United States-Japan Bridging Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE UNITED STATES-JAPAN BRIDGING FOUNDATION PROVIDES U.S. UNDERGRADUATES WHO DEMONSTRATE FINANCIAL NEED AND ACADEMIC MERIT WITH SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDY ABROAD IN JAPAN, ALONG WITH MENTORSHIP AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES.
- Income
- $654,767
- Spending
- $563,718
- Spent on programs
- 85%
- Reserves
- 9.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 94%
- Employees
- 1
- Volunteers
- 0
- Highest pay
- $178,587, executive director
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 93 out of 100. Higher than 76% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 9.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 13% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1585% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 97 out of 100. Higher than 91% of charities in its peer group (international, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2515 of 15 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
12 of 15Its accounts were reviewed or compiled by an independent accountant, but not audited.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 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 (1)
- $478,841 spent. THREE CORE ACTIVITIES COMPRISE USJBF'S GLOBAL EDUCATION MISSION: PROMOTING STUDY ABROAD TO JAPAN AMONG AMERICAN UNDERGRADUATES, FUNDING SCHOLARSHIPS TO SUPPORT AMERICANS TO STUDY IN JAPAN, AND PROVIDING PROGRAMMING SUPPORT TO THOSE STUDENTS BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER THEIR STUDY ABROAD EXPERIENCE.AT THE CORE OF THE FOUNDATION IS THE BRIDGING SCHOLARS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. EACH SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT SPENDS A SEMESTER OR ACADEMIC-YEAR IN JAPAN TAKING CLASSES AT A LOCAL JAPANESE UNIVERSITY AND STUDYING THE LANGUAGE AND CULTURE WHERE THEY DEEPEN THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE COUNTRY. THE PROGRAM SUPPORTS UNDERGRADUATES WHO DEMONSTRATE GENUINE FINANCIAL NEED AND ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE.THE BRIDGING SCHOLARS PROGRAM IS A PROVEN MECHANISM TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF AMERICANS WHO PURSUE CAREERS RELATED TO JAPAN AND HAS AS ITS GOAL THE STRENGTHENING THE U.S. PARTNERSHIP. WE BELIEVE THAT EDUCATIONAL EXCHANGES OF THIS NATURE HAVE AN IMPORTANT LONG-TERM IMPACT ON THE UNIQUE U.S.-JAPAN BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP AND RESULTS IN CLOSER TIES BETWEEN THE TWO NATIONS.SINCE ITS FOUNDING THE FOUNDATION HAS AWARDED NEARLY 2,500 SCHOLARSHIPS TOTALING OVER $7,500,000 IN GRANTS OF $2,500 TO $7,500 EACH HELPING ACADEMICALLY AND FINANCIALLY DESERVING UNDERGRADUATES. BRIDGING SCHOLARS REPRESENT EVERY STATE AND STUDY IN NEARLY EVERY JAPANESE PREFECTURE.SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM:THE FOUNDATION SOLICITS APPLICATIONS FOR SCHOLARSHIPS TO STUDY IN JAPAN FOR EITHER AN ACADEMIC YEAR OR ONE SEMESTER. WE RECEIVE AT LEAST FOUR APPLICATIONS FOR EVERY ONE AWARDED, DEMONSTRATING BOTH STRONG INTEREST IN STUDYING IN JAPAN AND DEMAND FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, GIVEN THE HIGH COST OF TRAVELING TO AND LIVING IN JAPAN. TODAY WE AWARD APPROXIMATELY 70-100 SCHOLARSHIPS ANNUALLY AT A TOTAL VALUE OF $250,000.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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 September 7, 2026.
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 September 30, 2026.
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 September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 1998.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
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 October 7, 2026.
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