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Us-Japan Council

EIN 90-0447211 · Washington, DC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE U.S.-JAPAN COUNCIL (USJC) CULTIVATES AND CONNECTS LEADERS AT EVERY LEVEL IN THE UNITED STATES AND JAPAN WHO ARE COMMITTED TO A STRONG AND ENDURING GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP. FOUNDED BY JAPANESE AMERICANS IN 2009, USJC IS NOW THE PREMIER ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO STRENGTHENING U.S.-JAPAN RELATIONS THROUGH PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE CONNECTIONS. THROUGH OUR TRANSFORMATIVE LEADERSHIP INITIATIVES, INNOVATIVE EXCHANGE PROGRAMS, AND IMPACTFUL IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL EVENTS, WE BRING TOGETHER LEADERS AT EVERY LEVEL TO ADDRESS KEY BILATERAL ISSUES. OUR COMMUNITY OF MEMBERS AND STAFF ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND JAPAN IS A VIBRANT AND DIVERSE PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL NETWORK THAT FOSTERS DEEP CONNECTIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTIONS.

Income
$18.0 million
Spending
$6.4 million
Spent on programs
72%
Reserves
5.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 69%
Employees
22
Volunteers
25
Highest pay
$254,502, coo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (international, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 5.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 1% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 65% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 230% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    72% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 4 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 36% of charities in its peer group (international, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    22 of 23 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

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 December 31, 2024, 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 (2)
  1. $3.7 million spent. THROUGH OUR US JAPAN LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE, USJC DEVELOPS A PIPELINE OF GLOBAL LEADERS VIA ITS TRANSFORMATIVE LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS THAT INCLUDE NEXT GEN PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS AND ALUMNI, EMERGING LEADERS PROGRAM, ADVANCED LEADERS COLLECTIVE, AND ITS JAPANESE AMERICAN LEADERSHIP DELEGATION. IN ADDITION, THE COUNCIL IS ADDRESSING PRESSING BILATERAL ISSUES THROUGH SEVERAL KEY EFFORTS THAT INCLUDE CLIMATE AND SUSTAINABILITY LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE, WOMEN'S LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE, AND ANNUAL GLOBAL AND REGIONAL CONVENINGS.
  2. $898,297 spent. USJC'S NEXT GEN PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS AND ALUMNI INCLUDE SEVERAL KEY COMPONENTS:THE TOMODACHI INITIATIVE SUPPORTS PROGRAMS IN EDUCATIONAL EXCHANGE AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT THAT INVEST IN THE NEXT GENERATION OF FUTURE JAPANESE AND AMERICANS GLOBAL LEADERS. THE INITIATIVE RAISES FUNDS FROM CONTRIBUTORS IN THE U.S. AND JAPAN. TOSHIZO WATANABE ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP FUND, THE TOMODACHI TOSHIZO WATANABE LEADERSHIP PROGRAM, AND THE MINETA AMBASSADORS PROGRAM (TOGETHER, THE FUNDS). THESE FUNDS, SOME OF WHICH ARE ENDOWED, WERE CREATED TO PROVIDE STUDY ABROAD SCHOLARSHIPS AND EXPERIENCES TO AMERICAN AND JAPANESE STUDENTS WHO DEMONSTRATE LEADERSHIP POTENTIAL AND FINANCIAL NEED.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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 October 13, 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 December 2024.

    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 2009.

    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 October 21, 2026.

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