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San Francisco Japanese School

EIN 94-1717040 · San Francisco, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong97 out of 100GovernanceFair52 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

1.TO FACILITATE ADJUSTMENT TO JAPANESE SCHOOLS AND SOCIETY THROUGH CLASSES OFFERED IN THE JAPANESE LANGUAGE.2.TO ENHANCE EACH STUDENT'S IDENTITY AND TO NURTURE A SENSE OF COMMONALITY THROUGH EXPOSURE TO JAPANESE POINTS OF VIEW, IDEAS, AND LIFE STYLES BY SPENDING ONE DAY A WEEK IN A JAPANESE-STYLE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT3.TO DEVELOP BROAD PERSPECTIVES ON JAPANESE AND AMERICAN CULTURES WITHOUT PREJUDICES SO THAT THE CHILDREN CAN BENEFIT FROM BOTH CULTURES, AS WELL AS TO FOSTER THEIR ABILITY TO LIVE IN UNFAMILIAR ENVIRONMENTS

Income
$5.4 million
Spending
$5.3 million
Spent on programs
78%
Reserves
12.8 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 79%
Employees
138
Volunteers
50
Highest pay
$117,320, secretary general

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

Financial health

Strong: 97 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 12.8 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 4% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    78% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

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

Governance

Fair: 52 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 14 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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 March 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)
  1. $4.1 million spent. THE PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO HELP JAPANESE CHILDREN IN THE BAY AREA ADAPT TO SCHOOLS IN JAPAN AFTER LIVING TEMPORARILY IN THE BAY AREA WHERE THEIR PARENTS ARE POSTED. ABOUT 1,500 CHILDREN LIVING IN THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA ATTEND CLASSES 47 DAYS A YEAR ON SATURDAYS AND FOR TWO WEEKS IN THE SUMMER.THE CURRICULUM CONSISTS OF JAPANESE LANGUAGE (TWO PERIODS), MATHEMATICS (TWO PERIODS), SCIENCE (ONE PERIOD), AND SOCIAL STUDIES (ONE PERIOD). EACH PERIOD IS 45 MINUTES FOR THE 1ST GRADE - 6TH GRADE, 50 MINUTES FOR THE 7TH GRADE - 11TH GRADE. THE 1ST AND 2ND GRADES HAVE FEWER CLASSES: JAPANESE (TWO PERIODS), MATHEMATICS (ONE PERIOD), AND ACTIVITY (ONE PERIOD). KINDERGARTNERS HAVE 30 MIN TO 50 MIN PERIODS, AND THE PERIODS MAY VARY DEPENDING ON THE CLASS CIRCUMSTANCES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending March 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 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 March 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 June 1971.

    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.

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.