FISCAL YEAR 2025-26 (4/1/25 - 3/31/26)
Salary Assistance Grant for Japanese-Language Courses
The 2025-26 application period is now CLOSED
Application Deadline: April 10, 2025
Grant Result: Late May~Early June, 2025
LATE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED
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(Photo: ICA Georgia) (Photo: Red Oak Community School)
Note:
As in previous years, JFLA will continue to accept applications from non-profit educational institutions/organizations in the U.S. which teach Japanese as a world language, as well as Japanese heritage language schools (継承日本語学校).
Saturday Schools (日本語補習授業校) are also eligible only if they have a Japanese as a Heritage Language (JHL) program that is conducted separately from their regular curriculum set by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology/MEXT (文部科学省). We will accept applications from their JHL program, not from the MEXT-set curriculum program (which receives financial support from MEXT).
The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles (hereafter “JFLA”) supports non-profit educational institutions or school districts in the U.S. that are facing temporary financial difficulties in the following three cases. The grant covers a part of the Japanese-language instructor’s salary and fringe benefits up to $30,000 per year on a cost-sharing basis.
Case (1): Starting up a brand new Japanese program
Case (2): Expanding a current existing Japanese program by adding new course(s)/section(s)
Case (3): Maintaining a current existing program which is in danger of cut back or closure
Grant support is awarded on the condition that the applying institution will continue to offer the Japanese-language program after the grant support ends. It is required that applicants submit at least one commitment letter or strong support letter from stakeholders (e.g., Dean, Dept. Chair, District Superintendent, Head of Board of Education, Principal, local business supporters, etc.) at the time of application regarding the long-term continuation of the Japanese-language program after the JFLA grant support ends.
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Case (1): STARTING UP a brand new Japanese program:
Applicants may request funding for up to TWO years at the time of application. However, due to JF's single-year budget system, JFLA can only decide the grant award year by year, and the continuation of the grant support for Year 2 (2026-27) is not automatic. Grantees will need to submit a Budget Proposal (Year 2) in mid-March along with their Year 1 Interim Report, after which JFLA will decide whether or not to award Year 2 grant support.
Case (2): EXPANDING, or Case (3): MAINTAINING a current existing Japanese program:
Applicants may request funding for ONE year*. The grant is given on the premise that the Japanese-language program and the instructor position at the institution will be maintained after the completion of the one-year grant support.
*Applicants may apply again for a second consecutive year (2026-27) after receiving one year grant support. However, they will be given lower priority than applicants who have not received our grant support in the past.
1. The grant support is given on the condition that the applicant will continue to offer the Japanese program after the grant support ends. Each applicant must submit a detailed plan of how they will maintain the Japanese program beyond the grant period.
2. The grant only covers the Japanese-language instructor(s) salary and fringe benefits. Other overhead costs (for example, costs related to housing, commuting, professional development, administrative labor, etc.) are NOT covered by this grant.
3. The grant may be used for either full-time or part-time instructors, NOT for teaching assistants (TA). If the applicant has already decided on the instructor(s) at the time of application, that instructor's information (bio, resume/CV) and a copy of their employment agreement should be submitted to JFLA with the application form.
4. Applicants may request up to $30,000 per year.
The grant amount will be determined in accordance with JFLA’s assessment scale, and the awarded amount may be less than the requested amount.
5. The grant may be used for multiple instructors at the same school/institution, but the grant amount will NOT exceed more than $30,000 per institution/school.
In the event that a school district applies for the grant on behalf of several of its schools,
the district may request a total amount which exceeds $30,000. For example, one school district may request up to $60,000 in total for two schools (up to $30,000 per school).
However this “up to $30,000 per school” applies only when the school district plans to use the grant for more than one teacher at multiple schools in the same district. In other words, in the event that only one teacher teaches at multiple schools in the same district, the maximum amount that may be requested is $30,000.
6. The grant is provided on a cost-sharing basis between the applying institution and JFLA, meaning that the applicant is expected to have detailed plans on how they will supplement the grant with their own or other funds if they are approved. The preferable cost-sharing ratio is at least 1/3 (33%) of the total annual salary expenses.
7. The grant support is for one year. Due to JF's single-year budget system, JFLA can only decide on a grant award one year at a time. However, Case (1): Starting up a brand new program applicants may request up to two-years of grant support at the outset, but the grant amount will still be decided one year at a time. Year 2 grant support is not automatic and will be decided on after having reviewed the grantee's Year 1 Interim Report & Final Report.
8. In principle, the grant is for the Academic Year 2025-26 and grantees must start using the grant no later than March, 2026. In other words, the start date of the grant period must be before the end of JF's fiscal year (March 31, 2026).
Application Forms
- Case (1) Starting up a brand new program
- Case(2) Expanding a current existing program by adding new courses/sections
- Case (3) Maintaining a current existing program which is in danger of cutbacks or closure
Before submitting an application, please inform JFLA via email (jflalanguage@jpf.go.jp) of your intent to apply for the grant. If you do not contact us in advance, your application may be rejected.
Application Deadline: April 10, 2025
Please submit the following materials to JFLA via email attachment (jflalanguage@jpf.go.jp) on or before
April 10, 2025.
(1) Application Form with a signature from an authorized representative
(2) At least one signed Commitment Letter (or strong support letter) regarding the long-term continuation of the Japanese language program beyond the grant period.
(3) Salary Schedule for teachers at the applying institution (please indicate the salary range of the instructor(s) whose salary would be support by our grant).
(4) Instructor Information (Resume, Bio, or CV) if you have already decided on the instructor(s).
(5) Copy of Proof of Employment of the instructor(s) once available (e.g., Employment Agreement/Contract)
Note: If you have not yet decided on the instructor(s), please submit (4) and (5) at your earliest convenience.
 SAG Grant Procedure Flowchart(1).jpg)
| Grantee | State |
| Eastside Community School | WA |
| Japan America Society of Iowa, Manabiya Iowa | IA |
| Japan America Society of Oklahoma | OK |
| Michigan Japanese Heritage Center | MI |
| Poway High School | CA |
| University Middle School/High School | TN |
| University of Memphis | TN |
| University of Rhode Island | RI |
| University of Tennessee (Tennessee Language Center) | TN |
| Wright State University | OH |
5700 Wilshire blvd, Suite 100
Los Angeles, CA 90036
jflainfo@jpf.go.jp
323.761.7510
