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Salary Assistance Grant for U.S.-Japan Community Grassroots Exchange Program

Overview

Grant typePrepaid grant
Proposal deadline January 11, 2023
Funding opportunityInstitutional funding for U.S.-based institutions/organizations with 501(c)(3) status
BenefitsMaximum of $32,000

This program aims to support the creation of new Japanese-themed programming (activities) for local communities by providing funding for the position that will design and implement the programing.

Proposed programming must be Japan-related; however, the types of events may vary (e.g., in-person workshop, online lecture, etc.) as well as the topics (e.g. culture, business, professional development, Japanese Studies etc. excluding Japanese Language).

Japanese Language or/and Japanese Studies departments at U.S. universities, Japanese gardens and U. S. based nonprofit organizations with 501(c) (3) status that promote grassroots cultural exchange are welcome to apply.

Deadline: 5:00 p.m. (EST), Wednesday, January 11, 2023

Grantee Highlights

The Yokosuka Council on Asia-Pacific Studies (YCAPS)

Research Foundation of the City of University of New York (Hunter College)
Georgia Tech Research Corporation
The Japan-America Society of Houston (JASH)  

Grant Coverage

  1. Personnel costs: up to $30,000; for the staff member
  2. Activity costs/honorarium: up to $2,000; for materials needed for outreach activities, including honorarium for guest speaker(s).

A minimum of twenty percent (20%) of the total project budget must be secured from non-JF sources such as the applying institution, a collaborating institution, and/or other sources.

Eligibility

  1. Higher education institutions in the United States with Japanese Studies and/or Japanese language departments, Japanese gardens, and organizations that promote grassroots cultural exchange between the U.S. and Japan.
  2. Organizations must have 501(c)(3) status under the Internal Revenue Code.
  3. Current JOI host sites and Japan America Societies are not eligible

Requirements

Projects are required to have the following elements:

  1. Plan for the staff position that will be dedicated to conducting outreach activities related to Japanese culture, including job description and onboarding plan, if applicable;
  2. Clear and concrete articulation of project design including methodology, collaborators, target audience, events, goals of the project, and outcomes;
  3. Viable sustainability plan that is clearly articulated and extends well after JF support;
  4. Minimum of 20 events total, preferably held weekly, such as lectures, seminars, workshops, or activities to support dialogue and networking;
  5. Clear publicity plan for outreach, including dissemination methods and plans;;
  6. Project length can be no longer than twelve (12) months;
  7. Projects must begin between March15 – 31, 2023. Preparations for the events (e.g. staff recruitment) may be included in the grant period;
  8. An Interim Report will be required after 6 months.

Priorities

Priorities will be given to the following:

  • Demonstration of regional impact and tangible outcomes;
  • Demonstration of fresh and innovative outreach activities;
  • Attention towards underserved areas of the Midwest, South, and Mountain states as well as non-traditional audiences that have not been previously exposed to Japanese culture and topics;
  • Projects proposed by or involving collaboration with a Historically Black College or University (HBCU) and/or Community College;
  • Projects that collaborate with larger community in the region (K-12, universities, museums, businesses, Japan-related organizations, organization/institution in Japan etc.).

Proposals that are the same or very similar to previously supported projects will be given a lower priority.

How to Apply

Please download and read the guidelines prior to starting the application process. Proposals must be received by 5:00 p.m. (EST), January 11, 2023.

  1. Complete the online Grant Application form.
  2. Include the following attachments:
    1. Narrative Description of the Project
    2. Detailed Budget (use JF excel template)
    3. Curricula Vitae for the Project Director and the JF supported staff member
    4. Organization Information Form (use JF template)
    5. Proof of 501(c)(3) status
    6. Institutional Information

    Applicants will be notified of the results in March 2023. For questions, please contact GEEprogram@jpf.go.jp

    Past Awardees