Yufuin Foundation

What Yufuin Foundation does

Yufuin Foundation (公益財団法人人材育成ゆふいん財団) is a public interest incorporated foundation headquartered in Yufuin, Yufu City, Oita Prefecture, Japan. Originally incorporated as a legal entity in April 1991 with a 100 million yen basic property, it transitioned to public interest foundation status in November 2009. The foundation operates a "0 to 100 years old" lifelong learning philosophy and runs two formal public purpose projects: Project 1 (公益目的事業1) covering human resource development through international youth exchange, environmental and agricultural learning, and research; and Project 2 (公益目的事業2) covering community-building (mari-dukuri) activities, consultations, information networking, and grant programs including the Kitani Fund for cultural, arts, and sports activities. Operational programs include the Yufuin-Asia International Exchange Mission (sending selected middle-school students to China and Korea), the Fureai Learning Program (agricultural experiences such as radish, soba, and soybean fields), Yufuin Universal Tourism, and the Yufuin Housuikai water environment conservation initiative.

The foundation serves local citizens of all ages in the Yufuin region, with primary customer segments being citizens aged 0-100 for lifelong learning, elementary and middle school students for international exchange, cultural/arts/sports organizations for grant funding, and volunteer guides and community activists for consultation support. Its business model is non-commercial: revenue is generated through individual and corporate donations (general donations under 100,000 yen and special donations over 100,000 yen), annual membership fees via the "Kinue no Kai" supporters association and Supporters Club (1,000 yen/year individuals, 10,000 yen/year organizations), and periodic institutional grants such as Toyota Foundation support for specific projects. Distribution is centered on local bank branches, municipal offices, community centers, and Yufuin Station Art Hall, with online credit card donations currently in preparation.

The technology stack is explicitly undisclosed and no proprietary technology, AI/ML capability, or software products are referenced in the available data. Operations are run by a small staff (1-10 employees) supported by an extensive board, board of councillors, and auditors, and the foundation maintains partnerships with Oita Prefecture, Yufu City, multiple local tourism associations, the Yufuin Chamber of Commerce, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, and the Toyota Foundation.

Name

Yufuin Foundation

Legal name

公益財団法人人材育成ゆふいん財団

Website

https://yufuin-zaidan.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Yufuin Foundation is a Japanese public interest incorporated foundation in Yufuin, Oita Prefecture, that runs lifelong learning, youth international exchange, community-building, and cultural grant programs for local citizens of all ages, funded by donations, membership fees, and institutional grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Foundation Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Work Exchange & Farmstay Programs (WWOOF/HelpX-Style) (EDAIAGAK)

Keywords

• Community foundation services
• Human resource development
• Cultural arts grants
• Youth exchange programs
• Environmental education

Headquarters

HQ city

Oita-shi

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Membership Fees: General donations (under 100,000 yen) and special donations (over 100,000 yen) from individuals and organizations. Membership fees from the 'Kinue no Kai' supporters association (1,000 yen/year for individuals, 10,000 yen/year for organizations). Tax-deductible contributions as a certified public interest promotion corporation.
2. Grant Disbursements: Distributes grants to cultural, arts, and sports activities through the Kitani Fund, with total annual grants capped at 500,000 yen and average per-round grants of 100,000 yen.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Yufuin Foundation is a public interest incorporated foundation that delivers community-based human resource development and community-building programs in Yufuin, Oita Prefecture, Japan. Its core offerings include the Yufuin-Asia International Exchange Mission youth program, Fureai Learning agricultural and environmental education, the Kitani Fund cultural/arts/sports grant program, and citizen practice activity consultation and networking services. The foundation operates through tax-deductible donations and a Supporters Club membership program.

