The San Francisco Japantown Foundation’s 2018 grants program is now accepting applications for grants related to cultural arts and Japantown capital project planning. Applications are due August 24, 2018.

Applicants for arts grants may request up to $5,000. Applicants for capital project planning grants may request up to $10,000. The Japantown Foundation may award grants in amounts lower than requested based on funding availability.

While the foundation previously provided grants for capital project planning, the focus on cultural arts is new and a change from previous grant-making. The Japantown Foundation board of directors is prioritizing this year’s grants to provide resources to artists, projects, and organizations that promote and preserve Japanese and Japanese American art in both visual and performing arts form.

The foundation this year will not award grants to applicants without a specific focus on Japanese and Japanese American cultural arts, or capital project planning.

Applicants must be a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization, or be fiscally-sponsored by a 501(c)(3) organization, and demonstrate a current and historical relationship with Japantown, or provide services to the San Francisco Japantown community. Previous recipients of Japantown Foundation grants must submit grant reports before being eligible to apply for 2018 funding.

Applications are due August 24, 2018. A committee will review qualified applications and submit recommendations to the foundation board of directors. The board will render final decisions on grants at its meeting in September and awards will be announced in early October 2018.

Download the grants application at https://japantownfoundation.org/grants. The application contains more details and requirements. For questions about the grants program, contact foundation board member Diane Matsuda at 415-305-5438 or dianematsuda@hotmail.com.

About the San Francisco Japantown Foundation Grants Program

Grants from the San Francisco Japantown Foundation are made possible through the original endowments by Kintetsu Enterprises of America, Jack Hirose, Hats and Amey Aizawa, Union Bank, and Minami Tamaki LLP. We also use proceeds from our annual Osechi Ryori New Year’s celebration fundraiser, supported by generous sponsors and guests.

Another significant portion of the funds available for these grants comes from our philanthropic partnership with Hotel Kabuki. The Japantown Foundation receives funds raised through the hotel’s You Can Make a Difference program, which asks guests to make a donation when they stay at the property. The Japantown Foundation expresses our appreciation to the Hotel Kabuki and to General Manager J.P. Oliver for continuing this valuable partnership. J.P. is also a member of our foundation board.

Since 2007, the Foundation has provided more than $700,000 in funding to the community.

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