International giving · Asia
Which US foundations give to Japan?
US foundations sent $231M to organizations in Japan across 917 grants, from 182 different funders. Read from IRS 990 filings.
The short version
- 182 US foundations have made grants to Japan, totaling $231M across 917 grants on record.
- GATES FOUNDATION (WA) is the largest US funder of Japan organizations, with $143M.
- UNITED STATES - JAPAN FOUNDATION is the most Japan-focused funder, directing 100% of its overseas giving here.
- US giving to Japan has fallen over the filing years on record.
The biggest funders, year by year
Each top funder of Japan with its total, and how that giving falls across the filing years — darker means more.
| '17 | '18 | '19 | '20 | '21 | '22 | '23 | '24 | '25* | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GATES FOUNDATION$143M | |||||||||
| The David and Lucile Packard Foundation$17M | |||||||||
| THE OKINAGA FOUNDATION$10M | |||||||||
| The Coca-Cola Foundation Inc$7M | |||||||||
| THE KAVLI FOUNDATION$5M | |||||||||
| JPMORGAN CHASE FOUNDATION$4M | |||||||||
| Walton Family Foundation Inc$4M | |||||||||
| GOOD VENTURES FOUNDATION$3M | |||||||||
| JOHN TEMPLETON FOUNDATION$3M | |||||||||
| GORDON E AND BETTY I MOORE FOUNDATION$3M | |||||||||
| FOUNDATION TO PROMOTE OPEN SOCIETY$3M | |||||||||
| MICRON TECHNOLOGY FOUNDATION INC$2M |
* 2025 onward is still arriving — 990s lag 12–24 months, so the most recent years under-report.
Top US funders of Japan
Japan's dedicated funders
Foundations that send most of their overseas money to Japan — the specialists, not just the biggest checks.
What the money funds
By the stated purpose of 916 grants that carry one.
177 recipients
41 recipients
78 recipients
42 recipients
115 recipients
17 recipients
22 recipients
19 recipients
Largest recipients in Japan
Spelling, accent, abbreviation, and language variants of the same organization are merged into one recipient. Organizations abroad have no US EIN, so this resolution is best-effort.
2 US funders · 11 grants
1 US funder · 2 grants
1 US funder · 12 grants
10 US funders · 32 grants
3 US funders · 31 grants
1 US funder · 8 grants
Who funds whom
The largest funder-to-recipient ties — which US foundation backs which organization in Japan.
Where the funders are
The US states home to the foundations giving to Japan, shaded by dollars granted. Click a state.
Notable grants
The largest individual grants to Japan on record.
Questions and answers
- Which US foundation gives the most to Japan?
- GATES FOUNDATION is the largest US funder of Japan organizations on record, with $143M across 72 grants.
- How much do US foundations give to Japan?
- 182 US foundations have granted a combined $231M to organizations in Japan across 917 grants in the IRS filings on record.
- What do US foundations fund in Japan?
- The largest areas are research & science, health & medicine, general & operating support, by the stated purpose of the grants.