Product overview

Yufuin Foundation operates as a public interest incorporated foundation focused on human resource development and community building in Yufuin, Oita Prefecture, Japan. The organization offers two main public purpose programs: (1) Human Resource Development covering international youth exchange programs, environmental/agricultural learning activities, and research initiatives; and (2) Community Building Activities providing consulting support, information networking, and grant programs including the Kitani Fund for cultural/arts/sports activities. Additional offerings include a Supporters Club membership, periodic Foundation News publication, educational booklets, and specialized programs for universal tourism and water environment conservation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Public Purpose Project 1 - Human Resource Development (公益目的事業1) Human resource development program supporting learning and practice activities for citizens aged 0 to 100, including international exchange programs (Yufuin-Asia International Exchange Mission), environmental learning activities (farming experiences, environmental education), and research on human resource development. Targets local community residents of all ages.
• Public Purpose Project 2 - Community Building (公益目的事業2) Community building (町づくり) activity support including consulting services, information and network support for civic activities, and grant/commendation programs for community initiatives. Targets citizen volunteer groups, community activists, and civic organizations in the Yufuin region.
• Kitani Fund Cultural, Arts and Sports Grant Program (キタニ基金)

Quantifiable outcome

• 100 million yen basic foundation property ensures long-term operational sustainability

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Oita Prefecture (大分県)minorOthersOfficial partner linked on foundation website as part of regional information network. Oita Prefecture official website accessible through foundation's links page.
• Yufu City (由布市)minorOthersOfficial partner linked on foundation website as part of regional information network. Yufu City official website accessible through foundation's links page.
• Yufuin Hot Spring Tourism Association (由布院温泉観光協会)minorOthersTourism partner linked on foundation website for regional tourism information sharing.
• Yunohira Hot Spring Tourism Association (湯平温泉観光協会)minorOthersTourism partner linked on foundation website for regional tourism information sharing.
• Tsukahara Highland Tourism Association (塚原高原観光協会)minorOthersTourism partner linked on foundation website for regional tourism information sharing.
• Yufuin Chamber of Commerce and Industry (湯布院町商工会)minorOthersBusiness partner linked on foundation website for local commerce and industry information.
• Yufuin Housuikai (ゆふいん豊水会)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWater environment conservation group operating since 2014 (Heisei 26) in Yufu City. The foundation supports their activities aimed at deepening human-river connections and cultivating water-friendly culture through awareness, practice, and research.
• Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (立命館アジア太平洋大学)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity whose international students serve as lecturers for study sessions related to the Yufuin-Asia International Exchange Mission, providing cultural education and language support.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• AFS Intercultural Programs Japan: Operates youth international exchange programs in Japan, including Asia-focused missions. Direct peer in offering secondary school students cross-cultural exchange programs with structured selection processes.
• Toyota Foundation: Japanese public interest incorporated foundation making grants across community development, culture, and international exchange. Directly comparable as a Japanese private grantmaking entity, though at materially larger scale than Yufuin Foundation.
• Community Foundations of Japan: National association supporting community foundations across Japan. Shares the community-foundation operating model, including local endowment management, donor-advised giving, and place-based grantmaking, making it a strong operational peer.
• Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University: Provides international student lecturers for the Yufuin-Asia International Exchange Mission. Comparable in delivering international cultural exchange and community-engaged education programs in the Kyushu region.

Emerging players

• Nippon Volunteer Network Active in Disaster: Japanese NGO organizing volunteer programs and community engagement activities. Comparable as a domestic non-profit delivering volunteer matching, consultation support, and community practice activities.

Broad incumbents

• The Nippon Foundation: Largest Japanese private foundation, with extensive grantmaking in community development, education, and human resources. Operates at vastly larger scale but shares the public-interest foundation model and human-resource-development mission.
• Japan Foundation (国際交流基金): Government-affiliated public interest entity running international cultural exchange programs across Asia. The Yufuin-Asia International Exchange Mission is a smaller-scale analog to Japan Foundation's Asian exchange initiatives.
• Sasakawa Peace Foundation: Japanese public interest foundation funding community, cultural, and international exchange activities. Comparable in its grantmaking focus and nonprofit governance structure, but operates nationally rather than locally.

Regional players

• Kyushu Community Foundation (九州コミュニティ財団): Regional community foundation serving the Kyushu area with place-based grantmaking and donor-advised giving. Closely analogous to Yufuin Foundation's community-foundation model and regional scope within adjacent Kyushu prefectures.
• Oita Prefecture (Grantmaking Authorities): Prefectural government that co-funds and partners with the Yufuin Foundation on community development activities. Comparable in regional public-interest mandate, though the foundation operates as a private non-profit rather than government agency.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/yufuinzaidan

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Yufuin Foundation