film screening; a symposium on Japanese language pedagogy.
- JF is open to projects not included in this list. Have a unique idea? Get in touchwith us at japanese_studies@jfny.org-What kinds of projects can JF not support?
- Projects focused solely on arts & culture, such as starting a Taiko drumming club;- Projects focused solely on Japanese language-education, such as hiring language
instructors;- Projects in fields of medicine, manual training, or natural sciences;- Projects solely for individual research (see our Fellowship program);- Projects without a significant academic component, such as sightseeing trips toJapan or culture festivals.
- JF may have other grant opportunities to support these kinds of projects. For more
information, contact info@jfny.org-Is my institution eligible to apply?
- JF only supports institutions with tax-exempt status, which is most often but notalways 501(c)(3). We can review IRS documentation that proves tax-exempt
status at the state level, such as 170(c)(1). Sometimes this may be the University
Foundation or Board of Regents.
- Applicants are required to show proof of tax-exempt status, usually a copy of aletter from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
- IPS applicants cannot apply to IPS-Small at the same time, but can concurrently
receive a CGP grant as well as other JF grants for different projects.

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There may be only one Project Director who must be from the applyinginstitution. In the case of a collaborative project, select only one institution as theapplicant.
All grantees are subject to JF’s Terms & Conditions, which are non-negotiable.

Funding Priorities-What makes a strong proposal?
- JF supports projects that:- Plan to reach a wide audience, across a department, institution orcommunity;- Have a long-term vision for building or strengthening Japanese Studies at
the applying institution, and a sustainability plan for the project outcomes;- Demonstrate institutional commitment to furthering Japanese Studies at
the applying institution.
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Successful proposals will include a:- Project narrative, justifying all expenses requested to JF;- Budget proposal with concrete line item requests and detailed
breakdowns;- Project timeline;- Letter(s) of support from the applying institution, such as a dean, provost,or president; and collaborating institutions and individuals.

Are matching funds required?
- Matching funds are only required for the Institutional Project Support (IPS) grant
program. Cost-matching is required for new faculty hire salary/benefits. For
details, please see the program Guidelines.
- Matching funds are not required for other grant programs. However, institutionalcontributions help demonstrate commitment to the project.

Grant program FAQs
Institutional Project Support (IPS) Grant Program-Institutional Project Support (IPS) program overview- Up to $150,000 per year, for projects up to 3 years- Provides seed funding for a new faculty hire in Japanese Studies, 50%
salary and benefits for 3 years. Most successful IPS proposals include anew faculty line request.
- Other requests may include student support, library acquisitions andresearch materials, conference, symposia, workshops, etc.
- Matching funds required, either applicant funds or other funding sources.
- Priority given to proposals that promote innovative and sustained growth of JS in
the U.S.

-How can JF support a new faculty hire?
- The IPS program can cover up to 50% of one or more new faculty hires’ salaryand benefits over a 3-year period.
- JF will only support new hires, and cannot support promotion of existing faculty.
JF typically supports incremental lines.
- The proposed faculty line can be in Japanese Studies or another discipline, as longas the new hire’s specialty is Japan. For example, JF supported a new faculty line
in Environmental Studies filled by a Japan specialist.
- Proposals may request multiple new faculty lines, but JF may decline to support
more than one line. See an example of a successful proposal with multiple facultylines.
- JF’s objective is to support long-term, sustained development of Japanese Studies
in the U.S. Therefore, the applying institution must demonstrate commitment tocontinuing the line beyond the end of the grant period.

Institutional Project Support - Small (IPS-Small) Grant Program-Institutional Project Support - Small (IPS-Small) program overview- Up to $25,000 for projects up to 12 months- Supports academic events, such as conference, symposia, and workshops;
professional development; student support; etc.
- Priority given to:- Institutions that face difficulties maintaining current levels ofinfrastructure for Japanese Studies;--Projects that stimulate infrastructural interest in Japanese Studies at smallor newer institutions without an established program of Japanese Studies
or those that lack the personnel or resources;
Proposals that promote innovative and sustained growth of JapaneseStudies.

JFNY Grant for Japanese Studies- JFNY Grant for Japanese Studies program overview- Up to $5,000 for projects up to 12 months- Defrays costs for academic events, such as conferences, colloquia,
symposia, presentations, lectures, etc.
- Priority given to proposals in the mid to late planning stages, that enhance thepresence of JS at the applying institution- Deadline: Rolling
JFNY Grant for Online Japanese Studies- JFNY Grant for Online Japanese Studies program overview- Up to $2,500 for online projects up to 12 months- Defrays costs for online programming, such as virtual symposium,seminars, and workshops; expansion of digital archives; creation of webcontents; digital exhibitions, etc.
- Deadline: Rolling

If your question is not addressed here or in Program Guidelines, please reach us atjapanese_studies@jfny.org