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Japan-America Society of Washington Inc

EIN 52-0782112 · Washington, DC

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood89 out of 100GovernanceGood80 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO PROMOTE FRIENDSHIP AND UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN AMERICANS AND JAPANESE THROUGH DIVERSE PROGRAMMING THAT SPANS THE EDUCATIONAL, CULTURAL, BUSINESS, AND POLICY SPHERES.

Income
$6.4 million
Spending
$1.9 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
9.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 77%
Employees
9
Volunteers
27
Highest pay
$137,159, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 89 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 9.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 16% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 71% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 298% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 80 out of 100. Higher than 33% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    26 of 26 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (5)
  1. $792,738 spent. THE SAKURA MATSURI - JAPANESE STREET FESTIVAL - SAKURA MATSURI IS GENERALLY CONSIDERED THE LARGEST CELEBRATION OF JAPANESE CULTURE IN THE UNITED STATES AND THE GRAND FINALE OF THE NATIONAL CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL IN WASHINGTON, D.C. PERFORMERS AND VENDORS SHARE JAPANESE CULTURE AND TRADITIONS WITH THE FESTIVAL ATTENDEES.
  2. $184,822 spent. NATIONAL JAPAN BOWL - THE SOCIETY ORGANIZES THE NATIONAL JAPAN BOWL EACH SPRING AND SUPPORTS OTHER JAPAN BOWLS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO RECOGNIZE AND ENCOURAGE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO HAVE CHOSEN JAPANESE AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE.
  3. $181,256 spent. US-JAPAN CAPITAL GALA - THE SOCIETY'S ANNUAL US-JAPAN CAPITAL GALA AND SILENT AUCTION SUPPORTS THE SOCIETY'S MANY EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL ACTIVITIES AND PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO GATHER AND HONOR SOME OF UNITED STATES OF AMERICA'S AND JAPAN'S MOST DISTINGUISHED LEADERS.
  4. $176,115 spent. CULTURAL ACTIVITIES AND OTHER PROGRAMS - THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THE SOCIETY OFFERS A VARIETY OF JAPANESE AND AMERICAN ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING CULTURAL EVENTS, SOCIAL GATHERINGS, A BOOK CLUB, AND PUBLIC SPEAKING.
  5. $131,253 spent. JAPANESE LANGUAGE SCHOOL - THE SOCIETY OPERATES THE OLDEST AND LARGEST JAPANESE LANGUAGE SCHOOL FOR ADULTS IN THE WASHINGTON, D.C. AREA. THE PROGRAM INCLUDES DIFFERENT LEVELS FROM BEGINNING TO ADVANCED PREPARATORY CLASSES IN THE SUMMER AND FALL FOR THE JAPANESE LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY TEST, AND CULTURE CLASSES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending July 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending July 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since May 1963.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.